Pork chops and sauerkraut full of tender juicy pork that melts in your mouth. Added in is tangy sauerkraut that gets a balance from apple cider. A dinner that screams comfort food for all.
My favorite childhood dish is simply this recipe for Baked Pork Chops and Sauerkraut! My Mom would switch it up for my birthday dinner and prepare a pork loin with sauerkraut!
I’m a cheap date, pork chops, sauerkraut, throw in onions and an apple, equals one happy girl.
Okay enough of me already, back to this yummy recipe.
Low calorie, low-carb gluten-free and one pan! Make ahead and re-heated! Perfect for a crowd-pleasing meal too!
Did you know Pork and Sauerkraut are considered a meal to eat on New Year’s Day for many with Eastern European heritage?
Pork and Sauerkraut are considered a meal to eat on New Year’s Day that will bring health and prosperity for the year ahead. Cabbage is a fall harvested veggie, usually in October. Homemade sauerkraut takes about 6 weeks to brine. Thus, homemade sauerkraut would be ready end of December. It coincides with the time of year that the pigs were prepared to be food for the families. Therefore, New Year’s Day became a popular day to enjoy pork and sauerkraut together and it signified good luck for the year.
Can I freeze this meal?
I have made this meal and placed in a freezer-safe bag. The pork and sauerkraut reheat very well. I reheat in the oven at 300 degrees for about 1/2 hour.
What other cuts of pork can be used to make this pork chop sauerkraut casserole?
Make this recipe using any cut of pork. You will need to adjust cooking times, depending on the cut of pork. I love this with a boneless pork loin.
What should the internal temperature be when pork is cooked?
To make the best pork chops that are not dry, the internal temperature should be 145 degrees.
What sides go well with Pork and Sauerkraut?
Green Beans with Mushrooms and Shallots
Roasted Asparagus with Lemon and Garlic
Easy Classic Homemade Mashed Potatoes
– yummy! I just need my fuzzy pj’s and slippers and I am set for the evening!
How to make Slow Cooker Pork and Sauerkraut:
- Season the pork chops or pork with black pepper and garlic powder. Heat a large skillet over medium heat add oil to the pan.
- Brown pork chops or pork loin in a saute pan.
- Place the pork, apples, and sauerkraut in the slow cooker, low 6-7 hours high for 3-4 hours
Tips on Making Baked Pork Chops and Sauerkraut in the Oven:
- Use either boneless or bone-in chops or pork, loin of pork also works – no effect on flavor. I shop by store sales.
- Brown the pork before finishing the pork chops in the oven. The browning adds amazing flavor and you always have tender pork chops.
- Use either homemade or store bought apple cider, or apple juice. Do not use apple cider vinegar which is completely different.
- An easy made ahead meal! Simply place the cooked pork chops to bake in the oven to reheat at 300 degrees for about 10 minutes when ready to eat.
- Light brown sugar is my favorite sweetener for this recipe. Can use another sweetener such as Turbinado sugar. Add the sweetener in increments and check sweetness.
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- Cast Iron Skillet with Lid: A cast iron skillet with a lid is very helpful for this meal to keep it a one pot meal.
- Meat Thermometer: To check meat temperature for doneness.
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Some other pork recipes you may enjoy:
Pork and Sun-Dried Tomato Sandwich: a quick and easy meal for lunch or dinner.
Grilled Mexican Pork Chops: pork chops with a kick and topped with tomatillo salsa, so delish.
Instant Pot Pork and Veggies: A fabulous tasting one pot dinner ready in no time.
Foil Baked Ribs in Peach BBQ Sauce: Super easy to make and the peach BBQ Sauce is ah-mazing.
How to Make Baked Pork Chops and Sauerkraut:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Season pork with pepper and garlic powder. I use about 1 1/2 inch thick pork chops.
- Heat a cast-iron or oven-safe casserole pan over medium heat, add olive oil.
- Sear pork chops to brown on both sides. Remove set aside until all chops browned.
- Add onion and apple to the pan and brown slightly 1-2 minutes.
- Add the apple cider and brown sugar. Use a wooden spoon to bring up any brown bits at bottom of the pan.
- Add back the pork chops and sauerkraut. Move around sauerkraut to ensure covered by the juices.
- Place either the lid or aluminum foil on pan or casserole. Bake for about 35-45 minutes. Boneless chops are quicker cooking. The internal temperature of cooked pork should be 145 degrees.
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Originally published Nov 1, 2015. Updated Nov 29,2017
Baked Pork Chops and Sauerkraut
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
- 4 5 ounce pork chops, trim fat from chop about 1 1/2 inch thick
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 onion, peeled and sliced thin
- 1 apple, cored, peeled, and chopped granny smith or Gala are awesome
- 1 cup homemade apple cider juice or store-bought apple cider Note 2
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar keto, use coconut palm sugar
- 2 pounds sauerkraut, in a bag and drained Note 1
Instructions
Baked Pork Chops and Sauerkraut
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Season both sides of pork chops with black pepper and garlic powder.
- In an oven-safe skillet, over medium heat, add the avocado oil. Brown the pork chops on both sides, about 4 minutes per side. Set aside.
- To the skillet, add and combine sliced onion, chopped apple, brown sugar, apple juice, and drained sauerkraut.
- Add the brown pork chops and combine so that the pork chops are covered with the sauerkraut and juices.
- Cover the skillet with lid or foil and bake at least 45-60 minutes. Pork chops should be tender and no longer pink. Pork temperature should be 165 degrees. Serve immediately or cool and refrigerate and reheat when ready to eat.
Slow Cooker Pork Chops and Sauerkraut
- Slow-cooker instructions, after browning the pork chops in the skillet, add all ingredients to the slow-cooker. Slow cook low- 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours. Serve with your favorite sides.
Video
Notes
- Note 1: I prefer sauerkraut in a bag. Canned sauerkraut has a tinny taste that we do not care for.
- Note 2: Please note this recipe uses either apple cider or apple juice. Do not use apple cider vinegar. They are very different ingredients.
- Don't have an ovenproof skillet, after browning the pork chops. Combine all ingredients in a casserole dish, cover, and bake.
- I am not a registered dietician but I try to give the most accurate nutritional information as possible. Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes.
Nutrition
Originally published Nov 1, 2015. Updated Nov 29,2017
Wondering if I could substitute applesauce for the apple and apple cider since I don’t have either on hand?
Sam, I would add the applesauce and a small amount of water to dilute it. I have never done it myself but if I were in a pinch, that is a great idea. Let me know if you do it and how it works for you. This is one of my most favorite recipes ever.
According to my mother (who doesn’t cook), HER mother, who passed away before I was born, made the WORLD’S BEST pork chops and sauerkraut. I have never been a fan of sauerkraut anywhere outside of a reuben, but after 44 years of listening to my mother sing praises about my grandmother’s pc&s, I might have found the recipe that will convince me to give the stuff another try. TIA!
I’m so glad you enjoy the recipe Eva. I’ve been making this since I was a little girl and it is still my favorite meal. I hope you check back in and let me know how it all works for you.
Haven’t tried it yet but I can see from the ingredients the wife and I will love it.
I hope you and your wife enjoy the recipe Wayne. Please check back in after you make it. Enjoy
My husband loved this dish. He said save this recipe!
I’m very happy your hubs loves this pork recipe. My favorite recipe too. I thank you for taking the time to let me know how the family enjoys it.
We have pork chops on a regular basis so I can’t wait to try your recipe! Thanks for sharing on the National Pork Month Celebrate 365 Blog Party!
I hope your family enjoys the pork chops and sauerkraut as much as my family! pure comfort food!
I’m sorry to tell you but I made my Pork Chops with Sauerkraut recipe & followed it exactly to your recipe. I will never do this recipe again. It was awful. I threw all away except what we tried to eat..
It was tasteless. Probably if I hadn’t added the Apple cider & salt, it might have been better.
I’m not quite sure what happened here, Brenda. This is a recipe that I’ve made hundreds of times. It has been tested over and over for many years by so many. The recipe has been reviewed by many with very positive results. Ironically, the day prior to your review was a very positive review from someone who is adding this recipe to their family’s weekly menu. A concern I have is you said you followed my exact recipe and you mention salt, the recipe doesn’t use salt since pork is already salty. I am wondering if you perhaps changed other ingredients. I am trying to troubleshoot where the recipe may have gone wrong for you as no one who enjoys pork recipes has ever disliked this one.
Yeah, also not a fan, just bad call on the apple cider vinegar. The time it takes to cook off the vinegar leaves the pork dry. Poorly conceived recipe.
Plus apple cider vinegar will reek havok on even the most well seasoned cast iron skillet, so if using cast iron proceed with caution. I would 86 the vinegar all together
This recipe does not use apple cider vinegar. It uses apple cider or apple juice. There is no apple cider vinegar at all here. Please use apple juice in the recipe. It has also been added to use apple cider or apple juice. this recipe links to homemade apple cider or use store made apple cider.
It doesn’t call for Apple cider vinegar – just apple cider. Re-read the recipe.
I think it’s great & I cook all the time & every kind of cuisine. No good deed goes unpunished
AW thank you very much, Nellie. I appreciate your kind comments and I am so happy you enjoy the recipe.
Use wine.
A great addition Nancy. I’m not quite sure what Gordon used to make the recipe. Following the recipe is best. Wine sounds great, what kind did you use?
Hi,
I’m not sure what you did or not do?
This recipe is a true pork and sauerkraut recipe, now us with German back ground may mix it up a little different but this is a great recipe!!
Thank you, Mark. I truly appreciate your enjoyment of these pork chops. I appreciate the support. These are my favorite pork chops as well.
LOVING that it’s freezer friendly! Such a great weeknight dinner recipe for the fam! xo
This is my first recipe I ever made as a little girl, hands down my favorite!
In the oven, can’t wait to taste this. Was very easy to make. I’ve never cooked much with sauerkraut and the flavor combinations are new to me. Curious, I took a taste of the sauerkraut mix before adding the chops and even the uncooked flavors together were delightful. Thanks for this recipe.
Excellent Brenda! I hope the final result is delish! Let me know! I am glad you found the recipe easy. It is a favorite of my families!
The most tender pork chops I ever ate!
Well Tommy, I am with you! Love these pork chops too
Okay, I’ll be honest -I have tried quite many recipes over the year, but I have never tried anything like this – I’m sure it will be absolutely brilliant. Thanks a lot for sharing it with us 😛
I am glad I brought you new flavors.. I hope you make this tasty comfort food for yourself and let me know
We have some porkchops in the freezer that need to be used up, so we’ll have to check this out! I’m debating on this recipe or a crock pot meal tonight.
Farrah, this is great in the crop pot – they become so tender and such an easy meal
Oh my husband would love this. I’m not much of a fan of sauerkraut, but he LOVES it!
I love pork chops. Those look so amazing!
Thank you Amber!
We love pork chops. I will have to try this!
I hope you to – it so good!
I never thought about sauerkraut with apples. I bet your family sure enjoyed it.
Yes Mel, it is realy quite delicious
I love sauerkraut on my hotdogs but have never had it with porkchops. I’ll bet it delicious.
it is delish! I hope you try it out
I happen to love sauerkraut and this sounds delicious. I am going to try and make it just for me!
I am glad and I hope you enjoy Michele -me know how you like the recipe
What a great recipe. Some home style cooking is great for the winter.
It really is Jason. I get home and into my PJs and just want to eat comfort food
This sounds truly wonderful! I’ve never tried sauerkraut. Isn’t that crazy???
Oh Liz you really should try this one – I think you will find it to be a great confort food – My family loves this recipe and the sauerkraut is great wit the apples and juice
Oh hello! These look incredible. I had to pin them for later!
Thank you, I hope you enjoy!
I have never had sauerkraut with pork chops before but I know about the classic pork and apples combo and it indeed tastes good! The recipe seems pretty simple and quick to do. Will try to whip it up this weekend! Thanks!
I hope you try this one – its easy, tasty, and low calorie
This sounds like a very delicious recipe to try for myself. I LOVE pork chops. Thank you for sharing.
I am so glad you enjoy hope you try this recipe
This certainly sounds like a winning recipe to me. Pork and apples go so well together!
Oh – this is one of my favorites
I’m not a big pork chops fan, but this flavor combination could make me one 🙂 Great thinking!
It is a really nice recipe- low cal and has a good flavor
I would have never of thought to combine all of these things. It sounds interesting and delicious!
Thank you Dawn – I hope you try this one
I love sauerkraut. So good and can’t beat the gut friendly bacteria. 😉
Absolutey – totally agree
It’s been a long time since I ate pork , not that I don’t like it but i try to keep less the meat that i take. This food recipe make me drool and definitely want to try it.
I agree, we eat meat in moderation as well! This is my favorite to eat when I am in need of a comfort meal. Thank you for the kind compliments – I hope you ive it a try!
That looks so delicious! I can’t wait to make this for my family.
I am so glad you kike this one – I hope your family enjoys!
This recipe looks easy to follow and it looks delicious x
Thank you Claire – this really is an easy dish to prepare and tasty!
that’s a fancy looking pork chop right there! I would love to try this recipe out.
Thank you Dhenz Apdian-Dias, this is a tasty and easy pork chop dish to prepare! I hope you give it a try and let me know how you like it!
This looks absolutely incredible.
Thank you Erika!
We are big sauerkraut eaters! It’s made locally by a few organizations and we typically buy enough to freeze for the whole year! Porkchops with sauerkraut is a favorite of mine 🙂
Heidi, that is fantastic! I bet the sauerkraut freshly made is amazing! I hope you make this one with the fresh sauerkraut!
This looks amazing! I love sauerkraut 🙂
Thank you Rachel – this is a yummy one!
I so love porkchops with apples, the combination is not something you’d expect but it’s so lovely. I would love to try this recipe!
I hope you give this one a try, it is really easy and quite tasty!
I am a vegetarian but I know plenty of people that like pork and would love this recipe!
Thank you Ana
This is a tasty recipe! I love pork chop, can’t wait to try it out this weekend
I hope you try it and enjoy!
I never heard about the baked pork chops and it looks like a good meal
I hope you try this one out Victoria – its really tasty and low-fat!
I lived in the Ukraine for 7 years and sauerkraut was a staple! Pork chops with anything sweet – like candied sweet potatoes or apples is heavenly! What time is dinner?
I love it Claudette – would love to make dinner and you are so interesting – I would learn so much from your wisdom!
I think it is funny my husband hates the smell of sauerkraut. I think it is a traditional smell:)
I have a son who isn’t fond either – but for some reason – this one he likes :)!
My husband would drool over this page. He loves pork chops.
You are so funny Tara! This is super easy to make – treat him and let me know how he likes the recipe!
i’m all in minus the sauerkraut but it all looks delicious
You can feel free to avoid the sauerkraut, try it with mashed cauliflower or mashed potatoes!
What an awesome dinner idea! I can’t wait to make this.
Thank you Robin – I hope you annd your family enjoy!
I have never liked sauerkraut but your pictures are amazing and this looks delicious!
It really tastes great prepared this way ! Thank you Melissa, I hope you try his recipe!