If you're looking for a traditional Polish kielbasa and sauerkraut recipe that can be made in a crockpot, you've come to the right place. This crockpot kielbasa and sauerkraut dish is a tart and tangy meal with a hint of sweetness. It's the perfect comfort food for a cold winter’s night!
Sauerkraut and kielbasa is a classic combo that originates from Poland. Kielbasa is a type of sausage that is traditionally made with pork, garlic, and other spices. Sauerkraut is fermented cabbage that has a sour, tangy flavor. Together, they're a match made in Heaven!
How to Make Kielbasa and Sauerkraut
Traditionally, kielbasa and sauerkraut are cooked in a pot on the stove. However, this crockpot version is just as delicious and much easier to make. Simply throw all of the ingredients into the crockpot, add a few extra things like brown sugar, beer and apples and you get a deep, flavorful dinner that is simple to make any day of the week!
What is Sauerkraut?
Sauerkraut is a delicious pickled cabbage with a tart flavor that is perfect for dishes like “kielbasa and sauerkraut”. It's made by fermenting cabbage in a brine (saltwater) solution. This process breaks down the cabbage's cell walls and creates lactic acid, which gives sauerkraut its sour flavor.
As an adult, I had only eaten sauerkraut as a side when my husband grilled kielbasa or sausages, but we ate it all the time as a kid. Remembering that sauerkraut is so good, I decided it was time to find more ways to cook with it.
So of course, I went straight to my crockpot.
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Sauerkraut & Kielbasa
This easy crockpot recipe has just a few simple steps but will take your kielbasa and sauerkraut to a new level of yum! This dish is perfect to serve for dinner, at a football party, or backyard cookout.
Ok, so I bet you are thinking...I just need kielbasa and sauerkraut right? Who needs a recipe? Sorry, but to get this level of deliciousness you need a few more ingredients to make this memorable meal.
In order to balance out the tart of the sauerkraut, you will need a few items to give it the sweet twist that really makes this recipe shine.
Here's what you'll need:
- Kielbasa
- Sauerkraut
- Sweet Onion
- Garlic
- Beer or Water
- Honey Crisp Apple
- Brown Sugar
- Caraway Seed
How to Cook Kielbasa and Sauerkraut
As you've probably guessed by now from the recipe and blog name, this kielbasa and sauerkraut slow cooker recipe will be made in our trusty crockpot. Not only is the crockpot a huge time saver, but it also allows all of the flavors to marry and deepen while it cooks. That's a win-win in my book!
Step 1. Cook onions and garlic on the stove. If short on time you can skip this step and just add the onions and garlic to the crockpot.
Step 2. Add the sauerkraut, apple, onion, garlic mixture, and caraway seeds to the crockpot. Stir.
Step 3. Cut kielbasa into ½” pieces. Add to crockpot.
Step 4. Mix beer/water and brown sugar together in a separate bowl. Pour over the sauerkraut mixture. Stir ingredients together.
Step 5. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 4-6 hours.
Food Allergies
Gluten-Free
I make everything gluten-free in our house because my husband has celiac disease. Unfortunately, beer has gluten in it, so to stay gluten-free you'll need to swap to a gluten-free beer or water. I use gluten-free Omission beer.
I find that the gluten-free beer adds just as much flavor to the dish and it still tastes great! If you don't mind the gluten, then by all means go ahead and use your favorite lager beer.
Dairy-Free
This recipe is dairy-free. So you're all set!
Vegetarian
You could easily make this a vegetarian dish by swapping out the kielbasa for a vegetarian sausage. I've made it with Tofurkey kielbasa before and it was really good!
This Crockpot Kielbasa and Sauerkraut dish is a classic Polish recipe that is simple to make in the crockpot. The sauerkraut and kielbasa cook together in the slow cooker, making this a hearty, one-pot meal. Enjoy this dish with some mashed potatoes or rye bread for a complete meal.
Want more Delicious Crockpot Recipes?
Crockpot Kielbasa and Sauerkraut
Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds kielbasa or sausage cut into coin-sized pieces
- 1 sweet onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 32 ounces sauerkraut
- 1 honey crisp apple or other sweet apple peeled and chopped
- 1 tablespoon caraway seeds
- 1 cup beer or water use gluten free beer to keep gluten free
- 2-4 tablespoons brown sugar
Instructions
- Heat oil on stove and cook onions and garlic on stove until soft.
- Add the sauerkraut, apple, onion and garlic mixture, and caraway seeds to the slow cooker crock. Stir.
- Cut kielbasa into ½” pieces. Add to crockpot.
- Mix beer/water and brown sugar together in separate bowl. Pour over the sauerkraut mixture. Stir ingredients together.
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 4-6 hours.
George says
Can't cut sauerkraut into 1/2" pieces
allisonetreadwell says
Omg!!! That is too funny! Thanks for letting me know I’ll update it to kielbasa. Thanks again!
Barbara says
Do you brown kielbasa?
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Barbara! You don't have to brown the kielbasa but it does add more flavor so if you have time I would do it.
Mary says
This sounds great except for the caraway seeds. Do you have to use them? What is their purpose?
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Mary! You do not need caraway seeds at all. They just add flavor to the dish and actually, some people don't like them. You can substitute them for fennel seeds or coriander if you have either of those.
Margaret says
How do you cut sauerkraut into
Pieces ?
Allison Treadwell says
OMG!! My mom told me this mis-type and I thought I had corrected it. Thanks so much for letting me know it didn't save.
Jim Coggs says
When do you put the kielbasa in the pot?
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Jim! I put the kielbasa in when I start cooking it but you could do it an hour before if you don't want it took cook for that long.
Barbara Pangrazzi-Finegan says
Cooking it now. Hope it turns out. Firtst time making this
Fran says
Where does the kielbasa come in?
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Fran - You add it in the beginning with the rest of the ingredients. Hope you enjoy it!
mary says
Do you drain the sauerkraut? or rinse it?
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Mary! I drain mine but don't rinse it because I like the flavor. If you prefer a less tart flavor you can rinse it as well. Hope you enjoy it!
mary says
Do you drain and rinse the sauerkraut?
Jenn says
Can this meal be frozen?
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Jenn! Yes, this would be a great meal to freeze.
Danielle says
I made this for a work potluck. It was a hit. I had tasted a recipe like this that my aunt made and this tasted like it. I made it with the beer and I’ll definitely make this again. I had to laugh at the comments; are people really that dense? I swear nobody has common sense anymore. But great recipe! We have some good cooks in my office, and this was one of my favorite dishes amongst all of the dishes everyone brought in!
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Danielle! Thanks so much for crockin with me! I'm so happy the recipe was a hit and love hearing when people love the food 🙂
Rose says
Do you brown the kielbasa before adding to the slow cooker?
Allison Treadwell says
It just depends on how much time I have! I have done it both ways. If you have time to brown it does add more flavor!
Stephanie says
There is bottle of Dijon mustard in your pic above that shows all the ingredients but nowhere mentioned in the recipe or serving. Is it supposed to go in the recipe or be drizzled on top before eating?
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Stephanie! Thanks so much for catching that. I don't know how no one else hasn't. I usually add 2 Teaspoons of dijion mustard to the beer mixture. I will update the recipe so it has the directions and amounts correct.
JT says
In the "Printable Version" of the instructions there is no place where the Kielbasa is added.
Matt Fay says
Hi JT. Thanks for letting me know! Updated.