This Sausage and Sauerkraut Skillet is the perfect meal for a busy weeknight. It’s an easy dinner that the whole family can enjoy!
I love having sauerkraut on hand to use as a quick and easy side. This sausage recipe is one of my favorite ways to incorporate sauerkraut into a meal.
This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights. Made using my homemade sauerkraut recipe and sausage from my sister’s farm, this skillet meal is a family favorite here at the farmhouse. You can use almost any kind of sausages you prefer. I like to use smoked sausage or bratwurst.
Sausage and Sauerkraut is my go-to when I am running behind or don’t have enough time to prep something else. Yet, it is delicious, satisfying, and loaded with whole foods. Now, if you are not a fan of sauerkraut, I still recommend you give this sauerkraut dish a try! It may just change your mind about this fermented food.
Why you’ll love this recipe:
Easy – This simple recipe is an easy way to throw together a delicious, hearty meal for your family. Other than a little bit of chopping, no prep is needed! Plus, it is made up of simple ingredients and can all be prepped in the same skillet!
Quick – Comes together in about 30 minutes. It’s great for nights that I don’t feel like spending a ton of time in the kitchen or when dinner time sneaks up on us!
Delicious – I love the flavors in this dish. Between the classic flavors in the sausage to the sweetness of the apples and sour bite of the sauerkraut, this dish packs a punch – in a good way!
Tips to make this easy weeknight meal
- This recipe serves 4. However, it is super easy to scale! I’ll usually double or triple it for my family. If I triple it, I’ll have leftovers the next day. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Cut your potatoes into small chunks so they will cook faster and more evenly in the skillet.
- I recommend using smoked sausage (Polish sausage or kielbasa sausage works!) or bratwursts for this recipe. The bratwursts I used were uncooked, so I had to cook them in my skillet before the rest of the ingredients. If your sausages are already fully cooked, you can skip that step.
Ingredients
Bratwurst or smoked sausage, cooked and cut into 1/4-inch pieces – use homemade sausage or your favorite type of sausage from the grocery store or local butcher shop.
Lard or coconut oil – I like to use these oils to cook this with, but you could also use another healthy alternative, such as olive oil. I recommend staying away from vegetable oil.
Red potatoes, cubed
Apple, diced
Onion, diced
Sauerkraut, homemade or store bought. Just in case you are wondering where the best place is to find fermented sauerkraut (the kind with good bacteria and not just the canned stuff), it is Costco. They have the best price for the amount I’ve seen. You can get a large container for the same price as a tiny container of the same brand.
Salt
Black pepper
Crushed red pepper flakes, optional (Luke and I like to add this to the top of ours for a little kick!)
Tools you may need
Large skillet – I prefer cast iron, like this one.
Wooden spoon or spatula
Sharp knife
FAQ
Sauerkraut has many minerals and vitamins. Its best quality is the probiotics it contains from the fermentation process. This is good bacteria which can help fight off bad bacteria and improve digestion. (Healthline)
The German tradition is to eat bratwurst and sauerkraut. However, we like to add a little sauerkraut as a side dish to many meals! I’ve even heard of people putting it on their mashed potatoes. It’s a great healthy addition to add to your dinner.
I ferment my own sauerkraut using cabbage. It is easy to do and is so much better homemade. Learn how to make your own sauerkraut here.
Sauerkraut is a fermented food. Because of this, it contains probiotics. This beneficial bacteria can help improve your digestion. It can also help restore the bacterial balance in your gut that is sometimes thrown off by antibiotics. (Healthline) Of course in this recipe, the sauerkraut is cooked, so a lot of the probiotic benefits are negated, but it still carries many benefits.
How to make Sausage and Sauerkraut
Prep your ingredients
Cut the potatoes into cubes. Dice onions and set aside.
If your sausages or bratwursts are raw, you’ll want to cook them first. Once they are cooked, cut into 1/4 inch pieces and set aside.
Cook the potatoes
Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Cook the potatoes in the oil until they are browned and somewhat tender, about 5 minutes. While your potatoes are cooking, dice your apples.
Add in apples and onions
Add in the apples and onions and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
Stir in the sauerkraut and sausage
Add in the sauerkraut and sausage and turn the skillet to low heat. Simmer with a lid on for about 10 minutes until the sauerkraut is tender and the flavors are melded together.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Enjoy!
How to serve this sausage dish
For this particular sauerkraut dinner, I usually try to make a green vegetable for the side. Our favorite is green beans!
Luke and I also like to top our sausages with a little dijon mustard for the extra tang and flavor.
Find more dinner inspiration with these similar recipes
- One Skillet Creamy Peach Chicken
- Skillet Pork Chops With Garlic And Butter
- How to Make Crispy Potatoes in a Cast Iron Skillet
- The Best Shepherd’s Pie From Scratch
- Sausage Sauerkraut Soup
If you try this recipe and love it, I would love it if you gave it 5 stars! Thank you! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouseonboone.
Sausage and Sauerkraut Skillet Recipe with Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 pound bratwurst or smoked sausage, cooked and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons lard or coconut oil
- 5 medium red potatoes, cubed
- 1 medium apple, diced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 16 ounces sauerkraut, homemade or store bought
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
Instructions
- Heat the oil over medium/high heat in a large skillet. Cook the potatoes in the oil until they are browned and somewhat tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add in the apples and onions and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
- Add in the sauerkraut and sausage and turn the skillet to low heat. Simmer with a lid on for about 10 minutes until the sauerkraut is tender and the flavors are melded together.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Have you tried this with kielbasa? I’m going to give it a whirl tomorrow.
That would work!