Pork and sauerkraut is my family's traditional New Year's meal meant to bring good luck in the New Year. This is my slow cooker pork and sauerkraut recipe that is cooked to perfection with a touch of sweetness with the addition of apples.
If you don't have a crockpot you can make an oven roasted pork and sauerkraut recipe or even a sous vide pork and sauerkraut. There are benefits to each cooking method but the crockpot recipe is super simple and very much a set it and forget it type of meal.
Be sure to add Hoppin' John recipe aka Carolina beans and rice for an added bit of good luck in the New Year.
🍖 Ingredients:
- Pork loin
- Sauerkraut
- Granny Smith Apple (optional)
- Onion (optional)
- Olive oil
- Salt & pepper
📝 Notes on the ingredients
🍖 What cut of pork should be used?
This is the great debate on New Year's Day. What cut of pork was used this year? Was it the pork loin roast or was it the bone in pork loin. Everyone has their favorite. The bone in will give you another layer of flavor but the boneless pork loin will be easier to carve. Pork tenderloin is not recommended because it will not hold up to the extended cook time in the oven. Save your tenderloin for your pork tenderloin lemon piccata.
Do I have to use apples and onions in this recipe?
Apples and onions are completely optional in this recipe and my aunt is probably clutching her pearls right now for suggesting it but hear me out. By caramelizing onions and adding an apple to this recipe will add an element of sweetness to the sauerkraut, cutting the tartness.
But if you are a sauerkraut purist, and love the tang of the kraut leave the apple and onion out. But if you are a newbie to pork and sauerkraut I suggest adding them.
Should you sear the pork before placing it in the slow cooker?
I recommend searing your pork before cooking it in your crockpot. By searing the meat you are caramelizing the outside of the roast giving it color along with flavoring. Be sure your pan is screaming hot before you place my meat face down in the pan.
Do not move it or poke it for at least 4 minutes. You will know the meat is properly seared when you can easily flip it over with tongs without tugging too much on the meat to get it to release.
♨️ Slow cooker instructions:
- Pat the meat dry.
- Place the meat, fat side up, into a screaming hot pan and sear for at least 4 minutes.
- Flip the meat to sear on all sides.
- Remove the pork and place in the slow cooker.
- Saute the onion and the apple in the pan.
- Deglaze the pan, scraping up the pork bits.
- Pour the apples, onions and deglaze into the crock pot along with the rest of the sauerkraut.
- Cover and cook on low for 8-12 hours or on high for 5-7 hours.
- Remove from the crock pot and place the pork and krout on a serving platter. Allow the meat to rest for 15 minutes before cutting to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.
***If not using apples and onions in this recipe, still sear the pork and deglaze the pan with sauerkraut juice.
🗒️ Frequently asked questions and tips:
The combination of the sugars from the apples, the caramelized onions and the heat of the crockpot will further caramelize the sauerkraut. I find it is sweeter and has less tang than other sauerkraut. If you like a bite to the sauerkraut, you can omit the apples and onions or you can add in fresh sauerkraut at the end.
I suggest silver floss sauerkraut. It comes in a bag and is usually found in the meat department next to the pork or even in the refrigerator produce section. You are welcome to use canned sauerkraut but I wouldn't recommend it.
You do you but if you are asking, I recommend the bagged sauerkraut.
Slow Cooker Pork and Sauerkraut
Ingredients
- 1 3-4 lb Pork loin
- 2 pounds Sauerkraut
- 1 Apple optional
- 1 Onion optional
- drizzle Olive oil
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pat the meat dry and season with salt and fresh cracked pepper.
- Heat a heavy bottom pan to high on the stove top. Add a drizzle of olive oil.
- Place the meat, fat side up, into the pan and sear for at least 4 minutes to get good caramelization on the surface.
- Flip the meat to sear on all sides.
- Remove the pork and place in the slow cooker.
- Saute the onion and the apple in the pan until they start to take on color.
- Use some of the liquid from the sauerkraut to deglaze the pan, scraping up the pork bits.
- Pour the apples, onions and deglaze into the crock pot along with the rest of the sauerkraut.
- Cover and cook on low for 8-12 hours or on high for 5-7 hours.
- Remove from the crock pot and place the pork and krout on a serving platter. Allow the meat to rest for 15 minutes before cutting to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.
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