Kielbasa Fried Rice

Replace your typical chicken or beef in fried rice with Polska Kielbasa for a delicious flavor-packed skillet meal that is ready in about 15 minutes. You might find that you love Kielbasa Fried Rice even more than a traditional fried rice! It’s a great, easy weeknight meal the whole family will enjoy!

The only thing that makes a skillet meal any better is when it tastes as good as this Kielbasa Fried Rice. My family couldn’t quit raving about it! We LOVE fried rice, and my go-to Fried Rice Recipe has never failed me. Typically, though, I use chicken or steak in it.  I had a great idea to make it with our favorite Hillshire Farm® Beef Polska Kielbasa Sausage. I love it when my bright ideas work out like this!

Kielbasa in Fried Rice

Kielbasa Sausage is one of those things I always have on hand. It has rescued me when I was in a dinner crunch more times than I can count. One of my favorite meals as a kid, and my family loves it, too!  It’s super versatile. Many times, I just make it, and we have it with buttered noodles and a vegetable. And on holidays, when we have ham, my Grandma’s Smoked Polish Sausage and Sauerkraut are always present.   

Ingredients in Kielbasa Fried Rice

For the complete measurements and instructions, please see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• Kielbasa Sausage -The smoky, savory flavor of kielbasa makes this fried rice hearty and satisfying. Any smoked sausage, andouille, or even leftover ham would work too. 
• Onion, Peas, and Carrots – These veggies add sweetness, color, and texture, and are the traditional stir-fry veggies. Bell peppers, corn, broccoli, or even a bag of frozen mixed vegetables are easy swaps depending on what you have on hand.
• Garlic – Fresh garlic gives the dish that bold, aromatic flavor, but garlic powder or a little fresh ginger will work in a pinch.
• Sesame Oil -That nutty flavor you expect from fried rice comes from sesame oil. If you don’t have it, use a neutral cooking oil and finish with a drizzle of toasted sesame seeds.
• Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce – This seasons the rice without making it too salty, which is important with kielbasa. Regular soy sauce, tamari, or coconut aminos all work here. Adjust to your taste.
• Sticky Rice – Day-old sticky rice is perfect because it soaks up flavor while holding its bite. Cold jasmine, long-grain, or even brown rice (or cauliflower rice for low-carb) will also do the trick.
• Egg – Scrambled eggs bring everything together and add protein. Skip them if you need it egg-free, or try scrambled tofu for a plant-based option.

How to Make Kielbasa Fried Rice

In about 15 minutes, you will be sitting down to this yummy meal served straight from the pan it was prepared in. Don’t you love a meal that doesn’t make a lot of dishes? Me, too!

Add sesame oil to your skillet and sauté your sliced kielbasa, onion, and garlic for about 5 minutes. Add in carrots and peas. Sauté for another 5 minutes.

Push the kielbasa and veggies to one side. Add in a little more sesame oil, and drop your eggs in. Scramble the eggs in the pan. When they are cooked, toss them with the veggies and meat. 

Finally, add in the sticky rice and soy sauce, mix in, and heat through.  

Serve it right out of the skillet for a one-pan meal that is satisfying and quick.

Storing Leftover Fried Rice

If you happen to have leftovers (they go fast around here!), let the fried rice cool completely before packing it up. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge, and it will keep for about 4 days. When you’re ready to reheat, a quick toss in a skillet with a splash of soy sauce or water brings it back to life. If reheating at work, add a bit of soy sauce or water to contain and zap it in the microwave.

Fried rice also freezes well! Portion it into freezer bags or containers, press out as much air as possible, and freeze for up to 2 months. To reheat, thaw in the fridge overnight and then warm it up on the stovetop for the best texture.

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FAQs about Kielbasa Friend Rice

• Are fresh or frozen veggies better? I have made this recipe with fresh carrots from the produce section, but most of the time I buy a bag of frozen peas and carrots. It makes it even quicker when you use them. But if you have fresh peas and carrots, by all means, I would use those!
• What type of kielbasa do you buy? Kielbasa sausage has lots of options. You can buy the all-beef sausage, the turkey, a lite version, or the traditional Polska Kielbasa like I used here. The nice part is that it’s smoked already, so it’s cooked. You are truly just warming it up. So I sliced it while it was cold, and tossed it into the skillet to make this fried rice.  It’s packed with flavor, so it really adds to the tastiness of this meal. 
• What’s the best rice to use for Fried Rice? This recipe always turns out best with sticky rice.  That is best achieved when you use “day-old rice.” Next time you cook up some rice, make extra and set it aside to try this Kielbasa rice. I have a super duper top secret way to make this the simplest way possible, though.  Are you ready for this?  Buy some steamed rice from your local Chinese restaurant. Or, like I did the last time I made this, from Hyvee’s Chinese take-out counter.  My grocery store has a Chinese take-out section in its deli department. Locals here affectionately call it “Hy-Chi” — while you’re there, grab a couple of crab rangoon and fortune cookies to have with it! 

More Kielbasa Recipes to Love

• Kielbasa & Sauerkraut Hoagies (pictured above)
• Instant Pot Beer Cheese Soup with Kraut & Kielbasa
• Aloha Bacon Wraps Sausage Bites
• Sausage & Potato Pot Pies
• Grilled Smoked Polish Sausage and Sauerkraut
• Polish Sausage Soup ( kapusniak)

More Ways To Love Rice

• Jamaican Jerk Chicken over Sweet Coconut Rice (pictured above)
• Cauliflower Fried Rice
• Dorothy’s Cheesy Vegetable Rice Bake
• No Peek Pork Chops and Rice
• Broccoli, Rice, and Cheese Casserole
• Rice Pilaf with Dried Cranberries and Almonds
• See ALL of my Rice Recipes here

With minimal mess and hardly any fuss, this meal is on the table in less than 30 minutes, and there is only one pan to clean up. It’s a win-win situation, don’t you agree? Plus, you can make this amazing recipe for your family, and pat yourself on the back when they tell you how much they love it!

Let’s make some Kielbasa Fried Rice! 

This recipe was originally posted on March 9, 2016, in partnership with Hillshire Farm®, but all the opinions and content are my own. It has been updated to improve user experience and reshared on September 8, 2025.