Sauerkraut isn’t just a winter favorite; it’s packed with vitamins too. With these recipes, you can make it a real treat!
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When it gets cold and your immune system needs a boost, sauerkraut is the perfect helper. It’s tasty and even healthier than some fruits like lemons and oranges.
Whether you bake it, cook it, or enjoy it fresh as a salad, this traditional winter delicacy has countless uses in the kitchen. Here are 32 original recipes with sauerkraut for you to try!
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Where I grew up, we call these sarma, and we usually make them with sauerkraut leaves rather than fresh cabbage.
They’re filled with ground meat and rice, rolled up, and slowly cooked until the cabbage is tender. It’s especially popular during winter and around the holidays.
Sauerkraut and Sausage Skillet
Ingredients:
- 1 lb smoked sausage or kielbasa
- 2 cups sauerkraut
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions:
Sauté onions in butter, add sliced sausage, and cook until browned. Stir in sauerkraut and heat through. Serve with mustard or crusty bread.
Sauerkraut Pierogi
Ingredients:
- Pierogi dough (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 cup sauerkraut
- 1/2 onion, chopped
- Butter
Instructions:
Sauté onion and mix with sauerkraut. Fill pierogi dough with the mixture, seal, and boil. Sauté in butter for added flavor.
Pork and Sauerkraut
Ingredients:
- 1 pork shoulder or pork chops
- 2 cups sauerkraut
- 1 apple, sliced
- 1/2 cup apple juice or broth
Instructions:
Place pork in a baking dish or slow cooker, top with sauerkraut and apple slices, and pour in apple juice. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 2 hours or cook in a slow cooker on low for 6–8 hours.
Sauerkraut Soup
Ingredients:
- 2 cups sauerkraut
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup diced potatoes
- Smoked sausage (optional)
Instructions:
Sauté onion, add broth, sauerkraut, potatoes, and sausage. Simmer until potatoes are tender and serve warm.
Sauerkraut Salad
Ingredients:
- 2 cups sauerkraut, drained
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- Olive oil and vinegar
Instructions:
Combine sauerkraut, onion, and carrots. Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar, toss, and serve chilled.
Reuben Sandwich
Ingredients:
- Rye bread
- Corned beef
- Sauerkraut
- Swiss cheese
- Thousand Island dressing
Instructions:
Layer bread with corned beef, sauerkraut, cheese, and dressing. Grill until golden and cheese is melted.
Sauerkraut Casserole
Ingredients:
- 2 cups sauerkraut
- 1 lb ground beef or pork
- 1/2 cup cooked rice
- 1 can tomato sauce or cheese
Instructions:
Layer sauerkraut, cooked meat, and rice in a casserole dish. Pour tomato sauce or cheese over the top and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25–30 minutes.
Sauerkraut Dumplings
Ingredients:
- Dumpling dough
- 1 cup sauerkraut
- Butter
- Ham
Instructions:
Fill dumpling dough with sauerkraut, ham, seal, and boil. Toss cooked dumplings in melted butter before serving.
Sauerkraut Potato Pancakes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup mashed potatoes
- 1 cup sauerkraut
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup flour
Instructions:
Mix ingredients, form into patties, and fry in oil until crispy on both sides. Serve with sour cream.
Sauerkraut Pizza
Ingredients:
- Pizza dough
- 1 cup sauerkraut
- 1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese
- Sausage or bacon (optional)
Instructions:
Spread sauerkraut over pizza dough, sprinkle with cheese and sausage or bacon. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 10–12 minutes.
Sauerkraut and Bean Stew
Ingredients:
- 2 cups sauerkraut
- 1 can white beans
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 cups vegetable broth
Instructions:
Sauté onion, add sauerkraut, beans, and broth. Simmer for 20 minutes and serve with crusty bread.
German Sauerkraut Pasta
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked pasta
- 1 cup sauerkraut
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup chopped bacon or ham
Instructions:
Mix pasta with sauerkraut, sour cream, and bacon or ham. Heat and serve.
Sauerkraut and Mushroom Pierogi Filling
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sauerkraut
- 1/2 cup sautéed mushrooms
- 1 onion, chopped
Instructions:
Mix sauerkraut, mushrooms, and onion. Use as a filling for pierogi or dumplings.
Sauerkraut-Stuffed Bell Peppers
Ingredients:
- Bell peppers
- 1 cup sauerkraut
- 1/2 cup cooked rice
- 1/2 cup ground meat or sausage
Instructions:
Mix sauerkraut, rice, and meat. Stuff into peppers and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 30–35 minutes.
Sauerkraut and Bratwurst Bake
Ingredients:
- 2 cups sauerkraut
- 4 bratwursts
- 1/2 cup beer or broth
- 1 tablespoon mustard
Instructions:
Place sauerkraut in a baking dish, top with bratwursts, and pour in beer or broth. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 30–40 minutes.
Sauerkraut Grilled Cheese
Ingredients:
- Sourdough or rye bread
- Sauerkraut
- Swiss or cheddar cheese
- Butter
Instructions:
Layer sauerkraut and cheese between slices of bread, butter the outside, and grill in a skillet until golden and melty.
Sauerkraut Chicken Bake
Ingredients:
- 4 chicken thighs or breasts
- 2 cups sauerkraut
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
Instructions:
Place chicken in a baking dish, cover with sauerkraut, and pour in broth. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 35–40 minutes.
Sauerkraut Pancakes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup sauerkraut, drained
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup milk
Instructions:
Mix ingredients into a batter, cook pancakes on a skillet until golden, and serve with sour cream or applesauce.
Sauerkraut Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients:
- 2 cups mashed potatoes
- 1 cup sauerkraut
- Butter or cream
Instructions:
Mix sauerkraut into mashed potatoes, add butter or cream, and season to taste.
Sauerkraut Meatballs
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef or pork
- 1 cup sauerkraut
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions:
Mix ingredients, form into meatballs, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20–25 minutes. Serve with mustard or gravy.
Sauerkraut Stir-Fry
Ingredients:
- 2 cups sauerkraut
- 1 cup chopped vegetables (carrots, bell peppers, etc.)
- Soy sauce
Instructions:
Sauté vegetables, add sauerkraut, and stir in soy sauce. Serve over rice or noodles.
Sauerkraut Pork Chops
Ingredients:
- 4 pork chops
- 2 cups sauerkraut
- 1/2 cup apple cider
Instructions:
Brown pork chops in a skillet, top with sauerkraut, and pour in cider. Simmer covered for 20–25 minutes.
Sauerkraut Goulash
Ingredients:
- 2 cups sauerkraut
- 1 lb beef or pork cubes
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 onion, chopped
- Paprika
Instructions:
Brown meat with onions, add sauerkraut, broth, and paprika. Simmer until meat is tender and serve with bread.
Sauerkraut Croquettes
Ingredients:
- 2 cups mashed potatoes
- 1 cup sauerkraut
- 1 egg
- Breadcrumbs
Instructions:
Mix mashed potatoes and sauerkraut, form into croquettes, dip in egg and breadcrumbs, and fry until crispy.
Sauerkraut Pasta Bake
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked pasta
- 1 cup sauerkraut
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese
Instructions:
Mix pasta with sauerkraut and sour cream, place in a baking dish, top with cheese, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15–20 minutes.
Sauerkraut Stuffed Mushrooms
Ingredients:
- Large mushrooms, stems removed
- 1 cup sauerkraut
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions:
Stuff mushrooms with sauerkraut and breadcrumbs, then bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15 minutes.
Sauerkraut Potato Soup
Ingredients:
- 2 cups sauerkraut
- 2 cups diced potatoes
- 4 cups broth
- 1 onion, chopped
Instructions:
Simmer potatoes and onions in broth, add sauerkraut, and cook until tender. Blend or leave chunky and serve.
Sauerkraut Quesadillas
Ingredients:
- Tortillas
- Sauerkraut
- Swiss or cheddar cheese
Instructions:
Fill tortillas with sauerkraut and cheese, fold in half, and cook in a skillet until crispy and melted.
Sauerkraut Pizza Rolls
Ingredients:
- Pizza dough
- Sauerkraut
- Cheese
- Sausage or bacon (optional)
Instructions:
Spread sauerkraut and cheese on pizza dough, roll up, slice, and bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15–20 minutes.
Sauerkraut and Lentil Stew
Ingredients:
- 1 cup lentils
- 2 cups sauerkraut
- 4 cups broth
- 1 onion, chopped
Instructions:
Cook lentils in broth with onions, then add sauerkraut and simmer until tender.
Sauerkraut and Egg Breakfast Bowl
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sauerkraut
- 2 fried or poached eggs
- Sliced avocado
Instructions:
Place sauerkraut in a bowl, top with eggs and avocado, and season with salt and pepper.