Slow Cooker Apple Kielbasa Bites

Slow Cooker Apple Kielbasa Bites – sliced kielbasa in a delicious sweet and spicy sauce. Only 5 ingredients and cooked in the crockpot! Perfect for a weeknight dinner or an party snack.
Time to transition from Thursday margarita posts to Thursday football snack posts! Wooo! I know we have a few weeks left before football actually starts but I cannot wait any longer!

As much as I love the games, my number one favorite thing about football will always be the food. One of my favorite are my Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs, which are like those grape jelly meatballs everyone loves but made with cranberry sauce!

Why is food such an important part of football? Who knows. But for whatever reason, football season gives you an excuse to snack from Thursday night to Monday night.

And I like any excuse to have snacks for every meal.

I really like to make things like these Slow Cooker Apple Kielbasa Bites for games because you can just leave them in the slow cooker (on warm) and set some toothpicks next to it. People can eat whenever they want!

How Long Is It Good For?

This kielbasa is good for about 3 days in the fridge. Make sure to store it in an airtight container to keep it as fresh as possible – I love these super airtight glass containers for all our leftovers.

You can reheat on the stovetop or even put it back in the slow cooker if you have about an hour to let it warm up.

Can You Freeze It?

You can freeze this kielbasa for up to 3 months. Let it cool down completely and then transfer it to a freezer safe container like a freezer ziploc bag. Squeeze out as much air as you can and then pop it in the freezer.

When you are ready to serve it, let it defrost overnight in the fridge and then reheat right before serving.

Ingredients:

– 1 pound kielbasa sausage, cut into 1/2-inch slices
– 2 apples, cored and chopped into small pieces
– 1/2 cup brown sugar
– 1/2 cup apple cider (or apple juice)
– 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
– 1 teaspoon garlic powder
– Salt and pepper to taste
– Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Begin by gathering all ingredients and preparing your slow cooker by lightly greasing it with cooking spray or lining it with a slow cooker liner for easy cleanup.
2. Place the sliced kielbasa into the slow cooker, distributing them evenly along the bottom.
3. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the chopped apples, brown sugar, apple cider, Dijon mustard, and garlic powder. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix well to ensure all ingredients are fully combined.
4. Pour the apple and seasoning mixture over the kielbasa in the slow cooker, making sure that the sausage pieces are well-coated.
5. Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 1-2 hours, until the kielbasa is heated through and the flavors have blended together.
6. Once the cooking time is up, give the kielbasa bites a gentle stir to coat them in the sauce once again.
7. If desired, garnish with chopped fresh parsley to add a touch of color and fresh flavor just before serving.
8. Enjoy your Slow Cooker Apple Kielbasa Bites hot, dispensing them onto a serving tray with toothpicks or serving them over your chosen accompaniment.

Remember to keep them warm if they are being served at an event, as they are best enjoyed when the kielbasa is succulent and the apple bits are tender.