This is hands down the BEST Pork and Sauerkraut recipe ever! Succulent, tender pork is flavored with sauerkraut that has been sweetened with apples. This Slow Cooker Pork and Sauerkraut is incredibly easy to make and delicious to eat.
This pork and sauerkraut is delicious served over mashed potatoes with a side of homemade applesauce.
If there was one meal I hated when I was growing up, it was Pork and Sauerkraut.
New Years Day always meant Pork and Sauerkraut at my house as a child. My parents always made me take one bite of the sauerkraut for good luck. I felt like the bite of sauerkraut was ANYTHING but lucky in my book--I truly hated it!
I loved the pork and the mashed potatoes that were served alongside the pork and sauerkraut but forget about the sauerkraut.
Don't tell the 10-year-old stubborn child I was, but it was in fact the sauerkraut that gave the pork all its delicious flavor. As the pork loin cooks in the sauerkraut, the sauerkraut helps to break down the pork into a juicy, succulent cut of meat.
And now that my taste buds have expanded a bit, I have to say, I enjoy the sauerkraut as well.
Secrets for the Pot Pork and Sauerkraut
There are two things that make this Slow Cooker Pork and Sauerkraut Recipe the BEST!
- Time: Pork loin is best when it is braised over a long period of time with the sauerkraut, as the tenders in the meat are broken down and the pork loin becomes tender and juicy. I love to use my slow cooker when making pork and sauerkraut to set it and forget it for a hands-off meal.
- Sweetness: I also am a firm believer that the flavors in sauerkraut need to be balanced out with a bit of sweetness to round out the flavors. My mom always used a bit of brown sugar in her pork and sauerkraut recipe, but I am a firm believer in apple juice is KEY! The apple juice keeps the pork moist and flavors the sauerkraut with just the right amount of natural sweetness.
How to Make Crock Pot Pork and Sauerkraut
Step One: Season Pork Loin
- To ensure a really good flavor, liberally season the pork loin with salt and pepper on all sides.
Step Two: Sear Pork Loin
- Heat a large skillet or dutch oven over high heat. I like to use a dutch oven to keep oil from splattering on my stove.
- Sear pork loin for 2-3 minutes per side, or until browned and easy to flip.
- Place seared pork loin in the slow cooker.
Step Three: Slow Cook
- Add apple juice to the slow cooker.
- Add in apples, onions, and garlic around the pork loin.
- Top with sauerkraut.
- Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
Recipe Notes
- Be sure to drain the sauerkraut from the juices it is packaged in to control the sodium and tang in this recipe. Canned or bagged sauerkraut both work for this recipe.
- If you don't have apple juice, use chicken stock in its place, but add in 2 tablespoons of brown sugar to help balance the flavors in this pork and sauerkraut. But I am telling you, the apple juice makes this dish incredible.
- 16 ounces of sauerkraut is enough for a 2-4 pound pork loin. For any larger pork loin, you will want to double the amount of sauerkraut.
- Leftover pork and sauerkraut can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 days and frozen for up to 3 months.
- Pork and sauerkraut is gluten-free, paleo, and dairy-free, making it a great meal to serve to those with dietary restrictions.
- If you need a faster version of this classic recipe, try out Instant Pot Pork and Sauerkraut.
More Slow Cooker Pork Loin Recipes
If you tried this recipe, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below. I hope this recipe made you a believer in Pork and Sauerkaut.
Slow Cooker Pork and Sauerkraut
Ingredients
- 3 pound pork loin trimmed of excess fat
- salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 16 ounces sauerkraut drained
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 onion sliced
- 1 apple sliced
- 1 cup apple juice
Instructions
- Liberally season the pork loin with salt and pepper on all sides.
- Heat oil in a large skillet or a dutch oven. Sear pork loin on all sides, 2-3 minutes per side.
- Add seared pork into a slow cooker. Pour in apple juice. Place onions, apples, and garlic around the pork loin. Top with sauerkraut.
- Place lid on the slow cooker and cook for 4-5 hours on high or 8-10 hours on low.
- Remove pork and slice or shred and serve with cooking liquids.
Victor Ulto
Can I add potatoes to the slow cooker as well? If so, what kind do you suggest and how many for a 3 lb pork loin?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Victor! Potatoes would be delicious, especially red or Yukon gold potatoes, as they will soak up the cooking liquid while they cook. I would use 2-3 pounds of quartered potatoes. Enjoy!
David P
Hi Kristen we made this today and it was fabulous. Due to an apple allergy we used a chicken bouillon cube with the 2 tablespoons of brown sugar. Other than salt and pepper during the searing our 4 lb pork loin with 2 lbs of fresh organic sauerkraut we used no other spices or seasoning. We cooked it on low for 12 hours and it was the Best pork loin any of us have ever had. It easily served 8 hungry adults. Thank you for the recipe.
Kristen Chidsey
I love hearing you all enjoyed so much! Happy New Year!
Victor Ulto
Thanks! See my latest review: it’s awesome!
Connie
Sounds delicious! If I just double the sauerkraut, do I need to change any of the other ingredients?
Kristen Chidsey
Not at all. Enjoy and Happy New Year!
Karen
If I use two bags of kraut do I use 2 cups of apple juice ?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Karen! To balance out the sweetness, yes, but it is not necessary.
Love To Cook
You say 8-10 hour on low, so so you suggest closer to 8 or closer to 10 for 3lbs of meat?
Kristen Chidsey
A pork loin roast is very forgiving. It will be ready at 8 hours, but it won't hurt if you happen to leave it go for 10 hours.
Kathy
Trying this tomorrow! I am not great at cooking pork, but I love sauerkraut. I only have apple cider so hopefully that will be ok. 🤞
Kristen Chidsey
As long as you are referring to apple cider, not apple cider vinegar, it will be perfect! (A lot of people seem to get the two confused) Enjoy and happy new year!
Kathy
It's on! I actually have a pork butt roast 4.5 lb so here's my tweak. I am going to cook 1 hr on high and 7 hours on low because it is larger and I should have gotten up earlier! 🤦♀️ I doubled the sauerkraut too. Fingers crossed 🙏🤞
Kristen Chidsey
Let me recommend 2 hours on high and 6 hours on low. And that should be perfect.
Kathy
Yes apple cider not the vinegar although I love the benefits of raw apple cider vinegar!
Kristen Chidsey
I agree, just not in this recipe😍☺️
Kathy
Thank you Kristen! Perfect timing! 😁 Happy New Year to you and your family!
Steve Roeder
Lost my mothers recipe, tried your recipe and is the same really missed this. Thank you.
Kristen Chidsey
I am so happy that this recipe tasted like your mom's--I am sure sweet memories.
Theresa
I'm hoping you see this and can answer my question. I'm serving a LARGE crowd for New Year's this year and have 20 pounds of pork loin to prepare. Since I don't own 5 crock pots, is there a way to adjust this recipe to cook in a roaster oven? Can I just roast it at 200 degrees for 8 hours or so?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Theresa! Wow! That is quite the crowd and they will be quite lucky to enjoy this recipe. I would suggest cooking at 200 degrees F for 8-10 hours in your roaster oven. A crockpot on low is about 190 degrees, give or take, so that should be perfect! Happy New Year!
Bridget Miller
If I have 32 ounce of kraut, do I use two cups of juice ?
Kristen Chidsey
If your pork loin is doubled as well, yes. If not, 1 cup of juice will be enough. You will just have extra kraut, which is never a problem 🙂 Enjoy!
Jennifer
What type of apple do you recommend?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Jennifer! Use apples that hold up well to baking, like Granny Smith or Honey Crisp or Braeburn
Diana M
Delicious! For non sauerkraut eaters as well as those who love sauerkraut.
Kristen Chidsey
So happy to hear you all enjoyed the Pork and Sauerkraut. My non sauerkraut eaters love this one as well!
Jill
Sounds delicious…if I double the recipe should I double all ingredients?
Kristen Chidsey
Yes! But keep the cooking time the same.
Wendi
I have frozen pulled pork from Costco I need to use, do you think I can thaw and follow the recipe or cook and just add juice and kraut?
Thoughts?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Wendi!
I assume the pork is cooked, but is it already seasoned? You can warm it up with the juice and kraut to flavor and keep the pork moist, but keep in mind if the pulled pork is heavily seasoned already those flavors may clash a bit.
Joe
I used a 3.5 lb pork loin,
41 oz of sauerkraut that was drained and two cups of apple juice.
I also added the other ingredients but I did add one pound of small boiling onions. Cooked on high for 5 hours. The pork was extremely tender but I think the ratio of apple juice and draining the sauerkraut juice leaves this meal with out having the authentic sauerkraut taste. There was no tang or sauerkraut flavor.
It was still very good but I like the sharpness and tang of the sauerkraut itself.
I would definitely remake this recipe but I would probably use less apple juice or half apple juice and half of the juice from the sauerkraut, but the meat was delicious and just fell apart and was very moist! It's a very easy recipe and I think if you don't like sauerkraut this would be a great recipe to have somebody want to eat it.
Kristen Chidsey
Hey Joe! Next time, I would suggest simply not draining the kraut to give the recipe more tang. Part of the issue may have been the added ingredients as well--they may have taken away a bit of the flavor. Thanks for sharing your review!
Christine
Just made this today. Pork fell apart amazing taste.
Kristen Chidsey
I love hearing you enjoyed the Pulled Pork Christine 🙂
Erica Wells
We LOVE P&S! I learned from my German mom to add a can of diced tomatoes to help cut the sharpness of the kraut and also add onion and apple. Since I use at least 7 lbs of kraut it’s not too much tomato and it literally disappears when cooked! I’m going to try YOUR recipe this time. Thanks!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Erica! What a great tip. As tomatoes are on the sweet side, that makes sense. I will have to try that sometime, myself. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy my family's version.
Dorrie M
A 1/4 cup of brown sugar also takes the bitterness out of kraut
Kristen Chidsey
That works as well!
Jill
Can a pork tenderloin be used
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Jill! Pork tenderloin does not need as long to cook as a pork loin or pork butt roast and is best served sliced at medium-temperature. I would suggest cutting down the cooking time to 4 hours on low (5-6 hours if you want the meat to be well-done) and 2-3 hours on high.
Ro Linehan
I made this pork and sauerkraut recipe today - it was soooooo delicious!
Kristen Chidsey
It is a favorite here, too. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
Kristy
Any chance apple sauce could be used as a substitute for the apple juice?
Kristen Chidsey
I personally don't recommend that, as the texture may be a bit off-putting and the meat won't be quite as juicy. That said, I have had two readers share they have used 2 cups of applesauce with success.
Jean A Discher
This is by far the best crock pot recipe I have ever tried. Not only does the pork loin fall apart, the taste is amazing. Not everyone likes the apples, but it gives the dish wonderful favors. Instead, I quarter and decore the apples. When serving, I just place the apples in a separate serving dish so anyone can help themselves. 5 star dish 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Carol
This recipe was perfect!!! I cannot wait to make it again!
Kristen Chidsey
I love hearing that you enjoyed!
Bonny
I just found a "Manager" special 4lb pork loin roast at my local grocery store and decided to use sauerkraut so i got a 32 oz jar of imported German sauerkraut I knew I wanted to use my slow cooker so when I got home I searched on Pinterest and found your recipe and I just set it and I'll update my post aftervi have eaten it.
I CAN'T WAIT
Alice
This was SO GOOD! My husband and I aren’t big fans of pork so we tried chicken breast instead, and it was amazing!
Kristen Chidsey
So happy you enjoyed Alice! And glad to know it worked with chicken.
Nicole
Im.going yo try this with chicken! (Saierkraut lover through and through here....having been forced to eat it from a super young age like you! I dont remember NOT eating it!
Kristen Chidsey
Let us know how you like it with chicken!
Cheryl Dolohanty
I made this for New Years Day. Everyone loved it! The only “issue” was the sauerkraut haters actually loved the sauerkraut; some even took second helpings. Definitely on the list to make in the future, with a little extra sauerkraut.
Kristen Chidsey
HA! That's a good issue to have! Thanks for sharing!
Jennifer
I’ve never made pork and sauerkraut before, but living in Central PA for my whole life, I decided that today I would start. I stumbled upon this recipe and put it in the crockpot this morning. Oh my gosh, it was delicious! Thank you so much. I did use local apple cider instead of the juice, but that was the only change I made.
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you stumbled upon my recipe and were happy with the results! Happy New Year!