Kielbasa vs. Smoked Sausage: Similarities and Differences Explained

Kielbasa is a traditional sausage from Poland, often called “Polish sausage” or “Polska Kielbasa” in America.

Smoked sausage is a preparation method that requires curing the sausage in wood smoke to impart a deep, smokey flavor.

Both sausages are delicious and widely available in the US, but what are the similarities and differences between kielbasa vs. smoked sausage? Read on to learn more.

	Kielbasa	Smoked Sausage
Smoked Meat	Sometimes	Y
Cured Meat	Y	Y
Made from Pork	Y	Sometimes
Seasoned with Garlic	Y	Sometimes, but milder
Coarse Texture	Y	N
Packaged in U-shape	Usually	N

What Is Kielbasa?

The word “kielbasa” is Polish for “sausage.” There’s a wide range of regional sausage recipes in Poland with different ingredients and preparation methods.

Polish immigrants brought their favorite sausages and the word “kielbasa” to the US, where it became equally popular.

While there are many types of kielbasa, the most common kielbasa sold in the US is a U-shaped sausage filled with coarsely ground pork and pork fat (although it often contains some beef or other meat) and seasoned with garlic.

American kielbasa is usually cured but is not typically smoked or is only lightly smoked.   

What Is Smoked Sausage?

Any sausage can be smoked to impart a smoky flavor.

Sausages are usually cured and then smoked for long periods at lower temperatures to allow the smoke to deeply penetrate and flavor the sausage.

Some smoked sausages also have flavoring ingredients like Liquid Smoke to amplify the smoke flavor.

Smoked sausage can be made from any type of meat and fat, with seasonings and fillings, and often seasoned with black pepper, paprika, coriander, or other spices.

The ingredients are stuffed into a casing and often cured before smoking for a day or two.

The length of time a sausage is smoked depends on the method, recipe, and manufacturer.

What Are the Similarities Between Kielbasa and Smoked Sausage?

Here are the fundamental similarities between kielbasa and smoked sausage.

Smoky Flavor

While kielbasa is not always smoked, it is often lightly smoked in the US, making it a smoked sausage.

The smoky flavor may come from actually smoking the sausage and is often enhanced with flavorings and seasonings to add more smokiness.  

Curing

Both kielbasa and smoked sausage in the US are often lightly cured before smoking.

This usually means adding salt and nitrites to the meat, enhancing the pink color, and preserving the meat for longer.

What Are the Differences Between Kielbasa and Smoked Sausage?

Here are some of the most significant differences between kielbasa and smoked sausage.

Meats

Kielbasa is almost always made from pork and sometimes with added beef.

Smoked sausage may be made from various meats and is not always a pork sausage.

Seasonings

Kielbasa is almost always seasoned with garlic and has a pungent flavor.

However, smoked sausage is not always seasoned with garlic, and the flavors of the seasonings are milder, with an emphasis on the smoke flavor.

Texture

Kielbasa is coarsely ground, while smoked sausages are often more finely ground.

Shape

Kielbasa is most frequently sold in the familiar U-shape. Smoked sausages are often sold as smaller, straight sausage links.

In Summary

Both “kielbasa” and “smoked sausage” are relatively generic terms with wide variations, ingredients, and preparation methods.

The differences are often specific to the recipes used by the individual manufacturer rather than broad distinctions between the two types.

In the US, kielbasa is often lightly smoked, making it even more similar to smoked sausage, but it is not always.

Kielbasa is usually considered a type of coarsely ground pork sausage, seasoned with garlic and lightly smoked, so it is often simply a specific type of the broad range of smoked sausages available.

Smoked sausage is any sausage that has been smoked to impart a smoky flavor.

When determining whether you would prefer a kielbasa vs. smoked sausage, read the package ingredients and labels to decide which you prefer.