Well, you know, if you ever want somethin’ simple, hearty, and real tasty, I gotta tell ya, slow cooker pork chops and sauerkraut is the way to go. I remember back in the day, my mama always made this for New Year’s, sayin’ it brings good luck. And you know what? It sure does hit the spot every time! That pork gets all tender, just fallin’ off the bone, and that sauerkraut, well, it just soaks up all the good flavors. Makes ya wanna eat ‘til ya can’t eat no more.
Now, don’t go gettin’ all fancy with it. We ain’t makin’ no five-star dish here, just somethin’ simple, but that don’t mean it’s not gonna taste good. You don’t even need to be a cookin’ expert to do this right. All ya need is a slow cooker, a couple of pork chops, some sauerkraut, and maybe a lil’ sugar to balance things out. It’s the kinda meal that’ll make ya feel like you’re sittin’ around the table with your family, just enjoyin’ the simple life.
Ingredients:
- 4 pork chops (bone-in works best, but boneless works too)
- 1 jar or can of sauerkraut
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (just to add a little sweetness)
- 1 cup of broth or water (chicken or vegetable is fine)
- Salt and pepper to taste
First things first, you gotta make sure that pork is thawed out before you even think about puttin’ it in the slow cooker. I know, sounds simple, but some folks forget, and then it takes way too long to cook, or worse, you might end up with some meat that ain’t safe to eat. Don’t go messin’ around with frozen meat! It’ll take forever to heat up, and we don’t want no trouble with that. So thaw it out, and make sure it’s good to go.
Now, you take your pork chops, and you just lay ‘em right in that slow cooker. Don’t be shy, just get ‘em in there. You ain’t gotta do nothin’ to ‘em, just season ‘em up with a little salt and pepper, nothin’ too fancy. Then, take that sauerkraut, and dump it right on top of the pork chops. Don’t be stingy with it, let it all fall over the pork, so it can soak up all the juices while it cooks. Then, sprinkle that brown sugar on top. Ain’t nothin’ better than a little sweet to balance out the sourness of the kraut, trust me!
After that, pour the broth or water into the slow cooker. You don’t need to drown it, just enough to help everything cook nice and slow. If you got broth, it’ll add a little extra flavor, but if you don’t, plain ol’ water works just fine. Just make sure you got enough liquid in there to keep things moist while it cooks.
Now, here’s the most important part: cook it low and slow. Set your slow cooker to low, and let it go for about 6 to 8 hours. Don’t try to rush it by turnin’ it up high, ‘cause that’ll just dry out the pork. You want that pork to get tender and fallin’ apart, and for that, you gotta be patient. I know we all got things to do, but trust me, good things come to those who wait! If you rush it, you’ll end up with tough pork, and that ain’t no fun.
After the 6 or 8 hours, you should have the most tender pork chops ever. Take ‘em out, shred that pork up if you want, or just leave ‘em whole, it’s up to you. That sauerkraut will have cooked down and gotten all soft, soaking up all those juices, and it’ll taste just like heaven. Serve it up with some mashed potatoes or just on its own. It’s good for the soul, I tell ya.
And the best part? It’s easy. You can make it ahead of time and not have to worry about it. Ain’t no fuss, no mess, just throw it all in the slow cooker and let it do its magic. Perfect for busy days or when you just don’t feel like spendin’ too much time in the kitchen.
So, there ya go. Slow cooker pork chops and sauerkraut. It’s a meal that’s simple, delicious, and just feels like home. The Germans have been cookin’ pork and sauerkraut for ages, and I can see why. It’s lucky, it’s tasty, and it’s good for ya. Give it a try sometime, and you won’t be disappointed, I promise ya that!
Tags：[slow cooker pork chops, pork and sauerkraut, easy pork chop recipe, pork chop slow cooker, German New Year tradition, crockpot pork, comfort food recipes, hearty dinner recipes, slow cooker recipes, easy dinner ideas]
