This Sausage, Cabbage and Apple Skillet is a one-pan dinner that comes together quickly. Ready in about 35 minutes, it’s an easy weeknight meal served as-is or over mashed potatoes.
Flavor: A combination of smoky, sweet, and tangy flavors comes together to make this hearty dish taste perfectly balanced.
Skill Level: This recipe is beginner-friendly, starting with an easy sauté and finishing with a quick whisked sauce.
Swaps: Use what you have on hand. Extra chicken broth or applesauce mixed with broth or water can be used in place of apple juice.
Leftovers: It reheats well for lunch, and the flavors are even better the next day.
Best Sausage and Apple Picks
Kielbasa or Smoked Sausage: Start with pre-cooked kielbasa, which browns quickly and adds smoky depth, though turkey sausage works as well and may just need a little extra seasoning.
Yellow Onion: Slice it thin so it softens quickly and blends nicely into the cabbage.
Green Cabbage: Look for a heavy head with tight leaves and chop it into bite-sized pieces for even cooking. As a time-saver, bagged coleslaw mix works well, too.
Apples: Honeycrisp or Fuji stay pleasantly firm, while Granny Smith adds more tartness. Peeling is optional. Swap apples for pears for a softer, milder sweetness.
How it Comes Together
In a large skillet (or Dutch oven), brown sausage in oil, then set aside.
Cook sliced onion, cabbage, and apples until tender.
Add sauce (full recipe below) and sausage, andsimmer until cabbage is soft.
Slice the sausage evenly so it browns quickly, then let it get a nice color before removing, since those browned bits add flavor.
If doubling the recipe, brown the sausage in batches to keep everything crisp.
Keep cabbage pieces similar in size and add the apples once the cabbage softens, so they stay tender.
Whisk the sauce until smooth, and for extra sauce, add a splash more broth and simmer a minute longer.
Easy Storage and Reheating Tips
Cool and store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat gently in a skillet with a splash of broth on the stove or in the microwave, stirring occasionally.
For longer storage, freeze in portions for up to 3 months and thaw overnight. The cabbage and apples soften a bit after freezing, but the flavor stays delicious.
Cozy Cabbage Comforts
Did you make this Sausage, Cabbage, and Apple Skillet? Leave a comment and rating below.
Prep Time 15 minutesminutes
Cook Time 20 minutesminutes
Total Time 35 minutesminutes
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook 4 to 5 minutes or until browned. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
Add onion and cabbage to the same skillet, adding more oil if needed. Cook 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage begins to soften.
Stir in the apples and cook 3 to 4 minutes or until just tender.
In a small bowl, whisk together chicken broth, apple juice, Dijon, vinegar, thyme, salt, and pepper. Pour over the cabbage mixture.
Return the sausage to the skillet. Stir to combine.
Cook uncovered 5 minutes or until the cabbage is tender and the liquid has slightly reduced.
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This sheet pan honey garlic kielbasa recipe is one of those dinners that makes weeknights feel easier. Everything bakes together on one pan — smoky kielbasa, tender vegetables, and a simple honey garlic sauce that turns sweet and savory in the oven.
It’s the kind of meal you can toss together quickly, pop in the oven, and walk away from while it cooks. Minimal prep, minimal cleanup, and a dinner everyone loves.
A Healthy One Pan Dinner That Actually Fills You Up
We’re always on the hunt for healthy one pan dinners! We want meals that feel balanced, satisfying, and don’t leave us rummaging through the pantry an hour later. That’s exactly why we love this one pan honey garlic kielbasa and vegetables.
The mix of sweet potatoes and regular potatoes makes this meal hearty enough to truly fill you up, while the broccoli adds freshness and color. More color on your plate isn’t just good for nutrients, it also helps your brain register the meal as satisfying, so you actually feel done when dinner’s over.
Why a Sheet Pan Works Best for This Kielbasa Recipe
Even roasting: Spreading everything out on a sheet pan allows the kielbasa and vegetables to roast instead of steam, giving you better browning and caramelization.
Perfect texture balance: The potatoes become tender, the broccoli gets lightly crisp, and the kielbasa browns beautifully — all at the same time.
Hands-off cooking: Once everything is on the pan and in the oven, there’s very little to manage. No stirring, no babysitting.
Big flavor, easy cleanup: The honey garlic sauce melts and coats the sausage as it bakes, creating big flavor without extra dishes.
Ingredients You’ll Need
We wanted to keep this sheet pan sausage dinner as simple as possible, so we used all pantry staples to whip up this quick meal.
Pork Kielbasa: Provides smoky, savory flavor and hearty protein. Because it’s already cooked, it browns beautifully in the oven while soaking up the honey garlic sauce.
Sweet Potato: Adds natural sweetness and a tender, slightly caramelized texture that balances the savory kielbasa and garlic sauce.
Other Potatoes: Create a hearty, filling base for the meal. They roast up golden and fluffy inside, soaking in the flavors from the sauce.
Broccoli: Adds freshness, color, and a slightly crisp texture. Broccoli balances the richness of the sausage and sweet sauce.
Olive Oil: Helps everything roast evenly, prevents sticking, and encourages browning on both the vegetables and kielbasa.
Salt and Pepper: Enhances the natural flavors of the vegetables and sausage and ensures everything is well-seasoned before roasting.
Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and depth, helping the sauce melt into a smooth, flavorful glaze as it bakes.
Honey: Provides natural sweetness and helps the sauce caramelize slightly in the oven.
Brown Sugar: Deepens the sweetness and adds a hint of molasses flavor, creating a more complex sweet-savory balance.
Garlic: Delivers bold, aromatic flavor that defines the sauce and pairs perfectly with the smoky kielbasa.
Dijon Mustard: Adds tang and subtle sharpness, cutting through the sweetness and keeping the sauce from tasting flat.
Dried Basil: Brings a light herbal note that adds freshness and rounds out the sauce.
Dried Oregano: Adds savory depth and a slightly earthy flavor that complements both the garlic and sausage.
What is Kielbasa?
Kielbasa is a Polish sausage that’s usually flavored with garlic. It’s either hot or cold smoked, though today you’ll find it most often hot smoked. The meat is usually cured and then has garlic and spices added to it.
PRO TIP
You don’t have to peel the sweet potatoes before roasting them. Just give them a thorough wash under warm water and pat dry before dicing them. The skin is packed with nutrients!
How to Make Sheet Pan Kielbasa
Cooking kielbasa on a sheet pan is as easy as it gets. Here are the basic steps to mastering this recipe:
Make the Sauce: Whisk together the honey garlic sauce in a bowl.
Roast the Potatoes: Oil the sheet pan and spread out the chopped potatoes in a single layer. Toss with more olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Roast the Kielbasa: Add the sliced kielbasa to the sheet pan and brush with all but 2 tablespoons of sauce.
Cook the Broccoli: Bake for 20 minutes, then add broccoli to the sheet pan and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes.
Serve: Brush the kielbasa with the remaining sauce just before serving. Enjoy!
Can I Use Different Veggies in This Sheet Pan Recipe?
Absolutely! You definitely don’t have to use the same veggies we did, we just loved how the Polish kielbasa sausage paired with the root vegetables. However, you could use asparagus, carrots, onions, brussel sprouts, or any other veggies you have on hand.
Can I Double This Kielbasa Recipe?
Have more mouths to feed? You can definitely double this recipe, but you’ll want to split the ingredients between two sheet pans and rotate them in the oven halfway through baking. If you try to cram the ingredients onto one sheet pan, you’ll overcrowd the pan and the veggies will steam instead of roast.
What to Serve with Kielbasa Sheet Pan Dinner
We serve this kielbasa recipe with a side salad just to freshen things up even more. Grains like rice and quinoa also pair nicely with this sheet pan dinner. But this truly is so filling on its own — and what’s the point in a one-pan dinner if you’re going to do even more work?
Storing, Reheating and Make Ahead
This sheet pan recipe is best the day it’s made, but leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Be sure to store it in an airtight container.
To reheat it, I like to use the oven so the kielbasa gets a little crispy and caramelized again. Reheat in a 350℉ oven in a single layer on a sheet pan for 10-15 minutes. If you’re in a hurry, a quick zap in the microwave works just fine too!
You can cut the kielbasa and broccoli ahead of time and prep the sauce. You can make the sauce up to 2 or 3 days ahead of time. Just store it in the fridge until ready to use. Then when it’s time for dinner, just cube the potatoes and sweet potatoes and toss everything on the sheet pan.
If you love easy dinners with big flavor, this sheet pan honey garlic kielbasa deserves a spot in your rotation. It’s simple, flexible, and perfect for busy nights when you want something comforting without extra work. Be sure to watch the video below!
More ONE-PAN RECIPES:
Watch How Easy it is to Make this Sheet Pan Recipe…
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Whisk together the honey garlic sauce and set aside 1-2 Tablespoons for serving.
2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, 2 Tablespoons Honey, 1 ½ Tablespoons Brown Sugar, 3 Cloves Garlic, ¼ teaspoon Salt, 1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard, ½ teaspoon Dried Basil, ½ teaspoon Dried Oregano, 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Spread the olive oil on a baking sheet and add the two types of potatoes. Sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper and toss to coat.
1 Sweet Potato, 4 Small Potatoes, 1-2 teaspoons Kosher Salt, Pinch Black Pepper, 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
Add the kielbasa to the pan and brush with the honey garlic sauce, leaving those 1-2 tablespoons aside. Bake for 20 minutes.
1 Pork Kielbasa
In the meantime, drizzle a little olive oil and salt and pepper on the broccoli. Add the broccoli to the sheet pan after the 20 minutes. Continue to bake for another 5-10 minutes, or until the broccoli is a vibrant green.
This one-skillet kielbasa and sauerkraut is a warm, hearty meal perfect for busy evenings. After a quick simmer, the flavors blend into a cozy dinner that’s ready in under 30 minutes.
Flavor: Savory, smoky, and buttery with tangy sauerkraut and sweet, caramelized onions.
Skill Level: Simple ingredients and simple steps get this easy dinner on the table quickly with minimal clean-up.
Time-Saving Tip: Buy pre-sliced kielbasa and onions to make prep quick.
Kielbasa: Choose fully cooked kielbasa sausage for the fastest cook time. Swap for any summer sausage, Polish sausage, meatballs, bacon, or diced ham.
Sauerkraut: Drain well so it simmers instead of steams. Replace the sauerkraut with a bag of coleslaw mix in a pinch.
Seasonings: Chicken broth with a little oregano adds depth of flavor to kielbasa and sauerkraut. For a classic flavor, add a pinch of caraway seeds. If you like it a little sweeter, stir in a splash of apple juice or apple cider, or a small spoonful of brown sugar.
Variations: Toss in a bag of frozen diced potatoes in Step 3 or some sliced apples for a traditional Polish flavor. Bump up the nutrition by adding some shredded zucchini or a bag of peas and carrots.
How to Make Kielbasa and Sauerkraut
Brown sliced kielbasa in oil. Transfer to a bowl.
Cook the onion in butter, and add the remaining ingredients (full recipe below), including kielbasa.
Simmer until heated through.
Slice the kielbasa diagonally for more surface area and better browning.
Be sure to let the kielbasa sit undisturbed for a minute or two per side to truly sear and not steam.
For a milder tang, rinse the sauerkraut before adding it to the skillet. For a bolder flavor, leave it un-rinsed.
If doubling the recipe, sear the kielbasa in batches so the pan stays hot and they brown nicely.
Leftovers That Last!
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze portions in zippered bags for up to a month. Reheat on the stovetop, in a crock pot, or in a casserole dish covered with aluminum foil in the oven.
More Cozy & Comforting Dishes
Did you enjoy this Kielbasa and Sauerkraut Recipe? Leave a comment and rating below.
Prep Time 5 minutesminutes
Cook Time 20 minutesminutes
Total Time 25 minutesminutes
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add kielbasa and cook until browned on both sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Reduce the heat to medium and to the same pan, add butter and onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes.
Stir in sauerkraut, broth, oregano, and black pepper. Mix well to combine. Add kielbasa.
Cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through and flavors are blended.
Serve warm with crusty bread or boiled potatoes.
Rinse sauerkraut if you prefer a milder flavor. * Add sliced apples or a splash of apple cider for a touch of sweetness. Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
