Sausage and sauerkraut is an ideal dinner meal to assemble during a busy work week. It is tasty, filling, and simple to make at home. This filling dish can come together within an hour, not taking a lot of time to prepare and make.
Sausage and Sauerkraut
Sausage and sauerkraut are part of German culture and are also well known throughout other regions of Europe, such as Poland. It is a well-known national dish and a traditional part of German cuisine. It is a common dish served at many German homes, restaurants, and on New Year’s Day.
Sauerkraut is thinly sliced shredded raw cabbage that has gone through the fermentation process. The cabbage is added to a jar with a solution that can be fermented. Fermenting food is a way of preserving the food for long periods of time. Sausage is a type of meat generally made with ground beef, pork, or chicken. Cooked sausage and fermented cabbage are a unique German-inspired dish. Sausage and sauerkraut are traditionally paired together.
Sausages
Sausage is popular meat added to recipes in Germany. There are various types of sausage that are consumed throughout Germany. It is a popular street food. Most sausages are made with pork. The type of sausage that is consumed often depends on the region of the country.
Common types of German sausages include:
- Bratwurst: ground pork, veal or beef
- Knackwurst: ground pork or beef
- Mettwurst: ground pork & beef
Adding apples to Sausage and Sauerkraut
Apples and sauerkraut are a unique and nice combination when prepared together. Apple is a flavorful fruit to add to sausage and sauerkraut. It is often found in many sauerkraut recipes, such as apple kraut. The pieces of apples added to sauerkraut offer a sweet flavor and provide a nice balance to tangy sauerkraut.
I added one red apple to the sausage and sauerkraut. Red or green apples are options to add to this dish. This added a settled sweet flavor to this dish but still maintained the sharp flavor from the sauerkraut. Adding apples to a sausage and sauerkraut dish is optional; you can opt to replace apples for another ingredient like potatoes. Sausage, sauerkraut, and potatoes are a tasty and filling combination.
Ingredients Details
Sausage: Kielbasa sausage; alternatives chorizo, Italian sausage, or any type of German sausage
Sauerkraut: Kraut shredded sauerkraut; alternative canned sauerkraut or homemade sauerkraut
Apple: red apple; alternative green apple
Onion: yellow onion; alternative white onion
Instructions Details
Sausage
- Place the sausage onto the cutting board.
- Slice the sausage into thick, round slices. (about ½ inch thick slices)
- In a skillet, add the sliced sausage.
- Cook the sausage on a medium heat setting.
- Cook the sausage until it browns.
Use a colander or strainer to strain the sauerkraut. Allow the sauerkraut juice to strain out fully.
Peel and cut the apple and onion.
Apple, Onion, Sausage, and Sauerkraut
- In a skillet, add the cut apple and onion then sauté.
- Add the sauerkraut to the skillet with the sauteed apple and onion. Then combine.
- Then add the cooked browned sausage to the sauerkraut and sauteed apple, and onion.
- Then combine all the ingredients.
Cooking Methods
There are various ways to cook sausage and sauerkraut. There are methods of cooking that do not involve being in the kitchen the entire time cooking. By cooking in a slow cooker, instant pot, or even in the oven, this allows the kitchen appliances to do the cooking rather than spending more time in the kitchen making food. These are convenient methods of cooking. Skillet cooking is a common way of cooking sausage and sauerkraut. Though it may not be as convenient as other cooking methods, it is still simple and not a time-consuming dish to make at home.
Various ways to cook sausage and sauerkraut:
- Air fryer
- Instant pot
- Slow cooker
- Oven
- Skillet cooking
Sides for Sauerkraut and Sausage: Mashed Potatoes and Beets
There are different types of sides that pair well with sauerkraut and sausage. For this recipe, I decided to add mashed potatoes and beets. Potatoes are a popular food item in Germany. Many potato dishes are common throughout the country; this includes potato salad and mashed potatoes. Another popular dish in Germany is beets. Red beets are a common type of beet variety for dishes. Beets are used in a variety of dishes, including salads. The beet salads often use a vinegar-based dressing.
For the mashed potatoes, I used russet potatoes. I peeled and cut the potatoes, then cooked until tender. For the beets, I decided to use canned, sliced beets. This was more convenient and available when I made this dish. There are numerous brands of fresh, sliced beets available at the supermarket. Fresh beets are also an excellent option. They can be boiled or steamed.
Side Dish Ideas
- Gurkensalat (cucumber salad)
- Potato cakes
- Potato salad
- Pretzel buns
- Rye bread
Side Dishes
Ingredients Details
Beets: sliced canned beets; alternative fresh beet
Potatoes: russet potatoes
Butter: unsalted butter
Instructions Details
Mashed Potatoes
- Peel and cut the potatoes into cubes, then add to the water in the saucepan.
- Boil the potatoes in a saucepan in water.
- Once cooked, mash the potatoes.
- Add the mashed potatoes with butter to a bowl.
Beets
Heat the canned, sliced beets in a saucepan.
Store the Sausage and Sauerkraut
Leftover sausage and sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, and canned beets should be stored in sealed containers in the refrigerator. The food items can also be stored in the freezer in sealed containers as well.
Thoughts
Sausage and sauerkraut is a delicious and flavorful German dish. This is one of my top favorite German dishes. It is one recipe that I like to revisit and make again because it is simple to make and it is a filling lunch or dinner dish to eat. This is an excellent main meal dish to make at home.
Sausage & Sauerkraut with Mashed Potatoes and Beets
Single Skillet Serving
Ingredients
- 12 oz. sausage
- 2 pounds sauerkraut
- 1 apple
- 1 yellow onion
Side Dishes
- 3 Russet Potatoes
- 1 canned sliced beet
- 3 tablespoons butter
Instructions
Sausage. Cut the sausage into round, thick slices. Add to a skillet. Cook the sausage until it browns.
Sauerkraut. Remove the sauerkraut from the package. Strain the sauerkraut in a colander until all the sauerkraut juice has been strained.
Apple & Onion. Peel and cut the apple. Cut the onion. Sauté the apple and onion until it lightly browns.
Combining all ingredients. Add the sauerkraut to the sautéed apple and onion, then combine. Then add the cooked sausage. Combine all the ingredients.
Side Dishes
Potatoes. Peel and cut the potatoes into cubes. Cook the potatoes in a saucepan in water. Cook until tender. Once cooked, mash the potatoes. Add butter to the mashed potatoes.
Beets. Open the can of beets. Add the sliced canned beets to a saucepan. Heat the beats on a low heat setting on the stovetop.
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