Kielbasa and Red Cabbage Skillet with Apples

Kielbasa and Red Cabbage Skillet with Apples is simple, rustic and delicious!

4.8 from 6 reviews
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Kielbasa and Red Cabbage Skillet with Apples has tender cooked cabbage, zesty kielbasa and sweet apple slices in this family-friendly meal!

Kielbasa and Red Cabbage Skillet with Apples - A simple, rustic and delicious meal. Soft cooked cabbage, zesty kielbasa and crispy apple slices come together quickly in this family-friendly meal!

The title of this today’s recipe – Kielbasa and Red Cabbage Skillet with Apples – pretty much says it all. This is a simple, one-pan meal that is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, and it’s a welcome change of pace from the same old thing you might be cooking for your family’s dinner!

Kielbasa and Red Cabbage Skillet with Apples - A simple, rustic and delicious meal. Soft cooked cabbage, zesty kielbasa and crispy apple slices come together quickly in this family-friendly meal!

You’ll start by sautéing some onion in a large skillet (you want to use one with a lid) – then add in chopped red cabbage, apple juice, and diced apple along with some vinegar, sugar and seasonings. All of this quickly cooks until tender. Then you’ll add in sliced kielbasa and cook that until heated through.

Kielbasa and Red Cabbage Skillet with Apples - A simple, rustic and delicious meal. Soft cooked cabbage, zesty kielbasa and crispy apple slices come together quickly in this family-friendly meal!

Just before serving, add some more sliced apples – and you’re done! This kielbasa and red cabbage skillet with apples is a simple, rustic dish with crunch and texture from the sliced apples surrounded by soft-cooked cabbage and zesty kielbasa. It’s as pretty to look at as it is delicious!

Enjoy!

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Kielbasa and Red Cabbage Skillet with Apples

Kielbasa and Red Cabbage Skillet with Apples - A Family Feast
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4.8 from 6 reviews

Kielbasa and Red Cabbage Skillet with Apples has tender cooked cabbage, zesty kielbasa and sweet apple slices in this family-friendly meal!

  • Author: A Family Feast
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 30 mins
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Category: entree
  • Method: saute
  • Cuisine: Polish American

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 baking apples (we used Cortland), divided
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 cup onion, diced
  • 2 pound head of red cabbage, cored and chopped into bite sized pieces
  • 1/2 cup apple juice
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 pound Kielbasa, cut into slices

Instructions

  1. Peel, core and dice one of the apples.
  2. In a large skillet with tight fitting lid, melt butter over medium high and add onion. Cook for two minutes and add cabbage, apple juice, sugar, vinegar, salt, pepper and diced apple. Cover and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes.
  3. After 15 minutes add kielbasa, cover and cook for ten more minutes.
  4. While kielbasa is heating, core but don’t peel last apple. Cut into 16 wedges and add to dish at the end. Stir once and serve. The texture will be a mix of crunchy apples with soft cooked cabbage and kielbasa.

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Last updated: September 25, 2025

Martha is part of the husband-wife team that creates A Family Feast. She loves to cook and entertain for family and friends, and she believes that serving a great meal is one of the best ways to show someone that you care. Martha is a self-taught home cook, who loves to read cookbooks and try new recipes. After a decades-long career in business and online marketing, she now runs A Family Feast full-time. Her specialties are baking, desserts, vegetables and pasta dishes.

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16 Comments

  2. Excellent! I didn’t have apple juice, so I added some broth made with Roasted Garlic Better Than Bouillon. Also added a teaspoon of Caraway seeds. So yummy!

    Reply

  4. So good! I didn’t have apple juice (because my children are grown, lol), but I did have some boiled cider, so I mixed a little with 1/2 cup of water and I think it worked out great. I also lightly pan-fried the kielbasa slices because I like a little caramelization on them. And then I tossed in some caraway seeds—the flavor is great with the cabbage and sausage. Such an easy, quick skillet dinner. Thank you!

    Reply

  5. I used pork tenderloin instead of kielbasa because 1) I have no idea what that is and 2) pork tenderloin sounded like a good alternative. Otherwise, I followed the recipe as instructed and it turned out amazing! Quick & easy, too 🙂 This is definitely going into my arsenal.

    Reply

  6. I made your Kielbasa and Red Cabbage Skillet with Apples recipe about a year and a half ago and it was so good, and then…I forgot about it until…today! When I found the printout in a stack of recipes I’ve clipped and printed for the last couple of years. I went to your site to find the original and your pictures, objectives and personal stories drew me in. I see hundreds of food sites and rarely subscribe to any, but I just signed up for yours!

    Reply

    1. Hi Danica! Thank you so much for your very kind note! We’re glad you found us (again) 🙂 and I hope you continue to enjoy the recipes! Have a wonderful weekend! Martha

      Reply