Slow Cooker Sauerkraut and Sausage

With only 6 ingredients, this Slow Cooker Sauerkraut and Sausage recipe is EASY to throw together! Add everything to the crock pot, set it and forget it!

Sauerkraut and sausage on a serving dish with black pepper


 

Whether you call it sauerkraut and sausage or kielbasa and sauerkraut, this crockpot version simplifies the recipe making it both delicious and easy!

Kielbasa and Sauerkraut to Polish people is kind of like Spaghetti and Sauce to Italians. Everyone’s grandmother had their way of making it, every family recipe is different, but they all have one thing in common: they are delicious.

Make sure you PIN Sauerkraut and Sausage!

Before I set out telling you about my recipe, I am not going to claim it is the best. What I will say is that it is darn good and there are A LOT of darn good sauerkraut and sausage recipes out there.

Ingredients for sauerkraut and pork

You’ll even seem them called pork and sauerkraut or sausage and sauerkraut. Not all use kielbasa, but I like the smoky flavor and texture best.

PRO TIP: If you can’t find kielbasa, use a different type of smoked sausage or even cooked sweet Italian sausage.

Some even add bell peppers and refer to it as “sausage and peppers” which to me is also a baked Italian dish.

Finished kielbasa and kraut in a slow cooker

Polish sausage and sauerkraut can be baked, made on the stove top or in this case, in a slow cooker. The slow cooker option really allows flavors to blend, but doesn’t allow any of the liquid to cook off, so your best bet is to use a slotted spoon to ladle out the food to a serving dish.

PRO TIP: Make this dish a day ahead of time to give it even more time to develop flavor!

Alternatively, you can keep it on warm at a party and the liquid will prevent your dish from getting dry or burning.

Close up of sauerkraut and sausage

This recipe for kielbasa and sauerkraut is pretty basic and does not use peppers. Instead it uses:

  • Kielbasa- Polish pork sausage
  • Sauerkraut
  • Onions
  • Potatoes
  • Brown Sugar
  • Apple juice

Which usually brings non-Polish readers to asking the next question…

Tablescape of pork and sauerkraut

What is sauerkraut?

Sauerkraut is simply fermented cabbage, basically pickled. It is best to be rinsed and drained before cooking otherwise you might get a super vinegary flavor.

It would be like using pickles and not draining them… which some pickle fanatics probably would do! I won’t judge.

Dish of sauerkraut

It is also fairly easy to make at home. I made it once a few years ago and the batch was so good that it was gone by the time I went to go take pictures and post the recipe. If you want to give a whirl, this is how to make homemade sauerkraut.

You can also buy store bought sauerkraut, no one here will judge you for not wanting to commit to a week or two of sauerkraut fermenting.

A plate of food on a table, with Kielbasa and Sauerkraut

This Slow Cooker Sauerkraut and Sausage is the best, but here are some of our other favorite sauerkraut recipes:

If you liked this sausage and sauerkraut slow cooker version, check out these other easy slow cooker recipes:

Spoon of kielbasa with sauerkraut

What is kielbasa?

Kielbasa is a seasoned Polish sausage, so a tubed meat, made from pork. It is generally smoked and contains garlic, among other proprietary blends of seasonings.

What do you serve with kielbasa and sausage?

You can serve it with anything you’d like, but here are the most common items.

Crock Pot Sauerkraut and Sausage for Pinterest

Can I freeze pork and sausage recipes?

You can, but it tastes best if in vacuum bags. You can use plastic bags, just make sure you get out as much air as possible.

Tools for making sausage and sauerkraut:

Wood cutting board – wood won’t dull your knives like plastic and if treated properly, has natural antimicrobial properties.

Good knife – Global is my favorite! They are worth the price, I promise. I am kind of obsessed with them and store them tucked away so no one else can use them. Including hubby. Hands off my good stuff!

Slow Cooker– You’ll need a slow cooker for a SLOW COOKER recipe, LOL. Crock Pot is great, but there are a lots of other options. And now many Instant Pots and pressure cookers also have the slow cooker feature.

Kielbasa and Sauerkraut for Pinterest

We’d love to hear about how your family makes their sausage and kraut. Leave us a comment and tell us your tips and secrets.

A plate of food on a table, with Kielbasa and Sauerkraut

Slow Cooker Sauerkraut and Sausage Recipe

4.61 from 48 votes
With only 6 ingredients, this Slow Cooker Sauerkraut and Sausage recipe is EASY to throw together! Add everything to the crock pot, set it and forget it!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 1 large Russet potato , peeled and cut into small cubes
  • 1 small onion , thinly sliced
  • 1 pound kielbasa , sliced in 1/4 inch pieces
  • 1 1/2 cups sauerkraut , rinsed and drained
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup apple juice
  • Freshly ground black pepper & fine sea salt to taste

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a slow cooker and stir to combine until sugar has dissolved.
  • Heat on low heat for 3-4 hours.
  • To serve, ladle out kielbasa and sauerkraut using a slotted spoon or leave on warm to keep moist during a party. Offer tongs or a slotted spoon for your guests.
  • If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was!

Nutrition

Calories: 492 kcal, Carbohydrates: 32 g, Protein: 18 g, Fat: 33 g, Saturated Fat: 12 g, Cholesterol: 79 mg, Sodium: 1354 mg, Potassium: 655 mg, Fiber: 3 g, Sugar: 17 g, Vitamin C: 14 mg, Calcium: 54 mg, Iron: 3 mg
Calories: 492
Course: Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine: Polish
Keyword: homemade sauerkraut, kielbasa, sausage and sauerkraut
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
Plated sauerkraut and kielbasa
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

4.61 from 48 votes (42 ratings without comment)

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Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    Amazing Recipe!
    Tasty, easy, and delicious. Made this recently using leftover apple juice, small yellow potatoes, jarred sauerkraut with shredded carrots, and added Truvia brown sugar. My husband finished the entire recipe in one sitting it was so great tasting. Thanks for the awesome recipe!

  2. I have Polish heritage so grew up eating kielbasa. We always had both fresh and smoked, straight from the butcher shop, because some people preferred one over the other.
    I don’t use our slow cooker often, so my question is that your text mentioned smoked kielbasa – if I’m making this with fresh kielbasa do I need to do any pre-cooking of the kielbasa or is the time in the slow cooker on low heat sufficient to cook it safely?

  3. I followed the Recipe but in the Photo above it Looks to Me you Pan Fried the Potatoes First.
    I didn’t Pan Fry Anything just Throw it all into the Slow Cooker.
    I really Hope it Still tries out good and potatoes won’t Be Hard (Due to Not Pan Frying them First) 😬

    1. Hi Lacey! I didn’t pan fry them, I think some had a little skin still left on them. But man, good eye! I literally had to look back super close at the images! The potatoes won’t be super crispy- if you want crispy potatoes then you can pan fry them separate and then toss them in right at the end.

  4. 5 stars
    I love sauerkraut! Have been trying to include more fermented food into my diet! This sounds perfect!