American · Holiday Specials

Pork and Sauerkraut

Pork shoulder braised for nearly three hours on a bed of sauerkraut, apples, onion and caraway until it falls apart. The Pennsylvania Dutch New Year's Day dinner.

Not yet ratedThis recipe has no ratings yet 3 hr 15 min total Serves 8 servings Easy
Jump to Recipe Method

How to Make Pork and Sauerkraut

Tap a step to highlight it, or turn on Cook Mode for large type and step-by-step focus.

  1. Heat the oven to 160°C / 320°F. Season the pork with the salt and pepper.

  2. Heat the oil in a large casserole over medium-high heat and brown the pork for 8 minutes, turning, until golden on all sides. Lift it out onto a plate.

  3. Spread the onion and apples over the base of the casserole and top with the sauerkraut, caraway and brown sugar. Pour in the cider.

  4. Set the pork on top of the sauerkraut, cover with the lid, and cook in the oven for 2 hours 45 minutes, until the pork is very tender and reads at least 88°C / 190°F.

  5. Lift the pork onto a board, rest for 15 minutes, and slice or pull it into pieces.

  6. Stir the sauerkraut and serve it with the pork and the juices, with mashed potatoes.

Tips for Making Pork and Sauerkraut

  • Do not rinse the sauerkraut. Its sharp, fermented flavour is the point of the dish, and the apples and sugar soften it during cooking.
  • Use pork shoulder and not loin. The fat and connective tissue keep it moist and tender through the long cooking, and loin dries out.
  • Keep the pot covered. Steam keeps the pork moist and the sauerkraut soft, and a lid that is off dries out the top.

What to Serve with Pork and Sauerkraut

  • Mashed potatoes
  • Applesauce
  • Rye bread

Storing & Reheating Pork and Sauerkraut

Keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days and tastes even better on the second. Freeze for up to 3 months and thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Pork and Sauerkraut FAQ: Common Questions

How long does Pork and Sauerkraut take to make?

About 3 hours 15 minutes in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 3 hours of cooking. The recipe serves 8.

What are the key tips for making Pork and Sauerkraut?

Do not rinse the sauerkraut. Its sharp, fermented flavour is the point of the dish, and the apples and sugar soften it during cooking. Use pork shoulder and not loin. The fat and connective tissue keep it moist and tender through the long cooking, and loin dries out. Keep the pot covered. Steam keeps the pork moist and the sauerkraut soft, and a lid that is off dries out the top.

What should I serve with Pork and Sauerkraut?

Mashed potatoes; Applesauce; Rye bread.

Can Pork and Sauerkraut be made ahead or frozen?

Keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days and tastes even better on the second. Freeze for up to 3 months and thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Is Pork and Sauerkraut suitable for a special diet?

This recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, high-protein and low-carb. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.

How many calories are in Pork and Sauerkraut?

About 411 kcal per serving, with 35 g protein, 16 g carbohydrate and 23 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.

Pork and Sauerkraut Nutrition

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

411Calories
35gProtein
16gCarbs
23gFat
4gFibre
10gSugar
920mgSodium

Reader Reviews

Cooked this? Leave a review

Your rating out of 5

Reviews are stored in your browser only — nothing is sent to a server.

Written and tested by Turab

One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.