Cola Kielbasa

January 17, 2022
Glazed with a flavorful mix of brown sugar and Coke, Cola Kielbasa is whipped up super quick and easy with just four simple ingredients. In fact, Cola Kielbasa is so quick and easy, this family-favorite may just be the perfect weeknight meal!

Serving Spoon of Cola Kielbasa Image

Many a-night at our house when the question "What's for dinner?" is posed, the answer is Cola Kielbasa. It truly is one of our family's favorite go-to weeknight meals.

As a busy Mom, you've just got to have some quick and easy meals up your sleeve. Between work, school, homework, appointments, sports, and you-name-whatever-else, some nights there just isn't much time to get dinner on the table. And on those days when I don't have much time (or energy, for that matter) to get dinner on the table? -- Cola Kielbasa is one of the quick and easy meals to which I turn.

Why? -- Oh, the reasons to love this dish are so many.

Cola Kielbasa truly is one of our family's favorite go-to weeknight meals.

It's one of our favorite weeknight go-to's, first and foremost, because our family loves it. It doesn't do any good to have a quick and easy meal recipe that everyone turns their nose up at when it's placed on the table, right? Well, up-turned noses sure don't happen with this one. Just the opposite -- Cola Kielbasa gets happy smiles and "yums" at our house when it hits the table.

Another reason we love this dish is it's made with just four simple ingredients. Nothing fancy here, just kielbasa, Coke, brown sugar, and a touch of mustard to round out the flavors. We're not even really soda drinkers, but I keep a 2-liter bottle of Coke on hand in our pantry just to make Cola Kielbasa.

And, of course, we love Cola Kielbasa because it's just so darn quick and easy to make. Simply slice some kielbasa, brown it lightly in a pan, simmer it for about 6 to 8 minutes with the cola glaze ingredients, and you're done. Cola Kielbasa is on the table in about 20 minutes from start-to-finish.

Combine those reasons with the fact it's loaded with fabulous flavor, and it's easy to see why Cola Kielbasa may just be the perfect family-favorite quick and easy weeknight meal.

Pan of Cola Kielbasa Image


What's to Love About This Recipe?
  • Flavorful - With its cola and brown sugar-based glaze, Cola Kielbasa is loaded with fabulous flavor.
  • Quick & easy - This ones not just easy, it's quick too! With super simple prep steps, Cola Kielbasa is on the table in about 20 minutes from start-to-finish. 
  • Just 4 ingredients - Nothing fancy here. Just 4 simple ingredients combine to create this flavorful dish.
  • Family-favorite - Loved by the grown-ups and kids, alike.
  • Weeknight-friendly - Its ease of prep makes it a perfect quick and easy weeknight go-to meal.

Fork Bite of Cola Kielbasa Image

Cola Kielbasa Ingredients:

It takes just 4 simple ingredients plus a pinch of salt & pepper to make this family-favorite Cola Kielbasa. To whip up a panful, you'll need:

  • Kielbasa (or smoked sausage) - We use Hillshire Farm Turkey Kielbasa or Turkey Smoked Sausage, however beef kielbasa/smoked sausage and other brands work great, as well.

  • Coca-Cola - Cola creates the base of the kielbasa's syrupy glaze. Pepsi can be substituted for Coke, just fine. But do be sure to use regular Coke or Pepsi instead of diet for the best result. The sugar in regular soda helps better create the glaze.

  • Light brown sugar - Brown sugar combines with the cola to form the dish's deliciously sweet glaze.

  • Mustard - A small touch of prepared yellow mustard lends a savory element to the sweet glaze and rounds out its flavor.

  • Salt & pepper - Season to taste with a small pinch of salt and pepper.

Cola Kielbasa Ingredients Image

How to Make Cola Kielbasa:

Cola Kielbasa truly couldn't be much easier to make. If you can slice and turn on the stove, you can whip up this dish!

To get this recipe started, slice a package of kielbasa into rounds. I always cut the kielbasa on a bit of a slant rather than straight across, so the cuts create more of an oval shape than a circle. But slicing either way -- perfect-circle rounds or ovals -- works just great.

Sliced Kielbasa to Make Cola Kielbasa Image

Then lightly grease a non-stick frying or saute pan with butter or non-stick cooking spray and heat the pan over medium heat. 

Add the sliced kielbasa and saute it until it's heated through and lightly browned.

Browned Kielbasa Slices in Pan Image

Add some Coca-Cola (or Pepsi), brown sugar, and a small bit of mustard to the pan. Stir them together in the pan to get them combined.

Adding Cola to Pan to Glaze Kielbasa Image

Simmer everything together over medium heat for about 6-8 minutes, stirring very frequently, until the cola mixture forms a thick syrupy glaze coating the kielbasa slices. 

Finally, season with a pinch of salt and pepper, to taste.

Pan of Kielbasa Glazed with Coke Image

Then you're ready to serve it up. -- All in about 20 minutes flat, from start-to-finish.

Quick, easy, four simple ingredients, and loaded with flavor, Cola Kielbasa may just be the perfect go-to weeknight meal.

Plate of Cola Kielbasa with Mashed Potatoes and Corn Image

Recipe FAQs:
  • What type of kielbasa works best to make Cola Kielbasa? - We use Hillshire Farm Turkey Kielbasa or Turkey Smoked Sausage, however beef kielbasa/smoked sausage and other brands work great, as well. Just use your favorite.
  • Do I need to use Coke to make Cola Kielbasa, or do other sodas work too? - We use Coca-Cola to create the base of Cola Kielbasa's syrupy glaze. But Pepsi or other cola sodas can be substituted for Coke, just fine.
  • Can I use diet soda to make Cola Kielbasa? - We recommend using regular Coke or Pepsi instead of diet for the best result. The sugar in regular soda helps better create the signature syrupy glaze.

Check out these other easy weeknight dinner recipes:


Fork Bite of Kielbasa Glazed with Coke Image
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cola kielbasa, Coke kielbasa, kielbasa glazed with Coke, kielbasa glazed with cola, easy kielbasa recipe
main dishes
American
Yield: about 3-4 servings
Cola Kielbasa

Cola Kielbasa

Glazed with a flavorful mix of brown sugar and Coke, Cola Kielbasa is whipped up super quick and easy with just four simple ingredients. In fact, Cola Kielbasa is so quick and easy, this family-favorite may just be the perfect weeknight meal!
Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 15 MinTotal time: 20 Min

Ingredients

  • 1 (13 oz.) package kielbasa or smoked sausage
  • 1/4 c. Coca-Cola (or Pepsi)
  • 2 T. light brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. yellow mustard
  • pinch of salt & pepper

Instructions

  1. Slice kielbasa into rounds.
  2. Lightly grease a non-stick frying or saute pan with butter or non-stick cooking spray and heat the pan over medium heat. Add sliced kielbasa and saute until heated through and lightly browned.
  3. Add Coca-Cola, brown sugar, and mustard; stir in pan to combine.
  4. Simmer over medium heat, stirring very frequently, until the cola mixture forms a thick syrupy glaze coating the kielbasa slices, about 6-8 minutes.
  5. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, to taste.
TRACEY'S NOTES:
  1. We use Hillshire Farm Turkey Kielbasa or Turkey Smoked Sausage, however beef kielbasa/smoked sausage and other brands work great, as well.
  2. Use regular Coca-Cola or Pepsi in this recipe, instead of diet, for the best result. The sugar in regular soda helps create a better glaze.
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This post is linked with Weekend Potluck.

4 comments

  1. I like this recipe. It looks and sounds delicious. And so easy to make too. Thanks for sharing so many good recipes with us each week. #HomeMattersParty

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    1. Thank you for allowing us to link with you! We hope you and your readers enjoy this easy to make recipe.

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  2. We will love your Cola Kielbasa, it looks so good! Your awesome post is featured this week on Full Plate Thursday, 573. Thanks so much for sharing with us and hope you will come back soon!
    Miz Helen

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    1. Thank you Miz Helen. We always enjoy visiting your site and linking.

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