Get ready for your new favorite weeknight dinner. This Crockpot Kielbasa and Green Beans recipe is the definition of a “dump and go” meal that delivers incredible flavor with minimal effort. It’s a savory, satisfying, and incredibly simple dish that will have your family asking for seconds. Just a few minutes of prep is all it takes to come home to a delicious, hot meal waiting for you.
We combine smoky kielbasa, tender-crisp green beans, and hearty potatoes in a simple yet elegant garlic and brown sugar sauce. The slow cooker does all the work, allowing the flavors to meld together into a truly comforting and delicious dinner. This is the perfect one-pot meal for busy days.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Crockpot Kielbasa Recipe
If you’re looking for a fuss-free meal, this is it. Here’s why this recipe will become a staple in your meal rotation:
- Set It and Forget It: With just 15 minutes of prep time, you can have this meal cooking away in your slow cooker while you focus on other things.
- Minimal Ingredients: This dish uses pantry staples and common ingredients, making it budget-friendly and easy to shop for.
- One-Pot Wonder: Everything cooks together in the crockpot, which means cleanup is an absolute breeze.
- Family-Friendly Flavor: The combination of savory sausage and a slightly sweet sauce is a guaranteed hit with both kids and adults. For a similar easy weeknight meal, try this amazing Taco Spaghetti recipe.
The Simple Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe focuses on simple, high-quality ingredients to create a delicious and satisfying meal. Here’s what you’ll need to gather.
For the Main Dish
- Kielbasa: Also known as Polish sausage, this is the star of the show. Its smoky flavor is essential. You can use pre-cooked turkey or beef kielbasa.
- Green Beans: Fresh green beans are best for a tender-crisp texture. Trim the ends before adding them to the pot.
- Baby Potatoes: Red or gold baby potatoes work perfectly. They hold their shape well and become wonderfully tender.
- Onion: A yellow or sweet onion adds a foundational layer of aromatic flavor.
For the Savory Sauce
- Chicken Broth: This creates the liquid base for our sauce, adding depth and moisture.
- Soy Sauce: Use low-sodium soy sauce to control the saltiness while adding a rich umami flavor.
- Brown Sugar: A touch of brown sugar balances the savory notes and creates a delicious glaze.
- Minced Garlic: Freshly minced garlic provides the best flavor, but jarred garlic works in a pinch.
- Black Pepper: Freshly cracked black pepper adds a final touch of spice.
How to Make Crockpot Kielbasa and Green Beans
Making this slow cooker kielbasa and green beans recipe is as easy as 1-2-3. Follow these simple steps for a perfect meal every time.
- Prep Your Ingredients: Start by slicing the kielbasa into half-inch rounds. Wash and chop the baby potatoes into quarters. Slice your onion.
- Layer the Crockpot: Place the quartered potatoes and sliced onions at the bottom of your slow cooker. This allows them to soften in the cooking liquid. Add the sliced kielbasa on top.
- Mix the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, and black pepper until the sugar is dissolved.
- Pour and Cook: Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the kielbasa and potatoes in the crockpot. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours.
- Add the Green Beans: About 30-45 minutes before the cooking time is up, stir in the fresh green beans. This is the secret to keeping them from getting mushy. Cook until they are tender-crisp.
Once everything is cooked through, give it a final stir and serve warm. This dish is perfect on its own or with a side of crusty bread. For another easy and savory meal, check out our Chicken Cheesesteak Sandwich.
Tips for the Best Results
Want to make sure your Crockpot Kielbasa and Green Beans turns out perfectly? Follow these simple tips from our kitchen.
- Don’t Overcook the Beans: For the best texture, add the green beans during the last 30-45 minutes of cooking. This keeps them vibrant and tender-crisp, not soft and mushy.
- Choose the Right Kielbasa: Look for a good quality, pre-cooked Polish kielbasa or smoked sausage. The better the sausage, the more flavorful the dish.
- Cut Uniformly: Try to cut your potatoes and kielbasa into similar-sized pieces to ensure they cook evenly.
Delicious Variations to Try
This recipe is a fantastic starting point, but feel free to customize it to your liking! Here are a few ideas:
- Add More Veggies: Bell peppers, mushrooms, or baby carrots would be excellent additions. Add them with the potatoes and onions.
- Make It Spicy: For a little kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of your favorite hot sauce to the sauce mixture.
- Different Sausage: Andouille or another smoked sausage can be used for a different flavor profile. Just ensure it’s pre-cooked.
What to Serve with Crockpot Kielbasa and Green Beans
This is a hearty one-pot meal, but it also pairs wonderfully with a few simple sides. Consider serving it with a side of crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce, a simple side salad, or a scoop of rice. If you love seafood pairings, this Steak and Shrimp Foil Packet recipe is another great option for an easy dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use frozen green beans, but fresh will give you the best tender-crisp texture. If using frozen, add them during the last 20-30 minutes of cooking as they will cook faster than fresh beans.
Yes, you can, but most kielbasa sold in stores is already smoked and pre-cooked. Using pre-cooked kielbasa is recommended for this recipe as it ensures the best texture and flavor.
The key is to add the fresh green beans only during the last 30-45 minutes of the cooking time. This heats them through and makes them tender without overcooking them into a mushy texture.
Since kielbasa is pre-cooked, it only needs to heat through. In this recipe, it cooks for 4-5 hours on LOW or 2-3 hours on HIGH along with the potatoes to allow all the flavors to meld together perfectly.
This dish is a complete meal on its own, but it also pairs wonderfully with crusty bread, a simple side salad, rice, or egg noodles to soak up the delicious sauce.
Storing and Reheating
This dish makes for fantastic leftovers! Store any extra in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply microwave individual portions until warmed through or gently heat on the stovetop over medium-low heat. The flavors are often even better the next day!
We Hope You Enjoyed This Recipe!
This Crockpot Kielbasa and Green Beans recipe is a true lifesaver on busy days, delivering a delicious and comforting meal with almost no work. We know you’ll love its simple, savory flavor. If you tried it and loved it, please leave a comment below or share it on Pinterest for others to enjoy!
Crockpot Kielbasa and Green Beans Recipe
Crockpot Kielbasa and Green Beans (Easy & Flavorful!)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Place the quartered potatoes and sliced onion in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. Top with the sliced kielbasa.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, soy sauce, packed brown sugar, minced garlic, and black pepper until well combined.
- Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the ingredients in the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours, until the potatoes are tender.
- Stir in the trimmed fresh green beans. Cover again and cook for an additional 30-45 minutes, or until the green beans are tender-crisp.
- Stir gently to combine everything, then serve warm.
Notes
Tip 2: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors are even better the next day!
