These Maple Bourbon BBQ Kielbasa Bites are tangy, tasty bites perfect for snackin’!
Hey guys!
Hope y’all had an awesome weekend.
July is flying by isn’t it? Tom and I have been really busy the last few weeks, but I think there’s some light at the end of the tunnel. One more busy week and then I’m hoping it’ll be smooth sailing.
I’m looking forward to some lazy beach days followed up by some sunset cocktails and appetizers on the back deck.
I’ve made these Maple Bourbon BBQ Kielbasa Bites a few times over the past few weeks and we REALLY enjoy them. They’re totally addictive!
The maple bourbon BBQ sauce is sweet and tangy, has a delicious bourbon flavor and it takes less than 15 minutes to whip up.
It’s an incredibly easy appetizer recipe to throw together quickly when you’ve got unexpected guests.
I bet you’ve already got most of the ingredients for the sauce in your fridge/pantry. Maple syrup, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, apple cider vinegar and a few spices.
And we’ve always got a bottle of bourbon on the bar cart because it’s Tom’s cocktail of choice.
Hope you guys add these to your summer entertaining menu. I know you’ll love ’em! Enjoy!
A few favorite summer appys here at the BHK are my Bacon and Fig Guacamole, my Crab Melts and my BLT Phyllo Pizza.
A Few Cook’s Notes for Maple Bourbon BBQ Kielbasa Bites Recipe:
I use two Hillshire Farms 12-oz. rings of Beef Polska Kielbasa for this recipe.
You can either cook the sliced kielbasa in a skillet on the stove or grill the rings whole and then slice on the diagonal before adding the maple bourbon BBQ sauce.
Maple Bourbon BBQ Kielbasa Bites
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 2 12-oz. rings beef Polska kielbasa, sliced into roughly 1/4-inch slices on the diagonal
Maple Bourbon BBQ Sauce
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/3 cup + one Tablespoon dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp. yellow mustard
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp. granulated garlic
- 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 1 Tbsp. butter
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the kielbasa slices and cook, stirring often, until browned, about 5-6 minutes. Drain fat and remove from heat.
- In a small saucepan, combine all ingredients, except the butter and cook over medium-high heat until boiling. Once the mixture begins to boil, lower the heat and simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes, stirring often. Add the butter and continue to cook until the butter is melted, Pour the sauce over the kielbasa slices and mix until all slices are well coated. Cook until heated through. Pour the bites and sauce into a serving dish and serve immediately.
Maple is the way to my heart! Add a little bourbon and I can’t resist. This looks so good!
Thanks Kelsie!
Looks good. Can I use another Kielbasa other than beef? I know I have some Polish pork kielbasa in the refrigerator.
Yes you can! Enjoy Karen!
This whole entire year has flown by… which is a shame because I don’t actually feel like I’ve done anything. lol. ;) I totally need to eat my feelings and devour a few dozen of these delicious BBQ bites! I mean, you know you had me at maple + bourbon!! YUM! Pinned!
I know, right?! These are so tasty Chey! And they couldn’t be easier!
Time definitely is flying by! Loving the sweet maple syrup and bourbon here, Mary Ann! Perfect party fare! Pinned :)
Thanks Dawn!
These kielbasa bites really do look addictive, Mary Ann! Little flavor bombs!! The perfect, satisfying app for cocktail hour!
We LOVE them Marissa, especially our oldest son Sean! Hope you give them a go!
These bites look so saucy and scrumptious!! I bet I could serve this with a side salad and they’d be demolished! Yum!
We love the sauce Katherine! These are perfect for company. So easy to whip up.
Kielbassa is a favourite here and especially grilled. Loving the sauce and I know I will be popular around here when I put these on the menu :) Can’t wait!
Enjoy Jennifer!
What can I use instead of the Bourbon?
Hi Brenda. If you’re not a fan of bourbon, you can just omit it.
What about Jack Daniel’s Honey Whiskey?
That would work! Enjoy Rory!
Wish people would actually make the recipe before viewing on just how it looks! Would like to know how people liked the taste not the picture.
Looks good but does it taste good!
Hi Connie. Lots of comments about these on Pinterest. They get the thumbs up! Enjoy!
Full of flavor but a very strong taste of bourbon, added some more ingredients to offset to no avail. Maybe less alcohol?
You could always add less bourbon Erin and that would work fine. Maybe two tablespoons instead of 1/4 cup. Let me know.
Left out the bourbon but my gosh…delicious. this would taste good on like little ribs, would be very messy but so good.
Yay Celeste! So happy you enjoyed the recipe! Perfect for summer parties!
We did this as a main course and cut the kielbasa in bigger pieces! It was a big hit for a family on the go! We had funeral potatoes (cheesy potatoes) with it and a huge salad! Perfect and so flavorful!
Great idea to serve with the cheesy potatoes and salad! So happy you enjoy the recipe Toni!
I wonder if you could make these ahead of time, and just reheat?
You could Lisa. You could also make the sauce ahead and just saute up the kielbasa right before you’re ready to serve. Enjoy!
Could you make this recipe the day before, then heat up and transfer to a crock pot to keep warm and serve at a party.
Sure Jan. Enjoy!