These sweet and spicy Kielbasa Bites are fun and delicious keto appetizers. So easy to make, they’re sure to be the hit of your next party. But you might want to keep them all for yourself!
Do yourself a favor and make a big batch of these Keto Kielbasa Bites. Then make a big batch of my Sugar Free Honey Mustard Sauce. Because it is a spectacular combo together!
These bite-sized chunks of pan-fried kielbasa are utterly delectable. They have a sweet sugar-free glaze that offsets the smokiness of the sausage, and you can easily adjust the spiciness to your taste.
What is it about smoked foods that makes them so extra delicious? From ribs to salmon to sausage, I can’t seem to get enough! If you feel the same, be sure to check out Smoked Sausage Casserole and Easy Smoked Salmon Chowder.
And my famous Keto BBQ Sauce has plenty of delicious smoky flavor!
Is kielbasa keto?
Sausage of any kind always seems like it should be keto-friendly. I mean, it’s really just meat with spices, right? Except for the fact that so many companies add sugar to their sausage. Some sausage has up to 7g of carbs for one serving!
I’ve been fooled before and I bet you have too. But it pays to be a label reader, especially when it comes to kielbasa and other smoked sausage. Turn that package over and read the nutrition panel and the ingredient list.
I have a couple of keto-friendly brands of kielbasa that I like. Teton Waters Ranch is a good one and is available at many grocery stores, including Kroger. My husband picks up this organic smoked sausage from Kiolbassa at Costco. And Pedersons sells their no-sugar added kielbasa at Target and Natural Grocers.
So rest assured, there are plenty of good choices out there!
Ingredients
For these tasty and easy kielbasa bites, you will need:
- Kielbasa
- Avocado or olive oil
- Tomato paste
- Water
- Swerve Brown
- Allulose – See Frequently Asked Questions for substitutes
- Garlic
- Hot sauce
- Chipotle powder
How to make Keto Kielbasa Bites
- Slice the kielbasa: You want bite-size pieces so I suggest slicing them no more than 1 inch thick.
- Prepare the sauce: Simply whisk the sauce ingredients in a bowl or measuring cup to combine.
- Sauté the sausage: To make sure it browns evenly, it’s best to cook half a time so you don’t overcrowd the pan.
- Transfer to a bowl: Set the cooked sausage aside for a minute and take the time to wipe out the pan. Kielbasa can release a lot of grease, and this helps avoid the sauce becoming too oily.
- Simmer the sauce: Pour the sauce right into the hot pan and cook a few minutes until thickened and sticky.
- Stir the sausage back in: Toss the cooked sausage to coat in the sauce.
- Serve hot!
Frequently Asked Questions
I chose to use Swerve Brown for classic brown sugar flavor, and allulose to make the sauce more syrupy and sticky. You can use all of one or the other, or a different sweetener altogether, but the sauce may not be the same.
For a better understanding of how these ingredients work, please read this tutorial on keto sweeteners.
You bet. These are delicious with just a sweet glaze as well.
Absolutely! It’s a great recipe to make as much or as little as you need. And it’s so easy, you can make it fresh any time you need it.
Yes, it makes a great dinner! Double the amount per person (4 ounces instead of 2), and serve with zucchini noodles, cauliflower rice, or a nice side salad.
Store any leftovers in the fridge in a covered container and use within 5 days.
More delicious keto sausage recipes
- Italian Sausage Zucchini Boats
- Spicy Shrimp and Sausage Skewers
- Keto Crustless Pizza Recipe
- Italian Sausage Vegetable Soup
- Keto Stuffing with Sausage
- Cheesy Sausage Dip
Keto Kielbasa Bites
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/4 cup (59.15 g) water
- 2 tbsp Swerve Brown
- 2 tbsp allulose, (or powdered Swerve)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) hot sauce
- 1/4 – 1/2 tsp (0.75 tsp) chipotle powder, optional
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 1 1/2 lb (680.39 g) kielbasa, sliced 1 inch thick
- Red pepper flakes, optional
Instructions
- In a bowl or glass measuring cup, whisk together the tomato paste and water until smooth. Then whisk in the sweeteners, garlic, hot sauce, and chipotle powder, if using. Set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the oil until shimmering. Add half of the kielbasa and cook until browned all over, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon and cook the remaining kielbasa. Transfer that to the bowl as well.
- Drain off or wipe out any remaining oil in the pan. Add the sauce to the pan and stir until thickened and a bit sticky, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add all of the kielbasa back to the pan and toss to coat in the sauce. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes, if desired.
- Serve hot!
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.
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This recipe is great! I’ve made it twice now, with a couple of subs. I find Mexican hot peppers(jalapeno, chipotle, red pepper) to be a bit much for me. I found Mediterranean peppers, from turkey to be milder and more “smooth” tasting to me. Aleppo and Urfa Biber.
I left out the hot sauce as I’m not fond of very hot, spicy foods, replaced the other two with Aleppo and Urfa biber and didn’t have kielbasa so I used sugar free Amylu Breakfast Time Mini Chicken Links.
The sauce is absolutely incredible! I’ll be making this often.
Delicious!
Easy and very tasty! Nice to add to the usual cheese heavy, appetizer night!