Sauerkraut isn’t just a winter favorite; it’s packed with vitamins too. With these recipes, you can make it a real treat!
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!
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Sauerkraut Dumplings
Ingredients:
- Dumpling dough
- 1 cup sauerkraut
- Butter
Instructions:
Fill dumpling dough with sauerkraut, seal, and boil. Toss cooked dumplings in melted butter before serving.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. Sauerkraut Breakfast Hash
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sauerkraut
- 2 cups diced potatoes
- 2 eggs
- Bacon or sausage (optional)
Instructions:
Cook potatoes until crispy, add sauerkraut, and top with fried or poached eggs.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. 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.
23. 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.
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. 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.
27. 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.
28. 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.
29. 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.
30. 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.
31. 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.
32. 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.