Some recipes are here to stay in the dinner rotation because they make life easier. This sweet and sour kielbasa with pineapple is one of those recipes in my house, especially after the day I needed dinner to practically cook itself. I remember opening the fridge and finding a package of kielbasa that I had bought with no real plan. I had a can of pineapple in the pantry and all of a sudden dinner began to take shape.
I sliced up the sausage, peeled the pineapple, made a quick sauce, and threw it all into the crock pot. That was the whole of the prep. No chopping 12 vegetables. No standing by the kitchen. No hard steps. A few simple ingredients and the faith in the slow cooker. A few hours later the smell started to fill the kitchen.
The smoky kielbasa combined with the sweetness of pineapple and the tangy sauce in a way that was impossible to ignore. Each time someone passed through the kitchen they’d lift the lid, take a peek inside and replace it. By dinner time the sauce had thickened a bit and covered each sausage. The pineapple had softened and infused its sweetness into the sauce, creating that perfect balance of sweet, savory and tangy.
I poured it over a bowl of rice because I didn’t want any of that sauce to go to waste. The first bite was a shock. The smoky flavor of the kielbasa was perfect with the pineapple and the sauce brought it all together. It tasted like more work than it was. Now this is one of those recipes I pull out when I need a sure-fire dinner that the whole family loves.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
✔ Easy ingredients from the pantry
✔ Spicy and tasty flavor combination
✔ Minimal prep time
✔ Family friendly cuisine
✔ Great for busy weeknights
✔ Awesome as leftovers
Ingredients:
- 2 (14 ounce) packages kielbasa sausage, sliced
- 1 can (20 oz) pineapple chunks in juice
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
Directions
Step 1: Add the kielbasa.
- Place the sliced kielbasa in the slow cooker.
Step 2. Add the pineapple.
- Add the sausage the pineapple chunks and juice.
Step 3: Make the sauce:
Mix together in a bowl:
- Brown sugars
- Catsup
- Apple cider vinegar;
Pour sauce over kielbasa and pineapple.
Step 4.: Sauté
Cover and cook:
- LOW: 4-5 hours
- HIGH: 2 to 3 hours
Stir once while cooking if convenient.
Step 5: Serve
- Serve kielbasa and pineapple over rice, noodles or mashed potatoes.
- Serve warm.
Recipe Notes
- Add some sliced bell peppers for some extra color and crunch.
- Use turkey kielbasa if you want it lighter.
- And toss in some red pepper flakes for a kick.
- Serve over rice to mop up all the sauce.
- For parties or potlucks, double the recipe.
Final Thoughts
This recipe proves you don’t need a long list of ingredients to make good food. This simple sauce, with a can of pineapple and a package of kielbasa, makes a comforting, tasty and super easy to make meal. Some nights, that’s the kind of dinner that hits the spot.
