Slow cooker pork and sauerkraut is a classic pork recipe that’s affordable and tasty. This easy pork dish is thought to bring good luck and prosperity when served on New Year’s Day. The tender pork pairs perfectly with the tangy sauerkraut. This pork and kraut recipe is hearty yet flavorful and easy to prepare! Instructions to make pork and sauerkraut in the Instant Pot are also included in the blog post.
Ingredients For Slow Cooker Pork and Sauerkraut
- Country Style Pork Ribs or Pork Loin
- Sauerkraut In Juices
- Chicken Broth
- Onion
- Garlic
- Dry Mustard or Dijon Mustard
- Seasonings: fennel, dill, or carraway seed, salt & pepper
- Potatoes (optional)
How To Make Pork and Sauerkraut In The Slow Cooker
- Season pork with salt and pepper. Optional: Heat oil in a large skillet. Add the seasoned pork and sear on each side.
- Add the broth, sauerkraut with juices, onion, garlic, mustard, fennel seed, salt, pepper, and potatoes (if using), to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well.
- Add the pork. Spoon the sauerkraut mixture on top of the pork in the slow cooker.
- Cook on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours or LOW 6 to 8.
- Season pork with salt and pepper.
- Turn on the pressure cooker and select sauté. Once hot, add oil & the seasoned pork and brown a few minutes on each side. Remove pork and set aside. Add the onion and garlic and cook 1 minute, until fragrant. Turn off the appliance.
- Pour in broth and deglaze the bottom of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off with a wooden spoon.
- Add the pork back to the Instant Pot along with the mustard, fennel, salt, and pepper. Add sauerkraut on top of pork. Do not stir.
- Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook for 15 minutes. When cooking time is complete, quick release the pressure.
- If using potatoes, open the lid and add the potatoes on top of the sauerkraut. Do not stir.
- Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook 3 additional minutes.
- When cooking time is complete, quick release the pressure.
FAQs & Tips
Why do people eat pork and sauerkraut on New Years day?
Pork & sauerkraut is eaten on New Year’s Day to bring good luck for the upcoming year. Why do they eat pork? It’s tradition to eat pork on New Year’s because pigs root forward, the same direction we should be moving in the New Year. Sauerkraut is eaten because traditionally cabbage was easy to farm so it was aplenty during the winter season. It also preserves well with a long shelf life. Sauerkraut is nothing more than fermented cabbage. It’s low-calorie, low-carb, paleo, and whole30.
What cut of pork should you use?
I like to use a boneless cut of pork like pork loin or country-style ribs so I can easily slice or shred the meat when it’s done cooking. Technically you can use any cut of pork whether it be loin, ribs, chops, shoulder, etc. I’ve have even used baby back ribs when I couldn’t find country-style. Some cuts of pork are tougher than others so you might need to adjust the cook time depending on what you use. For example, to get to the point of falling-apart-tender, a bone-in pork shoulder might need to cook an additional hour or so longer vs a boneless pork loin. You can use anywhere between 2-3 pounds of meat without making any measurement adjustments to the ingredients in this recipe. You may need to cut your pork to make it fit into the slow cooker or Instant Pot.
Can you add potatoes?
In order for this recipe to be low-carb, omit the potatoes. Otherwise, you can add up to 1 pound of potatoes to this recipe without having to make any modifications to the cooking time. Waxy potatoes like red, baby or yellow potatoes work best with the slow cooker or because they hold their shape better during the long cook times. When I use potatoes, I usually add in yellow or red potatoes. having said that, russet potatoes will work as well.
How do you store leftovers?
Store leftover slow cooker pork and sauerkraut in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
What size slow cooker should you use?
I used a 6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot.
New Year’s Recipes
-
Black-Eyed Peas
-
New Year’s Soup (soul food soup)
-
Cornbread
-
Hoppin’ John
-
Collard Greens with Ham Hocks
-
Short Ribs with Black Eyed Peas
Slow Cooker Pork and Sauerkraut
Slow cooker pork and sauerkraut is a classic pork recipe that’s affordable and tasty. This easy pork dish is thought to bring good luck and prosperity when served on New Year’s Day. The tender pork pairs perfectly with the tangy sauerkraut. This pork and kraut recipe is hearty yet flavorful and easy to prepare! Instructions to make pork and sauerkraut in the Instant Pot are also included in the blog post.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 mins
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 2 pounds country-style ribs or boneless pork loin
- 24 ounces sauerkraut
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/3 cup onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons dried fennel seeds, dill, or caraway seeds
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard or Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt (or more)
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 3/4 pound baby potatoes, chopped (optional)
- 1 tablespoon oil (for Instant Pot)
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Season pork with salt and pepper. Optional: Heat oil in a large skillet. Add the seasoned pork and sear on each side.
- Add the broth, sauerkraut with juices, onion, garlic, mustard, fennel seed, salt, pepper, and potatoes (if using), to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well.
- Add the pork. Spoon the sauerkraut mixture on top of the pork in the slow cooker.
- Cook on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours or LOW 6 to 8.
- Season pork with salt and pepper.
- Turn on the pressure cooker and select sauté. Once hot, add oil & the seasoned pork and brown a few minutes on each side. Remove pork and set aside. Add the onion and garlic and cook 1 minute, until fragrant. Turn off the appliance.
- Pour in broth and deglaze the bottom of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off with a wooden spoon.
- Add the pork back to the Instant Pot along with the mustard, fennel, salt, and pepper. Add sauerkraut on top of pork. Do not stir.
- Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook for 15 minutes. When cooking time is complete, quick release the pressure.
- If using potatoes, open the lid and add the potatoes on top of the sauerkraut. Do not stir.
- Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook 3 additional minutes.
- When cooking time is complete, quick release the pressure.
Notes
This recipe has been updated. The original recipe called for:
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 tablespoons seasoning salt (see below for homemade blend)
Homemade Seasoning Salt
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 276
- Sugar: 2.4 g
- Fat: 5.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 3.9 g
- Protein: 48.8 g
- Cholesterol: 147.3 mg
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35 thoughts on “Slow Cooker Pork and Sauerkraut”
YES!! I sure did and I have not had it nor made it in years! Thank you so much this is a wonderful reminder of something good that was a tradition in my family! YUM!
I am always looking for new slow cooker recipes to try. This one waws a hit!
I feel like I just won the lottery with your blog!!! So many slow cooker recipes! And healthy ones!!! And I love sauerkraut! I’m definitely giving this recipe a try this week! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I’m going to make this recipe today. I will eliminate the mustard and substitute Riesling wine for the chicken broth.
Ooh I never thought to use Riesling! Fantastic idea.
Hi Shannon,
My wife and I just finished putting together this recipe in our instant pot. We now have about an hour wait before we get to try it. I had a very similar dish prepared in a standard pressure cooker some years ago, but we just recently bought the instant pot and wanted to try it out in our new toy. Looking forward to trying it, and will post our results when finished.
Thanks again for all you do on this site!
Uh oh the pressure is on….no pun intended:-) Please let me know how it work out! Honest opinions & constructive criticism are always accepted & appreciated.
Just wanted to report back that the recipe turned out great! I’m still miserable this morning from eating way too much last night! 😎
This is almost exactly like my recipe. I don’t put mustard in it. This is the absolute best meal there is. My MIL made hers like this and put canned evaporated milk in it. She called it sauerkraut goulash..
I am always on the lookout for new recipes in the crockpot. This was a good one!
I just put this in my instant pot for 25 minutes high and it says to natural release it but it doesn’t say for how long?
Thanks for pointing that out, I’ll update the recipe. Natural release entirely but if you’re in a pinch it won’t hurt if it only gets 10 minutes natural release then a quick release.
I can’t do onions . However can I use garlic powder in place of the garlic Itself?
I making this tomorrow – sounds delicious
Thanks! 🙂
Absolutely!
This was delicious.
This looks really good
This is a great IP recipe. I would just add some apple cider vinegar for a bit more tartness and to draw out the mustard flavor (I LOVE mustard with pork). I left out the honey and used red potatoes. The whole family enjoyed, even my picky mother-in-law. Thanks!
@Julie Shehata, I don’t see honey listed in the ingredients.
I am from Pittsburgh too and I was sooo happy to find this recipe!!!
Thanks so much for this recipe! I love using the slow cooker for sauerkraut recipes! So delicious.
Whoa! This is really good. I like it very much.
Thank you for a recipe that DOESN’T include apples!!
This was absolutely amazing!! So delicious and the leftovers are even better!!
Hello! I’ll be trying this next weekend and wondered should I drain my sauerkraut?
Nope, juices included. Enjoy!
You don’t add any liquid to this recipe?
Nope. The sauerkraut will cook down, no liquid needed. Enjoy!
This is so different but so yummy.
I tried your recipe. We love sauerkrout and this was so easy to prepare. Love!
Slow cooker recipes are the best! This waws like such an easy way to try it for the first time!
I’ve never tried this before last week. So good!
My husband grew up in the North and this is a favorite of his family’s. This way is better than the oven way!
It was amazing! What I love about slow cookers is the convenience of not having to use different pots or pans or having to stay in the kitchen until everything is cooked! You can leave it be and do whatever it is that you need to do and go back when the timer’s done! This recipe is divine!
What a great recipe. I love using my slow cooker because it takes the fuss and the mess out of cooking.
I love easy crock pot meals and this was a yummy one!