Grill Up Polish Sausage and Sauerkraut Recipe, A Classic Summer Standby (2024)

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Here’s how to cook great grilled Polish sausage with sauerkraut and onions! Grill, then simmer with beer and caraway seeds for more flavor. It’s a perfect summer BBQ staple.

By

Elise Bauer

Grill Up Polish Sausage and Sauerkraut Recipe, A Classic Summer Standby (1)

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated November 28, 2022

Grill Up Polish Sausage and Sauerkraut Recipe, A Classic Summer Standby (2)

Grill Up Polish Sausage and Sauerkraut Recipe, A Classic Summer Standby (3)

Attention sausage and sauerkraut lovers! I think it's time we had our own fan club, don't you?

I nominate my Minnesota-raised father as the honorary chairman of that club. All I have to do is mention the words sausage and sauerkraut, and it doesn't seem to matter what else is involved. He's all over it.

In this case, when I mentioned we were grilling polish sausages and then simmering them in beer with sauerkraut and onions, he couldn't get here fast enough.

Polish Sausage with Sauerkraut, A Summer Standby

Sauerkraut and sausage are great summer grilling party food because you can keep those polish sausages simmering for a couple of hours on the grill, ensuring you have hot food ready throughout the party.

From what I understand, this dish is a summer standby in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Dad thinks it's pretty common in Nebraska too.

I'm just happy it made its way to Northern California. My patio, to be specific. Enjoy!

Perfect Sides for Sauerkraut and Sausage

  • Pickle Slaw
  • Hot Reuben Dip
  • Homemade Rye Bread
  • Oven-Fried Potato Chips
  • German Potato Salad

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Grilled Polish Sausage and Sauerkraut

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time60 mins

Total Time65 mins

Servings4to 6 servings

We recommend jarred fresh sauerkraut (like Bubbies), which you can find in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. If you don't have a grill, or this isn't grilling season, you can also put all ingredients into a casserole dish and bake in a 350°F oven for 1 1/2 hours.

Ingredients

  • 2 to 3 pounds sausage, either kielbasa or bratwurst

  • 1 to 2 (12-ounce) cans light (not dark) beer

  • 2 to 3 cups sauerkraut

  • 2 medium yellow onions, thickly sliced

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon celery seed

  • 1 tablespoon caraway seed

  • Mustard, for serving

Method

  1. Prepare the grill:

    Heat the grill to medium heat.

  2. Grill the sausages:

    Place sausages on the heated grill and allow them to brown well. Be patient; do not be tempted to grill the links over high heat or they will break open and the juices and fat will drain into the grill. (They may break open anyway, but they'll break less if you cook them slowly.)

    Grill Up Polish Sausage and Sauerkraut Recipe, A Classic Summer Standby (4)

  3. Heat the beer with celery seed, caraway seeds, and salt:

    While the sausages are cooking, put an aluminum grilling pan on a cooler part of the grill and pour in the beer. Stir in the celery and caraway seeds and salt. Bring to a simmer. (This may require covering the grill.)

  4. Add the sausages and sauerkraut:

    Once the sausages are browned add the sausages, sauerkraut, and sauerkraut juices to the pan with the beer.

    Grill Up Polish Sausage and Sauerkraut Recipe, A Classic Summer Standby (5)

    Grill Up Polish Sausage and Sauerkraut Recipe, A Classic Summer Standby (6)

  5. Grill the onions:

    Paint the sliced onion with the vegetable oil and grill on direct heat. If your grates are too wide, and you think you will lose too much onion through the grates, you can either skip the grilling part and put the onions directly into the beer bath.

    Or, you can cut the onions in halves or quarters and grill them that way. Then slice them and add them to the beer.

  6. Cover the grill and simmer:

    Simmer (not boil) for 30 minutes to 2 hours before serving. Cut the sausages into serving sized pieces before serving.

    Grill Up Polish Sausage and Sauerkraut Recipe, A Classic Summer Standby (7)

    Serve as is in a bowl or on a plate, or in a sandwich roll. Serve with mustard on the side.

  • Comfort Food
  • Sauerkraut
  • Kielbasas
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
854Calories
70g Fat
21g Carbs
30g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4to 6
Amount per serving
Calories854
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 70g90%
Saturated Fat 23g113%
Cholesterol 165mg55%
Sodium 3390mg147%
Total Carbohydrate 21g8%
Dietary Fiber 4g13%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 30g
Vitamin C 49mg245%
Calcium 146mg11%
Iron 4mg22%
Potassium 948mg20%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Grill Up Polish Sausage and Sauerkraut Recipe, A Classic Summer Standby (2024)

FAQs

How to grill the perfect Polish sausage? ›

One of the best ways to prepare and enjoy a Polish kiełbasa is to simply grill it and enjoy it on its own! If you're cooking it on the grill simply place your sausages on your grill once it's heated and ready and cook for about 5 minutes on each side or until it has a light char and golden color.

Is Polish sausage and sauerkraut good for you? ›

Here's why a quality sausage like McLean's Turkey Kielbasa, when eaten with sauerkraut, is the perfect meal: the combo is packed with protein and probiotics, and is super low in calories and carbs.

What to eat with Polish sausage and sauerkraut? ›

Try one of these 15 best side dishes to make with brats and sauerkraut that everyone in the family will love!
  1. Almost Homemade Baked Mac & Cheese.
  2. Italian Broccoli.
  3. Grilled Corn.
  4. Classic Crispy Roasted Potatoes.
  5. Cheesy Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
  6. Italian Pasta Salad.
  7. Greek Salad.
  8. Twice Baked Potato Cups.
Nov 8, 2022

What temperature do you grill kielbasa? ›

Grill sausages over medium heat (350 degrees Fahrenheit) until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.

How long do you cook Polish sausage on the grill? ›

Grilled Polish Sausage Recipe:
  1. Put grill on medium heat, when hot lightly oil grill bars with towel.
  2. Place Polish on grill bars to score.
  3. Cover and cook about 4 minutes on each side.
  4. Serve on toasted bun.

Do you have to boil Polish sausage before grilling? ›

There is really no reason to do so. Just, when grilling sausages, brown the outsides and then move them to a lower heat setting where they can cook all the way through.

What does sauerkraut do for your bowels? ›

Sauerkraut also has a high fiber content that helps with constipation by making stools softer, and simultaneously increasing its mass and volume. This bulkiness makes for easier passage through the digestive tract and quicker elimination.

What does eating sauerkraut everyday do to your body? ›

Sauerkraut is incredibly nutritious and healthy. It provides probiotics and vitamin K2, which are known for their health benefits, and many other nutrients. Eating sauerkraut may help strengthen your immune system, improve your digestion, reduce your risk of certain diseases, and even lose weight.

Is sauerkraut good for your kidneys? ›

Sauerkraut is fermented in salt brine, so the sodium content in sauerkraut is quite high. High sodium levels in the body increase blood pressure and the risk of unwanted cardiovascular and renal issues. If you suffer from any diseases, you are recommended to take your doctor's advice before consuming sauerkraut.

What's a good side dish for Polish sausage? ›

Potatoes and sauerkraut are a classic combination. Green beans, cooked, steamed or in a vinaigrette or boiled cabbage and carrots can also accompany polish sausage. What side dishes go well with grilled bratwurst? Sauerkraut is the most obvious.

What cheese goes well with kielbasa? ›

Pairing Notes

The pepper jack cheddar pairs well with kielbasa because of its robust garlic and herb profile.

What can I eat with sauerkraut to make it taste better? ›

Sauerkraut can be added to soups and stews; cooked with stock, beer or wine; served with sausages or salted meats, and is especially good with smoked fish, like hot-smoked salmon.

Can you overcook kielbasa? ›

It will take you an average of anything between 20–25 minutes, which is not a relatively long cooking time. Overcooking or overheating the sausage past 160 °F will make the fat in the meat melt and evaporate, leaving the sausage less juicy or dry.

How do you know when kielbasa is fully cooked? ›

Check for an internal temp between 160 and 165 °F (71 and 74 °C). In general, all sausages should be in this range. If your sausage is not, it needs more cook time.

Should I cut kielbasa before grilling? ›

Grill: Place kielbasa on a hot grill for a total of 25 minutes, flipping often. Do not cut the kielbasa as this will cause it to leak.

How do you know when Polish sausage is done? ›

Check for an internal temp between 160 and 165 °F (71 and 74 °C). In general, all sausages should be in this range. If your sausage is not, it needs more cook time.

References

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