Air Fryer Kielbasa

Air Fryer Kielbasa is an easy way to heat fully cooked kielbasa while giving the outside a browned, slightly crisp finish. A light coating of oil helps the edges brown while the inside stays juicy.

This method works with turkey, beef, or pork kielbasa, including Polska kielbasa. Serve it with Browned Butter Mashed Potatoes or Pressure Cooker Cabbage for an easy dinner. If you have another type of fully cooked sausage, use my Smoked Sausage in the Air Fryer recipe instead.

Why Make Kielbasa in the Air Fryer

• Quick and easy: Since kielbasa is already fully cooked, you’re mainly heating it through and browning the outside.
• Great browned edges: A light coating of oil and the circulating hot air help the outside brown while the inside stays juicy.
• Minimal cleanup: Everything cooks right in the air fryer basket, so you don’t need to heat a skillet or dirty another pan.

Ingredients Needed

• Kielbasa: I use 16 oz of fully cooked kielbasa. Mine is turkey kielbasa, but you can also use fully cooked pork or beef kielbasa.
• Oil spray: A light coating of olive or avocado oil spray helps the outside brown in the air fryer.

How to Make Kielbasa in the Air Fryer

Cut the kielbasa

Cut the kielbasa into thick pieces or slices. I cut mine into pieces about 1 inch thick so there is plenty of surface area to brown.

Arrange it in the air fryer

Place the kielbasa in a single layer so the hot air can circulate around the pieces. Lightly spray it with olive or avocado oil.

Air fry until browned

Cook at 400°F until the kielbasa is hot throughout and the outside is browned to your liking. I prefer mine after about 10 minutes when the edges have developed more color.

How Long to Cook Kielbasa in the Air Fryer

Since the kielbasa is already fully cooked, it can be heated through before the outside is deeply browned. Start checking it around 5–6 minutes if you prefer less color.

I usually let mine cook for about 10 minutes at 400°F because I prefer the more browned edges. The extra time is for browning, not because the sausage needs to cook from raw.

Top Cooking Tips

• Use fully cooked kielbasa: This method is for the refrigerated, fully cooked kielbasa sold in U-shaped links, not raw sausage.
• Use oil for better color: You only need a light coating. The oil helps the surface brown as the kielbasa air fries.
• Give the pieces some room: Keeping the kielbasa in a single layer allows the hot air to reach more of the surface instead of steaming crowded pieces.
• Skip the extra salt: Kielbasa is already well seasoned and can be fairly salty, so I don’t add any.

For a BBQ version, season the kielbasa with my BBQ Seasoning before air frying, then serve it with your favorite BBQ sauce.

What to Serve with Air Fryer Kielbasa

Kielbasa is especially good with potatoes and cabbage, but simple vegetables work well too. Serve it with Browned Butter Mashed Potatoes or Air Fryer Potato Wedges for a hearty dinner. Pressure Cooker Cabbage and Air Fryer Green Beans are easy vegetable sides.

You can also cut the kielbasa into bite-sized pieces and serve it with mustard or BBQ sauce for an easy appetizer.

Storage

Store leftover air fryer kielbasa in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2–3 days. Reheat it in the air fryer until warmed through.

More Air Fryer Sausage Recipes

If you have another type of sausage, try my Smoked Sausage in the Air Fryer, Air Fryer Sausage Patties, Air Fryer Breakfast Sausage, Air Fryer Brats, or Air Fryer Italian Sausage.

If you try this recipe, please stop back and leave it a star rating and/or a review in the comments. Stay connected & share photos of your creations with me & others on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!