Pork and Sauerkraut is a simple casserole that everyone in my family LOVES!
Layers of tender potatoes, melt in your mouth pork chops and zesty apple sauerkraut!
This casserole is baked in the oven until the pork chops are fork tender for a meal your whole family will love!
If you are looking for a delicious way to prepare fork-tender pork, you’ll love this Pork and Sauerkraut Bake!
A one dish meal complete with potatoes and pork chops smothered in sauerkraut, apples and onions. It is the perfect combination of savory that you will fall in love with!
This recipe was given to me from a pork farmer and who says this is one of her family’s favorites! She said she often adds sliced tomatoes to top off the sauerkraut too!
For this recipe, I choose a thick shoulder pork chop or a chop with lots of marbling.
Cooking a well marbled pork chop (or pork steak) at a low temperature for a long period of time will make your chops fork tender (and infuses extra flavor into the potato layer)!
If your pork is lean or too thin, it can become dry and tough which is disappointing.
What is sauerkraut?
Sauerkraut is something that we’ve enjoyed for years in our family and I can remember how much my Grandma loved it!
Sauerkraut, simply put, is shredded fermented cabbage.
It starts with a simple base of cabbage that has been shredded along with salt. The salt is massaged into the cabbage until liquid (or brine) is formed.
Once there is enough liquid to cover the cabbage it is placed in a container or large jar and weights are added to compress the cabbage (and keep it below the level of the liquid).
The cabbage will begin the fermentation process and should be ready to eat within 3-5 weeks.
Is Sauerkraut good for you?
It is used in many cultural dishes originating from countries like Ukraine, Poland, and Germany.
Not only delicious, sauerkraut is good for you too! It is a good source of vitamins, breaks down proteins during digestion and can help balance stomach PH levels. It is easy to digest and helps purify your body from toxins and gives you more energy! It also helps boost your body’s immunity! Sounds a little like a super food to me!
Just like cabbage, sauerkraut pairs perfectly with pork, is great on hotdogs or with sausage or added to Cabbage Rolls or soups.
One of our favorite ways to enjoy it is in this easy Pork and Sauerkraut bake!
How Do You Cook Pork and Sauerkraut?
This Pork and Sauerkraut Bake recipe is very simple to make.
What Kind of Pork Should I Use?
You’ll want to choose a marbled pork chop that has some fat in it such as a sirloin chop or shoulder chop. If your chops are really large, they can be cut in half (and bone in is perfect in this recipe).
Cooking leaner cuts for extended periods of time can result in a tough chop. Additionally, if you use a thinner chop you may need to reduce cooking time.
Be sure to brown the pork chops as this adds lots of flavor to the dish and helps seal in the juices.
While the pork is browning, prepare the sauerkraut apple mixture.
Place the potatoes in the bottom of a casserole dish and season them with salt & pepper (and a little garlic powder if you’d like). Next layer the browned chops and top with the sauerkraut mixture.
Cook this in your oven low and slow until the potatoes are soft and the pork is melt in your mouth tender.
We love to serve this along with a delicious and fresh Cucumber Dill Salad and some 30 Minute Dinner Rolls!
Easy and delicious, this Pork and Sauerkraut Bake is the perfect recipe to add to this week’s menu!
Pork and Sauerkraut Bake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ pounds potatoes peeled and thinly sliced, about 2 large
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 6 boneless pork chops or bone in, 1″ thick, see notes below
- 3 cups sauerkraut drained
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 small onion thinly sliced
- 1 granny smith apple peeled and thinly sliced
- ½ teaspoon caraway seeds optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Place potatoes and butter in a 9×13 pan. Toss with garlic powder and salt & black pepper to taste.
- Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Brown over medium high heat, about 3 minutes each side.
- Meanwhile, combine sauerkraut, brown sugar, onion, granny smith apple and caraway seeds in a bowl.
- Place ½ of the sauerkraut mixture over the potatoes. Top with browned pork chops and finally remaining sauerkraut mixture. Cover tightly with foil.
- Reduce oven to 325°F and bake for 2 hours. Uncover and bake an additional 15-30 minutes or until fork-tender. Serve warm with applesauce.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dinner
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Holly,
My husband and I love your recipes and website. I love how your recipes are easy, and every one that we have tried is delicious. I appreciate how you explain and teach on your website too. You are the best. Thank you for all your help!
Yum, my favorite pork recipe