One Pan Cabbage and Kielbasa
A classic Polish dish! This One Pan Cabbage and Kielbasa is a perfect quick and easy weeknight meal and can be ready and on the table in just 30 minutes!
This is one straight from my childhood, friends! Raised Polish, cabbage and kielbasa was a huge part of my diet! And this One Pan Cabbage and Kielbasa is a dish that my dad made a lot! I mean what’s not to love about sautéed cabbage with the salty meaty addition of the Polish sausage!
Ingredients Needed
Easy to make, with easy ingredients.
- Cabbage – We prefer green for this, but if red is all you have, it will work too! You could also slice the cabbage too instead of chopping it and when we do that I also slice the onions.
- Kielbasa – Ahh Polish sausage.
- Onion and Garlic – Do I even have any recipes without these two staples? 😉
- Red Wine Vinegar – This adds a great tang and acidity to the dish. If you’d like a lighter tangy tough, you can use white wine vinegar instead.
- Olive oil, paprika, salt, pepper
What is Kielbasa?
The word “Kielbasa” literally means “sausage” in Polish. While it may mean a particular kind of sausage here in the States, in Poland (or in an authentic Polish market) it means any sausage.
Kielbasa can come smoked, fresh, or cured, and can be made up of a variety of meats. While most are made with pork, they can also have lamb, chicken, or ground beef. Usually, they have garlic, juniper, and marjoram for additional flavoring.
There are many kinds of Kielbasa found in Poland or a traditional Polish market, however, what you’ll likely find at your local grocer is known as Kielbasa Zwyczajna, which is “ordinary” kielbasa and made with pork, garlic, salt, pepper, and marjoram and will already be fully cooked which makes it a nice quick, easy addition to a lot of meals!
How to Make Kielbasa and Cabbage
Step 1: While the Kielbasa is already fully cooked, I like to give it a quick cook on it’s own in the pan to brown it. This will help bring out more of it’s savory flavor.
Step 2: Then it’s just a saute of the garlic, onion, and cabbage with the red wine vinegar, paprika, and salt and pepper.
This will undoubtedly cause everyone in your house to pop their head into the kitchen to see what you’re making because your kitchen will smell so good!
Tip: Turn the cabbage often while it’s first cooking to be sure it gets coated with red wine and oil. Also, add the paprika after the cabbage has already cooked for about 5 minutes, this will allow it to stand out a little more and have a more distinct flavor. Adding herbs and spices to the beginning of cooking will give it more time to cook and then ‘blend’ in with the dish while adding it to the end of the cooking time will allow it to stand out a bit more on its own.
Step 3: Once the cabbage is tender, add the kielbasa back in a give it a good mix!
And done! One Pan Cabbage and Kielbasa, the perfect busy weeknight dinner, ready and on the table in under 30 minutes! We love to serve this with some bread like our Easy Crusty French Baguette!
Other One Pan/Pot Meals
- One Pot Cheesy Kielbasa Broccoli and Rice
- One Pot 20 Minute Greek Pasta
- One Pot Broccoli Penne
- Sheet Pan Shrimp and Asparagus
- 20 Minute Sweet and Spicy Noodles
- Cauliflower Shrimp Fried “Rice”
Enjoy! As always, if you make this recipe or any of my others, I love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below, email me, or you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
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One Pan Cabbage and Kielbasa
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 oz kielbasa, sliced 1 package
- 6-7 cups green cabbage chopped about 1 small cabbage
- 1 small white onion, chopped
- 5-6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 -1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Add 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil to a large saute pan and heat on medium high. Add kielbasa in one single layer and brown for about 2 minutes on one side and then flip and brown another 2 minutes on the other side. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Turn heat down to medium and add onion and garlic. Saute for 1-2 minutes until garlic is fragrant and onions are translucent.
- Add red wine vinegar and remaining olive oil and mix well and then add cabbage to pan. Mix well and cook for 5 minutes, stirring and mixing often so the cabbage is coated with oil and vinegar.
- Season with paprika and salt and stir well to coat all cabbage with paprika.
- Sauté until cabbage is slightly browned and wilted. Add the kielbasa and mix well and serve!
Tracy, I was thinking of adding in a can of diced tomatoes..kinda like an unwrapped cabbage roll. How do you think that would taste in this recipe?
Oooh interesting idea! Hmm I would change the cut of the cabbage to sliced and while it would probably work with kielbasa, I think sauteed crumbled sausage would taste better!
Not so great
Sorry it wasn’t for you, Steven.
Would you suggest the Kielbasa to be mixed in at some point? If so, when?
Hi Linda! I’m so sorry if that wasn’t clear, you add the cooked kielbasa at the end.
Made with German sausages. Easy recipe 15 min done.
Love to hear it, Justine! Thanks so much for sharing!
Scrumptious ! Send more recipes! My family loved it and I look like a Top Chef lol.
Happy to hear it, Jason! 😀
Mmm, mmm good! I have made this many times but always throw in a sliced apple or two for extra sweetness.
Oooh nice addition, Gale! Thanks so much for sharing!
LOVE cabbage dishes, but I’ve never thought of doing one with kielbasa! This looks AMAZING!
Thanks so much, Karly! Oooh you have to cook more with kielbasa! 😀
amazing….I love the flavor of the cabbage!!!
Love this dish Tracy! These dishes are perfect for an easy meal. Loved your story too. I have a friend that was married to an Asian man and when she would go somewhere with their son strangers would ask where she got him.