Well now, y’all, let me tell ya, if you got a slow cooker sittin’ around in your kitchen, and you wanna make somethin’ real good, you can’t go wrong with this here pork chops and sauerkraut recipe. It’s real simple, and it’s gonna fill your belly up real nice. You ain’t gotta be no fancy cook to make it either, just a little patience and love.
What you’ll need for this dish:
- 4 pork chops, bone-in works best
- 1 jar or can of sauerkraut
- 1 onion, sliced
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- Some potatoes (optional, but I like ‘em)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Now, let me tell ya how to get it all cookin’:
First thing you wanna do is get yourself a good ol’ 6 or 7-quart slow cooker. You don’t need no fancy pot, just something that’ll fit everything in there nice and snug. Take those pork chops and place ‘em right at the bottom. Don’t worry ‘bout browning ‘em or nothin’, just drop ‘em in there all nice and raw, just like you got ‘em from the butcher.
Now, you’ll take your sauerkraut and dump it right over the pork chops, juice and all. Don’t go skimpin’ on that juice, ’cause it gives the pork that extra flavor you’re lookin’ for. Then, go ahead and spread it out so it covers all the meat. If you like sauerkraut real tangy, you can add a lil’ extra, but that’s up to you.
Next, slice up your onion real thin and spread that over the sauerkraut. It’ll get nice and sweet while cookin’. After that, take your brown sugar and sprinkle it all over the top. It might sound strange, but trust me, that sugar makes it taste so good, especially when it mixes with the pork and kraut.
If you’re feelin’ fancy and got some potatoes on hand, go ahead and slice a few and lay ‘em right on top of everything else. They’ll soak up all the good juices and become soft and flavorful by the time it’s done. You don’t have to do this step, but if you got the time, it’s worth it.
Now, cover that slow cooker up, turn it on low, and let it cook for about 6-7 hours. You don’t have to fuss with it none, just let it sit there and do its thing. But I’ll tell ya, if you’re in a hurry, you can cook it on high for about 4 hours. It’s gonna be tasty either way.
Once it’s done, don’t forget to spoon all that delicious cooking liquid over the pork chops. That’ll help keep ‘em moist and tender, so they don’t dry out. Now, if you want ‘em real tender, I’d suggest you cook them low and slow, but that’s up to ya. Just be careful, don’t let ‘em cook too long or they’ll get chewy, and that’s no good for anyone.
Why this dish is special:
Now, I reckon you might be wonderin’ why on earth pork and sauerkraut go together so well. Well, let me tell ya, it’s a tradition that’s been passed down for generations. A lotta folks, especially in Germany, eat pork and sauerkraut on New Year’s Day. They say it brings ya good luck for the year ahead—now I don’t know if that’s true, but it sure does taste good! And when them German folks came to the Midwest, they brought their traditions with ‘em, including this one. So when you’re eatin’ this dish, just think about all the good luck you’re bringin’ into your life!
Some tips for makin’ it even better:
- If you want that pork real tender, get yourself some bone-in chops. They cook up nice and juicy that way.
- If you got the time, searing the pork before you put it in the slow cooker adds a lil’ extra flavor, but if you’re in a rush, you can skip that part.
- Don’t overcook the pork! You want it to be tender, not dry and chewy, so keep an eye on it.
And that’s about all there is to it! A real simple meal that’ll make your house smell like heaven and fill your tummy with somethin’ good. If you try it, I reckon you won’t be disappointed. So go ahead, give it a shot, and I hope y’all enjoy it as much as I do!
Tags：[crock pot recipe, pork chops, sauerkraut, slow cooker pork chops, pork and sauerkraut, easy pork chop recipe, pork chop dinner, crock pot meals, comfort food]
