Pork Chops And Sauerkraut Slow Cooker Recipes

Pork Chops with sauerkraut and apples in a pan with a spoon

pork chops with sauerkraut in a cast iron pan

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Pork chops with sauerkraut with apples is a delicious balance of flavors and textures that is easy to make in one pan.

The simple ingredients, pork, sauerkraut and apples are the perfect combination of sweet, savory and salty. The tartness of the sauerkraut mellows when slow-cooked in the oven and the end result is tender, melt-in-your-mouth pork with soft apples to add a little sweetness.

This recipe was originally posted in 2018, it's been updated for content and photos.

pork chops and sauerkraut in a skillet with a spoon

Pork chops with sauerkraut and apples is a great recipe that is full of flavor. Make it with this homemade sauerkraut recipe for extra health benefits.

Why this Recipe Works

It's an easy dinner. Make it with 4 ingredients and a skillet!
It's perfect to make ahead of time, and tastes great leftover too!

A view of the ingredients: boneless pork chops, sauerkraut, apples

Here is What You Will Need

This is an overview of the ingredients and steps to make this recipe, scroll down to see ingredient notes and substitutions as well as a printable recipe card with exact measurements and complete cooking instructions.

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Here is How To Make Pork Chops with Sauerkraut and Apples

Before you begin cooking, get everything ready: slice the apples, measure the sauerkraut, preheat the oven to 350.

Step 1. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the boneless pork chops once the skillet is hot. Cook the chops for about 5 minutes until they begin to turn brown.

TIP! For nicely browned chops, pat the meat dry with a paper towel before adding it to the skillet.

overhead view of 4 pork chops in a skillet brown on one side

Step 2. Flip the pork chops over and cook them for about 5 minutes longer on the other side. Once you have golden brown pork chops, remove them from the skillet and set them aside.

Step 3. Lower the heat to medium heat and add the apples and sauerkraut to the bottom of the pan.

TIP! To get the healthiest benefits from the homemade sauerkraut, add half to the skillet before baking and stir in the remaining half when the pan is removed from the oven.

4 boneless pork chops on top of apples andn sauerkraut ready for the oven

Step 4. Place pork chops on top the sauerkraut and apples cover, and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the cover and cook for 10 to 15 minutes longer until the internal temperature of the pork reaches 145 degrees.

Total Estimated Time to Make this Recipe: 60 to70 Minutes

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Olive oil. Can be substituted with an equal amount of avocado oil.

Boneless pork chops. I prefer boneless pork chops in this recipe, but you can use bone-in pork chops as well.

Substitute pork chops with pork tenderloin, small boneless pork loin or pork ribs.

Apples. Any type of apple will work in this recipe. Our favorites are Braeburn, Fuji, Honeycrisp or Granny Smith Apples.

Sauerkraut. Good quality fermented sauerkraut is best. I use homemade sauerkraut to make this recipe. It tastes much better than packaged sauerkraut and has so many health benefits.

If you don't have homemade sauerkraut, look for good quality refrigerated sauerkraut such as Bubbies Sauerkraut near the deli in your supermarket. Shelf-stable sauerkraut has been pasteurized and many of the health benefits are lost.

an overhead view of pork chops with sauerkraut and apples in a skillet

Serving Suggestions

Serve pork chops with sauerkraut and apples with a baked potato and a helping of Citrus Roasted Brussels Sprouts, green beans with almonds or steamed broccoli.

Pork with Sauerkraut in a Slow Cooker

It's easy to make this recipe in a slow cooker, here's how:

Layer the sauerkraut and apples on the bottom of your slow cooker.
Heat a heavy skillet on top of your stove and brown the pork on both sides.
Remove the browned chops from the skillet and place the pork chops on top of the apples and sauerkraut.
Cover and cook over low heat for 5 to 6 hours.

Stove-Top Method

If you are tight on oven space, this dish can easily be cooked on top of the stove.

Follow the directions in the recipe; instead of placing the pork, apples and sauerkraut into the oven, reduce the heat to low.
Cover, and cook on top of the stove until the pork is cooked through, which is about 40 to 50 minutes.

Recipe Variations

Chicken with Sauerkraut and Apples: Use one pound of boneless chicken breasts or thighs in place of pork.

Pork Chops with Sauerkraut: If you don't have apples, no problem! You can leave them out.

Add Wine or Beer: before baking the pork chops, add ¼ cup of white wine, your favorite lager or apple cider to the skillet.

pork chops and apples on a blue plate with a fork

Fun Fact! Eating pork and sauerkraut in New Year's Day is a German tradition because it brings luck.

Reader Tips

Here are some tips and suggestions from readers who have tried this recipe.

I replaced the sauerkraut with 1 cup of 'kraut brine and 1 cup hard apple cider, then after taking the chops out of the oven I barely heated our homemade sauerkraut to 90F (all the beneficial bacteria and Vitamin C are destroyed when heated above 120F for an entire hour) before serving with the kraut on the side. It was just fabulous, thank you so much for this recipe!
Pork, Saurkraut and Apples, YUM! I added Fennel Seed to seasoning.
This recipe was really good and SO easy. I used a jar of sauerkraut and cooked at 350 for 65 minutes. Served with sour cream.

Make ahead instructions

This is the perfect recipe to make ahead of time, here's how: Brown the pork chops and store them in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for up to 1 day.

Approximately an hour before serving, add the sauerkraut, apples, and browned pork to an ovenproof skillet or casserole, cover, and bake.

Storage and Freezing

Store leftover pork and sauerkraut in an air-tight container for up to 4 days.

To reheat it, place the ingredients into an ovenproof casserole, cover it and bake at 325 until heated through for about 30 to 40 minutes.

Freeze pork and sauerkraut in an airtight container for up to three months. I like these durable stasher bags for this.

Defrost the pork and sauerkraut in the refrigerator overnight. Place the contents in an ovenproof dish, cover, and bake at 325 until heated through.

Pork Chops with Sauerkraut and Apples Questions Answered

Here are the most commonly asked questions about Pork Chops with Sauerkraut and Apples. If your question isn't answered below, drop me a comment and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Can I turn up the temperature in the oven for the chops?

Yes! You can turn up the temperature to 375 degrees, and check the temperature of the meat after 30 minutes.

How do you keep the boneless pork chops from becoming dry in this recipe?

I have found that cooking boneless pork chops at a lower temperature and nestling the boneless chops in the sauerkraut mixture will help to keep the chops tender.
Also, don't overcook them. As soon as they reach an internal temperature of 145 remove them from the oven.

You Might Also Like These Pork Chop Recipes

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 350.
Place oil in an oven-proof skillet and heat over medium to high heat.
Add the chops to the heated pan and cook them until they start to turn golden brown (about 5 minutes), flip and cook them until they become golden brown on the other side (about 3 to 5 minutes longer) remove them from the pan.
Add the sauerkraut and apples to the skillet and top them with the browned pork chops.
Cover the skillet and place it in the oven - bake for 30 minutes, remove the cover and cook for 15 minutes longer*or until the pork reaches an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees.

Slow Cooker Method:

Brown the pork chops on top of the stove and transfer them to a slow cooker with the sauerkraut and apples. Cook on low for 5 to 6

Notes

This recipe can also be made with bone-in pork chops, pork tenderloin, pork loin or ribs. The cooking time may be longer for larger pieces of meat.

Try substituting one-pound boneless chicken breasts or thighs for the pork chops.

*Cooking time can vary depending on the thickness of the pork chops.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1 chop
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 298 Total Fat: 16g Saturated Fat: 6g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 9g Cholesterol: 85mg Sodium: 98mg Carbohydrates: 10g Fiber: 2g Sugar: 8g Protein: 30g

Nutrition information is provided by an online calculator and is meant to be used for informational purposes only. Even though I try to provide accurate information, these figures should still be considered as estimates.