Polish kiełbasa bake with potatoes and vegetables is a one-pot dish made using a simple method and a handful of ingredients. It’s one of the most delicious ways of enjoying Polish kiełbasa!
Polish-style kiełbasa bake is a super simple dish made using Polish kiełbasa as well as potatoes and vegetables coated in herbs. These are baked in the oven until the kiełbasa is crispy and browned and the potatoes are fully cooked. Preparation takes minutes and most of the work is done in the oven.
Polish kiełbasa is a type of sausage that’s ready- to-eat and smoked (most of the time) and typically made using pork meat (but can also contain other meats). It has an important place in both traditional and modern Polish dishes (and is one of the ingredients of classic bigos stew).
Kiełbasa sausage is also often used to add flavour to dishes, such as Polish leczo, and is the star ingredient in others, including kielbasa pasta and this easy one-pan kiełbasa dinner.
Polish kiełbasa bake ingredients and substitutions
- Kiełbasa: see details below.
- Potatoes: Use red potatoes, russet potatoes or maris piper.
- Onion: I like to use red onions which taste sweet when roasted, but you can use any onions.
- Bell pepper: again, sweetness is important for me, but you can use any bell pepper you like.
- Zucchini/courgette: You can use a marrow or squash instead if preferred.
- Herbs: I used herbes de Provence, which are quite popular in Polish cooking, but you can use another mixture, such as Italian. Alternatively use a combination of marjoram, thyme, wild garlic and savory (called ‘cząber’ in Polish).
- Oil: Both olive oil and vegetable oil work equally well.
- Salt and pepper: add to taste.
What kind of kiełbasa to use
I recommend using Polish kiełbasa sausage that’s not too dry. Dry kiełbasa, such as hunter’s and some large varieties, including ‘krakowska’, are not suitable as they would simply become tough and even drier in the oven. Instead, use lightly smoked kiełbasa such as farmer’s, village, silesian (‘śląska’ in Polish) or another variety suitable for roasting/baking/barbecuing.
You can also use traditional Polish ‘white’ sausage (one of the ingredients of żurek soup), either raw or precooked.
Can you overcook kiełbasa
Yes and no.
Yes, because as a ready-to-eat product kiełbasa does not benefit from slow cooking in the same way as dark poultry meat, for example (i.e., by becoming more tender).
No, because the longer you bake/roast it (not to the point of burning it of course) the crispier it becomes. Kiełbasa contains quite a bit of fat which keeps it moist on the inside while the skin becomes crispy.
So it’s ideal to cook alongside other ingredients, such as potatoes, which take a while to become tender. Even after 45 minutes in a hot oven your kiełbasa will still be juicy on the inside!
That said make sure you use the right kind of Polish kiełbasa to make your sheet pan kielbasa bake (see above).
Step-by-step recipe instructions
1.Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 425F/220C/gas mark 7. You will need a large shallow roasting pan or sheet pan approx. 10ʺ/14ʺ.
2. Prepare kiełbasa: Cut the kiełbasa into approx. 3-inch pieces and score one side (use a crisscross pattern).
TIP: If you have individual sausages you do not need to cut them into smaller pieces (but don’t forget to score the tops).
3. Prepare vegetables: Peel the potatoes and cut into thick wedges. Place in a bowl lined with a paper towel and wipe the potatoes to remove excess moisture. Peel and cut the onions into 6-8 wedges each. Cut the pepper lengthways into about 8 strips and discard the seeds. Cut the zucchini in half then lengthways into thick strips. Place all vegetables in a large bowl.
4. Season vegetables: Add the herbs and seasoning and drizzle the oil over the vegetables. Stir thoroughly.
5. Assemble: Tip the vegetables into your oven pan and spread evenly in a single layer. Tuck the kiełbasa pieces (scored side up) into the mixture.
6. Bake: Place in the centre of the oven and bake for about 45 minutes or until the potatoes are fully cooked. Remove from the oven and serve!
TIP: If you want your pepper and zucchini to have a firmer texture add them into the pan 15 minutes later than the other ingredients.
Serving suggestions
Baked kiełbasa with vegetables can be served on its own or with a refreshing Polish-style salad. Examples include zesty sauerkraut salad (my favourite pairing!), cucumber (mizeria) or a simple tomato salad. You can also serve it with a classic coleslaw or Boston lettuce with vinaigrette.
How Poles eat kiełbasa
In Poland kiełbasa sausage is a staple. It can be boiled and served hot as a main meal with fried onions, potatoes or bread, but it is also eaten cold, sliced and added to sandwiches (in place of ham). It is also the star ingredient of summer barbecues. Roasting kiełbasa on a stick on a campfire takes me right back to my childhood!
Combining it with other ingredients to create a one-pot dish, as I’ve done in this kiełbasa dinner recipe is also very popular.
Top tips
- When shopping for kiełbasa for this dish make sure you get a variety that’s suitable for baking/barbecuing (lightly smoked) and not too dry (‘hunter’s or ‘krakowska’ are not suitable). Polish stores always have a good selection of kiełbasa.
- Wipe the potato wedges before seasoning to remove excess moisture.
- If you want your pepper and zucchini to have a firmer texture add them to the pan 15 minutes later than the other ingredients.
- Best served immediately. Leftover kiełbasa bake can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave or enjoy as a cold snack.
- Not suitable for freezing.
Related Polish recipes to try next
See also these other traditional Polish dishes including Polish soups!
Recipe
Polish Kiełbasa Bake
Equipment
- large shallow roasting pan or sheet pan
Ingredients
- 1.1 pounds (500 g) Polish kiełbasa see *Notes
- 4 medium potatoes
- 2 medium red onions
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 medium zucchini/courgette
- 2-2½ teaspoons herbes de Provence
- 2½ tablespoons olive oil
- ⅓ teaspoon fine sea salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 425F/220C/gas mark 7. You will need a large shallow roasting pan or sheet pan approx. 10ʺ/14ʺ.
- Prepare kiełbasa: Cut the kiełbasa into approx. 3-inch pieces and score one side (use a crisscross pattern).TIP: If you have individual sausages you do not need to cut them into smaller pieces (but don’t forget to score the tops).
- Prepare vegetables: Peel the potatoes and cut into thick wedges. Place in a bowl lined with a paper towel and wipe the potatoes to remove excess moisture. Peel and cut the onions into 6-8 wedges each. Cut the pepper lengthways into about 8 strips and discard the seeds. Cut the zucchini in half then lengthways into thick strips. Place all vegetables in a large bowl.
- Season vegetables: Add the herbs and seasoning and drizzle the oil over the vegetables. Stir thoroughly.
- Assemble: Tip the vegetables into your oven pan and spread evenly in a single layer. Tuck the kiełbasa pieces (scored side up) into the mixture.
- Bake: Place in the centre of the oven and bake for about 45 minutes or until the potatoes are fully cooked. Remove from the oven and serve!TIP: If you want your pepper and zucchini to have a firmer texture add them into the pan 15 minutes later than the other ingredients.
Notes
- *When shopping for kiełbasa for this dish make sure you get a variety that’s suitable for baking/barbecuing (lightly smoked) and not too dry (‘hunter’s or ‘krakowska’ are not suitable). Polish stores always have a good selection of kiełbasa.
- Wipe the potato wedges before seasoning to remove excess moisture.
- If you want your pepper and zucchini to have a firmer texture add them to the pan 15 minutes later than the other ingredients.
- Best served immediately. Leftover kiełbasa bake can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave or enjoy as a cold snack.
- Not suitable for freezing.
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is automatically generated and should be considered as an estimate.
**A note about baking: If using a fan-assisted oven refer to your appliance's instructions and adjust the temperature accordingly.
Keep in touch!
If you make this easy kiełbasa bake recipe I’d love to know how it turned out for you. What’s your favourite way of serving Polish sausage? Let me know in the comments below, thanks:)
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