Air Fryer Kielbasa (Polish Sausage)

Name: Air Fryer Kielbasa (Polish Sausage)
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 14 min
Ingredients: 1 link of Kielbasa sausage, sliced 1 inch thick; 6-8 baby potatoes, quartered; 1 red bell pepper, thickly sliced; 1 tablespoon olive oil, avocado oil, or any other high heat oil

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If you’re looking for a quick and easy weeknight dinner, Air Fryer Kielbasa with potatoes and peppers is the answer! From start to finish, it’s ready in less than 15 minutes using only 4 ingredients.

air fried kielbasa with potatoes and red peppers.

If you’re a meat and potatoes type of person, this is your meal! Crispy potatoes pairs really well with the smokey, savory sausage and tangy roasted red peppers. This meal is on our regular weeknight rotation for its simplicity. There’s very minimal prep work involved!

It’s also very versatile! You can just throw in whatever vegetables you have on hand to make a complete meal. Think sheet pan dinner, but instead of using the oven, you’re using the air fryer! When you’re done, try these easy cinnamon sugar air fryer biscuit donuts for dessert. They’re delicious!

If you don’t have an Air Fryer, no worries! Try these delicious oven roasted potatoes and veggies. These are seasoned with herbs and roasted to perfection.

What is kielbasa?

“Kielbasa” is the Polish word for sausage. It’s usually made with pork or a combination of pork and beef. There are many types of kielbasa, but the most common one sold in the United States is a U-shaped sausage.

Why this Recipe Works

It’s healthy! The air fryer uses less oil to perfectly roast the sausage and vegetables.
It’s quick and easy. This is a one pan meal with veggies and protein. It’s ready in less than 15 minutes, making it a great last minute meal on a busy weeknight. There’s minimal prep work and minimal clean-up involved. Win-win!
It’s a family-friendly meal that both kids and adults will enjoy.

Ingredients Needed

Kielbasa sausage: smoked kielbasa sausage. You can also substitute for Andouille sausage or other sausages.
Potatoes: I chose baby Yukon potatoes, leaving the skin on. You’ll need 6-8 potatoes cut into quarters.
Red Peppers: you can also use green peppers or yellow peppers.
Oil: to help crisp up the sausage and veggies and to prevent it from sticking to the air fry tray. Use olive oil, avocado oil, or any high-heat oil you choose.

Please scroll ⬇️ to the recipe card to see the full ingredient amounts and instructions.

How to Make it

cutting board with sliced kielbasa, sliced red peppers, and quartered baby potatoes.

Step 1: Cut up the sausage and vegetables. Slice the kielbasa sausages into 1 inch thick slices, cut the baby potatoes in quarters, and thickly slice the red bell peppers.

Step 2: Preheat the air fryer to 370°F.

Step 3: Drizzle olive oil onto the sausage, potatoes, and red bell peppers. Then, place the potatoes into the air fryer basket/tray. Air Fry the potatoes for 4 minutes, shaking or flipping halfway through.

Step 4: Add the sausage and red peppers into the air fryer. Air fry for 8 minutes, shake or flip frequently to ensure even crispiness. It is ready when the potatoes are soft and tender on the inside.

Enjoy!

Helpful Tips

Cut the vegetables accordingly so that they can cook at the same time. I quartered the potatoes and thickly sliced the peppers.
It’s alright if the ingredients overlap. There’s no need to cook in batches with this recipe but you will need to shake the basket a few times during cooking to help ensure that everything crisps up evenly.

Other Vegetables to Use

The possibilities are endless here! Just note that some of these vegetables will vary in their cooking time. You can either cut the vegetables bigger or smaller so that they cook at the same time or you’ll have to time when they go into the air fryer. The times listed are for cooking at 370°F (the same cooking temperature as the kielbasa).

Brussel sprouts, halved, 8 minutes
Broccoli florets, 8-10 minutes
Bell peppers (red, yellow, or green), thick slices, 8 minutes
Green beans, 6-7 minutes
Zucchini slices, 8-10 minutes
Tomatoes, 5 minutes
Cabbage, 15 minutes
Onion slices, 8 minutes
Carrots, 1-inch chunks, 10-12 minutes

FAQ

How long does kielbasa cook in the air fryer?

It’s already pre-cooked but to give it a nice sear it should take about 8 minutes in the air fryer at 370°F.

What is the best way to cook kielbasa?

Air Fry: Place kielbasa on the air fryer basket or tray and air fry at 370°F for 8 minutes, shake the basket or turn frequently.
Roast: Place kielbasa on an oven tray and roast at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, turning frequently.
Pan sear: Cut kielbasa to 1-inch thick slices. Add oil to a pan and sear both sides on medium-high heat.
Grill: Place kielbasa on a hot grill for 4-6 minutes, then flip and cook for another 4-6 minutes. Avoid cutting slits into the kielbasa as this will cause it to lose juices.

Is kielbasa already fully cooked?

In the US, kielbasa is smoked and completely cooked before packaging. It is actually safe to eat right out of the package.

What to serve it with

It’s a complete meal by itself but here are some other options:

Salad
Mac and Cheese
Rice

Got Leftovers?

Let it cool completely and then store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

To reheat, air fry at 370°F for 3-4 minutes or microwave for 2 minutes.

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