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Crock Pot Sauerkraut and Kielbasa

An easy way to get dinner on the table, our Crock Pot Sauerkraut and Kielbasa recipe has simple ingredients that are really satisfying.

The full smoky flavor of Kielbasa sausage is a perfect match for the bitterness of sauerkraut to create a traditional meal.

Close up of chunks of browned smoked sausage on a layer of tangy sauerkraut in a black crock pot.

This post is sponsored by Ohio Pork, but all opinions are my own!

Why Use the Crock Pot For This Recipe?

This popular Polish Sausage or Kielbasa and Sauerkraut recipe is easy to make in a slow cooker. While the cooking time is longer, the amount of time you spend working on the recipe is less than with other methods like our skillet meal for Kielbasa and Sauerkraut.

We always have pork Kielbasa on hand to include in a quick meal like Crock Pot Sausage and Potato Casserole or Oven Roasted Kielbasa.

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All of these recipes can be made a week or two after a grocery store visit as they ingredients have a longer shelf like.

Close up of cut end of a chunk of browned Kielbasa resting next to other hunks of sausage on a plate of sauerkraut with tender potatoes on a red and beige napkin.

Adding delicious pork to this meal means there are more nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, zinc and essential fatty acids that are hard to get from plant based diets alone.

This sausage is also packed with protein, selenium and choline to keep you feeling full and energized longer throughout the day.

Ingredients Needed:

  • Kielbasa – The flavors in a lot of smoked sausage recipes are very similar to the Polish Kielbasa. The size of the ground up meat pieces and spices included affect the name and type of sausage.
  • Sauerkraut – We prefer a jar for the best quality, cans and some refrigerated bags are typically cheaper but the trade-off is less flavor.
  • Potatoes – Yukon gold or baby gold potatoes don’t require peeling and have a mild, butter flavor to make this meal more hearty and filling.
  • Beer or Chicken Broth – Add a cup of liquid to keep things moist while cooking.
  • Rosemary – Is optional. Substitute sage or your favorite herb if desired.
Ingredients to make Kielbasa and Sauerkraut in the slow cooker are small cubes of potatoes, drained sauerkraut, beer or chicken broth, Kielbasa sausage and rosemary on a wooden counter top.

As someone who has grown up on a farm I’m also proud that more than 3,500 family farms in Ohio raise enough pork to feed about 25 million people. So when you buy meat at the grocery store, you’re supporting family farms just like ours!

Does the Kielbasa Sausage Need Browned?

Browning the Kielbasa is an optional personal preference. Professionals chefs say that brown is not just a color, it’s a flavor.

Browning sliced or chunks of the smoked sausage in a little vegetable oil in the skillet for 5 to 7 minutes over medium high heat will bring out more flavor in the recipe. It also takes extra time and creates an additional dish to wash.

Browning chunks of Kielbasa in oil in a non-stick skillet.

Our testing has shown that larger chunks of meat retain their juiciness better during longer cooking times in the crock pot compared to smaller pieces.

Adding Potatoes To This Meal

Cut washed and unpeeled Yukon gold potatoes or baby gold potatoes into 1/2″ cubes or smaller. Make potatoes the first layer in the crock pot. Then add sauerkraut and top with pieces of Kielbasa.

The spuds take the longest to cook so they are always the bottom layer in the slow cooker to increase direct contact with the heat source.

Small cubes of yukon potatoes in the bottom of a black greased crock.

Should I Drain the Sauerkraut?

Using a slow cooker will mean there is more moisture in the sauerkraut. We like to use the liquid from the sauerkraut OR beer to cook the meal in. If we use beer we always drain the sauerkraut to avoid a soup texture.

Some people press all of the liquid out of the sauerkraut in the strainer. We drain without pressing and then add to the crock.

Draining the sauerkraut is a personal preference. Keeping or discarding the sauerkraut juice will increase or decrease the tanginess of the finished meal.

Drained sauerkraut spread in an even layer in the bottom of a black slow cooker.

Generally speaking Pork and Sauerkraut have the flavors to pair very well together and create an enjoyable meal from our Country Ribs and Sauerkraut to our Sauerkraut Soup with Sausage. These ingredients pair perfectly, so whether you drain or rinse is just personal preference.

Can of beer being poured over Kielbasa and sauerkraut in a crock pot on a wooden counter top.

How Long to Cook Kielbasa and Sauerkraut in the Crock Pot?

Cook on high for 2.5 to 3.5 hours or on low for 4.5 to 6 hours. The recipe is done when the potatoes are fork tender.

A pound of Kielbasa cut into chunks and arranged in a single layer in a slow cooker on top of drained sauerkraut.

If you want to let the meal cook a bit longer, stir everything to prevent the edges from burning.

Read the label to confirm, but most Kielbasa is pre-cooked and simply needs heated up. Sauerkraut also comes ready to eat, so once those two ingredients are warm you can enjoy the meal!

The purpose of preparing this recipe in the crock pot is to warm the ingredients and allow any other flavors like the beer, rosemary or sage to blend in. The aroma in the kitchen is also enjoyable!

Flavorful smoked Kielbasa sausage on a generous bed of sauerkraut pepper with small cubes of potatoes on a stack of white plates with a fork in the background.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

  • Kielbasa can be browned ahead of time and refrigerated to help with meal prep.
  • Add potatoes, beer or caraway sees are optional and a personal preference.
  • Including potatoes in this dish increases cooking time. Cooking Kielbasa sausage and sauerkraut alone will only take 1 to 2 hours in in a slow cooker.
  • Our slow cooker option is hands off and can be prepped ahead – using a skillet is faster overall, but requires your attention for about 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Pierogies can be cooked and browned in butter in a skillet and then added to the crock pot instead of potatoes.
Overhead view of a crock pot with golden brown Kielbasa Sausage resting on a bed of warm sauerkraut with sprigs of rosemary to garnish the easy meal.

More Easy Family Meals

Brown Gravy Pork Chops in Crock Pot – another simple meal for cool weather.

Casserole with Polish Kielbasa – Meat pairs with noodles and corn in a creamy sauce.

Slow Cooker Country Ribs with BBQ Sauce are perfect with our super easy Hoggy’s Mac and Cheese.

A traditional meal of sauerkraut and Kielbasa with beer and potatoes cooking in a crockpot.

Crock Pot Sauerkraut and Kielbasa

Servings 3 servings
Author: Jennifer
An easy way to get dinner on the table, our Crock Pot Sauerkraut and Kielbasa recipe has simple ingredients and is really satisfying.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 14 ounces Kielbasa or smoked sausage
  • 1 24 ounce jar Sauerkraut drained
  • 2 cups Yukon gold potatoes about 2 medium potatoes, diced
  • 3/4 cup beer we use a dark lager OR chicken broth
  • 2 sprigs rosemary

Instructions
 

  • Line or lightly grease a 5 quart slow cooker.
  • Chop potatoes into 1/2" to 3/4" cubes and arrange in an even layer in the bottom of the crock pot.
  • Spread drained Sauerkraut over the potatoes. Pour beer over the sauerkraut.
  • Cut Kielbasa into chunks or slices. Brown in oil in a skillet or add straight to the slow cooker.
  • Add a few sprigs of rosemary. Cover and cook on high for 2.5 to 3.5 hours or on low for 4.5 to 6 hours.

Nutrition

Calories: 578kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 22gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 93mgSodium: 1173mgPotassium: 995mgFiber: 4gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 32mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 3mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

“Plowing Through Life” is not a dietitian or nutrition professional. Any nutritional information shared is an estimate and can vary greatly depending on specific products are used. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator of your choice.

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