Well, if ya ever been lookin’ for a real easy, hearty meal that’ll make yer belly feel warm and full, I got somethin’ for ya today. It’s a simple dish with pork chops and sauerkraut, cooked slow in a crock pot. Now don’t get all fussy, I ain’t talkin’ about fancy stuff—this here is down-home, good ol’ comfort food that’s been passed down in many families, especially if you’re from a German background.
You see, them Germans, they love their pork and sauerkraut, especially on New Year’s Day. They reckon it brings ‘good luck,’ or as they say it, “viel Glück!” which means “lots of luck.” Some folks might even say that if you eat pork and sauerkraut, you’re gonna have a year full of good things comin’ your way. So, we ain’t just cookin’ this up for the taste, we’re cookin’ it up for the luck too!
Now, if you’re wonderin’ how to make this tasty dish, don’t you worry none. It’s easy as pie. All ya gotta do is throw everything into the crock pot and let it do all the work for ya. Ain’t no need to stand over a hot stove stirrin’ nothin’, no sir. Just let that slow cooker do its magic. Here’s how to go about it:
Ingredients:
- 4 pork chops (bone-in or boneless, whatever you like)
- 1 jar or can of sauerkraut (you can get it from the store, don’t need to make it from scratch!)
- 1 large onion, chopped up
- 1/4 cup of brown sugar (yes, sugar – gives it a nice sweet touch)
- 1 cup of chicken broth or water (just enough to keep things moist)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Now, before you get started, you need to thaw out that pork if it’s frozen. Don’t go throwin’ frozen pork right into the pot; that’ll take too long and might mess things up. Make sure your pork chops are thawed and ready to go. Once ya got that, here’s the simple steps to follow:
Steps to Make:
- First, take yer pork chops and place ’em in the bottom of the crock pot. Don’t need to brown ‘em or anything – just lay ‘em in there nice and easy.
- Then, pour your sauerkraut over the pork chops. You want that kraut to cover the meat real good. The sauerkraut will give the pork a nice tangy flavor, and when it cooks, it makes the meat real tender, almost like it’s fallin’ off the bone.
- Chop up the onion and toss it on top of the kraut. You don’t have to be fancy with the chop, just cut ‘em into big pieces. The onion will soften and add some sweetness to the dish.
- Now sprinkle that brown sugar over everything. You’d be surprised how a little sugar can balance out the sourness of the kraut. It’ll give it a lovely flavor.
- Next, pour in your chicken broth or water. Just enough to keep things moist. You don’t want it too soupy, just enough to help it all cook down nice and slow.
- Finally, season it with salt and pepper. Not too much though, ‘cause the kraut and pork already got their own flavors goin’ on.
- Put the lid on the crock pot and set it to cook on low. Let it cook for about 6-8 hours. You could even set it in the morning and go about your day, and when you come back, you’ll have a meal ready to eat!
When that time’s up, you won’t believe how tender the pork chops are. They’ll just fall apart when you try to pick ‘em up with a fork. And the kraut? Well, that’s got all the juices from the pork and the onions soaked right in it, makin’ it real flavorful. Some folks like to serve this with mashed potatoes or even a slice of bread to soak up all the goodness.
Now, let me tell ya somethin’ important. There’s a lot of folks who might mess up and have their pork chops turn out dry or tough. If that happens, it’s probably ‘cause they either didn’t add enough broth or they cooked it on too high of a heat. Slow and low is the key here, you hear? You want that pork to cook slow and steady so it gets nice and tender.
Also, don’t go messin’ with frozen meat. It’s important to let that pork thaw out first. Frozen meat will take a whole lot longer to cook, and that could lead to a food safety issue. So always thaw it out, alright?
If ya wanna make this a little healthier, remember that sauerkraut and pork chops are both lean and good for ya. Sauerkraut is fermented, which means it’s easier for your body to digest. It’s got all sorts of nutrients, and some folks say it’s got good stuff in it for your gut health too. So while it’s a treat for your taste buds, it’s also doin’ a little somethin’ good for your insides.
In the end, this meal is all about comfort, simplicity, and a bit of that luck we were talkin’ about. Ain’t no need for fancy ingredients or complicated steps. Just good, honest food that’s been part of many a family tradition. So next time you’re lookin’ for somethin’ easy to throw in the pot, give this pork and sauerkraut recipe a try. It’ll be a hit, I promise!
Tags：[sauerkraut, crock pot pork, pork chops recipe, slow cooker pork, easy pork recipes, pork and sauerkraut, German food, comfort food, luck, crockpot recipes]
