Printable Recipe Card for Crockpot Sausage and Sauerkraut
This easy crockpot kielbasa and sauerkraut recipe is a simple comfort food dinner with just 5 ingredients. Make it in the slow cooker, Instant Pot, stovetop or oven, plus get freezer meal directions and plenty of serving ideas.
Servings: 6 people
Ingredients
- 2 pounds kielbasa sausage
- 2 pounds sauerkraut
- 1 medium onion thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar or honey, optional
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
Slow Cooker Kielbasa and Sauerkraut
- Grease the crockpot with butter.
- Slice kielbasa and add to the crockpot with the onion.
- Top with honey or brown sugar, if using, followed by sauerkraut and its juices.
- Cover and cook on LOW 5–8 hours.
- Stir, taste and adjust sweetness before serving.
Instant Pot Sausage and Kraut
- Slice kielbasa and onion. Sauté both in butter until the sausage begins to brown.
- Pour in 1/2 cup water, broth, apple juice or beer and scrape up any browned bits.
- Top with sauerkraut and optional honey or brown sugar. Do not stir.
- Cook on HIGH pressure 5 minutes followed by a 5-minute natural release.
- Release remaining pressure, stir and serve.
Stovetop Kielbasa and Sauerkraut
- Brown sliced kielbasa in butter over medium-high heat.
- Add onion and cook until it begins to soften.
- Add sauerkraut with its juices and optional honey or brown sugar.
- Cover and simmer over medium-low 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add a splash of water, broth, apple juice or beer if needed.
Oven Baked Sausage and Sauerkraut
- Heat oven to 350°F and grease a baking dish.
- Layer sliced kielbasa, onion and sauerkraut in the dish. Add optional honey or brown sugar.
- Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes.
- Stir, uncover and bake another 15–20 minutes until hot and lightly browned.
Freezer Meal Kraut and Sausage
- Freezer Meal - Before Cooking
- Add sliced kielbasa, onion, sauerkraut and optional honey or brown sugar to a freezer bag.
- Remove as much air as possible, seal and freeze flat for up to 3 months.
- Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
- Add to the crockpot and cook on LOW 5–8 hours.
- Freezing Leftovers
- Cool the cooked kielbasa and sauerkraut completely.
- Transfer to a freezer-safe container or freezer bag, removing as much air as possible.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat until hot.
Video
Notes
If you're using refrigerated fermented sauerkraut with live cultures, freezing may reduce some of its probiotic activity. Cooking also exposes those live cultures to heat. If keeping the probiotics is important to you, reserve some fresh fermented sauerkraut and add it to your serving after the cooked dish has cooled.
To make Fake-Out Reubens, save some leftovers for sandwiches. Butter and toast rye bread. Add Swiss cheese and warm until melted. Then pile on drained kielbasa and sauerkraut. Serve with spicy brown mustard.