Imagine the aroma of perfectly smoked kielbasa wafting through your backyard – that’s what you’ll get with this incredibly simple yet flavor-packed recipe! This Smoky BBQ Kielbasa transforms an ordinary sausage into a mouthwatering treat with minimal effort. The combination of slow smoking and grilling creates a depth of flavor that’s absolutely irresistible, while the sweet BBQ glaze adds the perfect finishing touch.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Incredibly Simple: With just 3 ingredients and minimal prep, this recipe practically makes itself!
Fantastic Flavor Payoff: The smoking process infuses the kielbasa with a deep, woodsy flavor that’s impossible to achieve any other way.
Versatile: Serve it as an appetizer, main dish, or bring it to your next potluck – it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Customizable: Use your favorite BBQ sauce to make it uniquely yours.
Perfect for Entertaining: Most of the cook time is hands-off, letting you focus on your guests.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Kielbasa: The star of the show! This Polish sausage already comes fully cooked, which means we’re just adding extra flavor and the perfect texture. Its natural smokiness pairs beautifully with additional smoke flavor.
Sweet BBQ Sauce: Adds that perfect sticky, sweet glaze that caramelizes beautifully on the grill. The sweetness balances the smokiness and adds depth to the final dish.
Water: Just a splash to thin out the BBQ sauce, helping it coat the kielbasa pieces more evenly and preventing it from becoming too thick when caramelized.

Note: Feel free to use your favorite BBQ sauce – if it’s already on the thinner side, you can skip the water entirely.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

Spice It Up

Want some heat? Add a teaspoon of hot sauce, chipotle powder, or cayenne pepper to your BBQ sauce mixture for a spicy kick that complements the smokiness perfectly.

Flavor Boosters

Try adding minced garlic, a splash of bourbon, or a tablespoon of maple syrup to your BBQ sauce for interesting flavor dimensions.

No Smoker? No Problem!

If you don’t have a smoker, you can still get delicious results by grilling the whole kielbasa for about 20-25 minutes over medium heat, turning occasionally, then proceeding with the sauce and final charring steps.

Party Bites

Cut the kielbasa into bite-sized rounds instead of larger pieces, reducing the final grilling time to about 5-7 minutes for perfect appetizers.

How to Make Smoky BBQ Kielbasa

Step 1: Smoke the Kielbasa

Preheat your smoker to the smoke setting. Place the whole kielbasa directly on the rack and let it smoke for 1 hour. This initial low-temperature smoking infuses the sausage with incredible flavor.

Step 2: Increase the Heat

Turn up the smoker temperature to 300°F and continue cooking for 30-40 minutes. During this time, the kielbasa will develop a beautiful brown color and naturally split in some places. Keep an eye on it—you want it browned, not blackened.

Step 3: Prepare for Grilling

Fire up your charcoal or gas grill to medium heat. While it’s heating, cut the smoked kielbasa into 3-4 inch pieces and place them in a bowl.

Step 4: Sauce It Up

In a small bowl, combine the sweet BBQ sauce and water. Pour this mixture over the cut kielbasa pieces and toss until they’re well coated.

Step 5: Grill to Perfection

Transfer the sauced kielbasa pieces to the preheated grill. Turn them frequently to prevent burning and baste with any remaining sauce. Continue grilling until you achieve your desired level of char—about 15 minutes for a beautiful dark char.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Serve immediately while hot and enjoy the perfect balance of smoke, sweetness, and char.

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

Wood Choice Matters: For kielbasa, fruit woods like apple or cherry add a complementary sweetness to the smoke profile.
Don’t Rush the Process: The slow smoking is what builds that incredible flavor foundation.
Watch the Grill Carefully: BBQ sauce can burn quickly due to its sugar content, so keep turning those pieces!
Let It Split: Those natural splits that form during smoking create perfect crevices for the BBQ sauce to settle into.
Rest Before Cutting: If you’re in a rush, let the smoked kielbasa rest for 5 minutes before cutting it into pieces for more even slices.

How to Serve

Main Dish

Serve with classic sides like potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, or grilled vegetables for a complete meal.

Appetizer Style

Cut into smaller pieces and serve with toothpicks and a side of extra BBQ sauce for dipping.

Sandwiches

Place a piece of the grilled kielbasa in a toasted bun with some sauerkraut or caramelized onions for a fantastic sandwich.

Family-Style Platter

Arrange on a platter surrounded by pickles, mustard, sliced bread, and other charcuterie items for a casual, sharable meal.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Let the kielbasa cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Freezing

This smoked kielbasa freezes beautifully! Once cooled, wrap individual pieces in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. They’ll keep for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Reheating

For best results, reheat in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes, or grill on medium heat for 5 minutes until warmed through. You can also microwave in 30-second increments until heated, though this method won’t preserve the texture as well.

FAQs

Can I use turkey or chicken kielbasa for this recipe?
Absolutely! Turkey or chicken kielbasa works wonderfully with this method. Just keep in mind that these leaner varieties might dry out a bit more quickly, so you might want to reduce the smoking time by about 15 minutes.

What’s the best BBQ sauce to use for this recipe?
The beauty of this recipe is that it works with virtually any BBQ sauce you enjoy. Sweet and smoky varieties complement the kielbasa particularly well, but feel free to experiment with honey BBQ, Kansas City-style, or even a Carolina mustard-based sauce for different flavor profiles.

Can I make this ahead for a party?
Definitely! You can smoke the kielbasa a day ahead, refrigerate it whole, and then do the final cutting, saucing, and grilling just before serving. This makes it perfect for entertaining.

What if I don’t have a smoker or grill?
No worries! You can achieve a similar result by roasting the kielbasa in a 350°F oven for about 20 minutes, then slicing, coating with sauce, and finishing under the broiler for 3-5 minutes, turning once or twice until caramelized.

This Smoky BBQ Kielbasa recipe proves that sometimes the simplest recipes deliver the most incredible flavors. With just a few ingredients and some patience, you can transform an ordinary kielbasa into something truly special. The combination of slow smoking and that final caramelized BBQ glaze creates a dish that’s sure to become a regular in your cooking rotation. Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue, need a quick weeknight dinner, or want to bring something different to a potluck, give this recipe a try!

Smoky BBQ Kielbasa Recipe

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Author: Lisa
Prep Time: 1 minute
Cook Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 56 minutes
Yield: 2 servings 1x
Category: Main-course
Method: Grilling
Cuisine: Polish-American

Print Recipe

Description

Savor the rich, smoky flavor of perfectly grilled kielbasa glazed with sweet BBQ sauce. This simple yet delicious recipe transforms traditional Polish sausage into a mouth-watering dish with beautiful char marks and caramelized edges.

Ingredients

Units Scale

14 ounce kielbasa
1/2 cup sweet BBQ sauce
1 tablespoon water

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Instructions

Preheat the Smoker
Set your smoker to the smoke setting. This initial low-temperature smoking will infuse the kielbasa with a delicious smoky flavor without cooking it too quickly.
Initial Smoking Phase
Place the kielbasa directly on the rack and smoke for 1 hour. During this time, the sausage will absorb the aromatic wood smoke, developing its signature flavor profile.
Increase Temperature
Turn the heat up to 300°F and continue cooking for 30-40 minutes. Watch as the kielbasa becomes brown and naturally splits in some sections. Be careful not to let it turn black, which would indicate burning.
Prepare the Grill
Preheat a charcoal or gas grill to medium heat. This second cooking method will give your kielbasa beautiful grill marks and caramelization.
Prepare the Sausage
While the grill is heating, cut the kielbasa into 3-4 inch pieces and place them in a bowl. These smaller sections will cook more evenly and are easier to handle on the grill.
Create the Glaze
In a small bowl, stir together the BBQ sauce and water to create a brushable glaze. Pour this mixture over the cut sausage pieces and toss thoroughly to ensure each piece is well coated.
Grill to Perfection
Place the sauce-coated pieces onto the grill and turn them frequently to prevent burning. Continue basting with the remaining sauce as you grill. Cook until you achieve your desired level of char, approximately 15 minutes for a good dark char. Serve immediately while hot.

Notes

This recipe can easily be doubled without changing the cooking time or method.
For a spicier version, add hot sauce or red pepper flakes to your BBQ sauce mixture.
If using a thick BBQ sauce, you can omit the water from the glaze.
For optimal food safety, ensure the kielbasa reaches an internal temperature of 160°F.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months. Reheat gently to maintain juiciness.