Get ready for a deliciously easy take on Slow Cooker Pork Chops with Sauerkraut, a traditional Amish New Year’s meal! This version features apples for a sweet and sour taste you’ll love.
Remember when I shared Skinny Fried Chicken from David Venable’s new book recently? Judging by your response, I’m not the only fan of David and QVC! I got permission to share one other recipe I tried from his book that I think you will really love. It’s a slow cooker dish with pork chops, apples, and sauerkraut. While it may not be the fanciest looking dinner, it tastes amazing!
The history of this pork chops with apples and sauerkraut recipe
David explains in the intro for this recipe that it’s his spin on a traditional Amish New Year’s dinner. Not only I was excited to try it just based on the ingredients, it also seemed like the perfect time to share it with you since the end of the year is fast approaching! This recipe ties back to its German roots and many of the Germans that immigrated to the USA became part of the Pensylvannia Dutch community and the Amish. Pork was considered good luck on New Years as they symbolize progress and moving forward because the pig “roots forward” when it eats and hunts for food. The cabbage and subsequent sauerkraut are seen to represent money and prosperity so eating cabbage or sauerkraut on new years is similar to eating black eyed peas in the south. If you want to try another Amish recipe check out this Amish Apple Pie filling from My Kitchen Escapades.
Why I love this pork chops with apple recipe
While you are celebrating the new year and reflecting on time past, why not eat some pork chops? These chops are tender and smothered in pickled cabbage, apples, and onions with just the right balance of sweet and sour. There are potatoes in the mix too, so you don’t even need to make mashed potatoes or rice. Serve this hearty meal with your favorite green vegetable, and you’ll be starting the new year off right!
This is recipe is also a fall classic
As I was describing earlier this recipe was adapted from an Amish New Years tradition but it is also just a great fall recipe. The combination of pork, apples, and potatoes is pure fall in my mind. With the pork and potatoes being slow cooked in apple juice along with apple cider vinegar and apple slices the sweet apple flavor permeates every bite in this dish. If you want to go all in on apples I recommend serving this yummy apple cake for dessert!
Pork chops and apples are the perfect pairing
Pork chops and applesauce are a classic food pairing. I was trying to find out why this pairing came to be and what it is about it that works so well. I think the pairing of apples and pork works so well because both have relatively mild flavors so they do not overpower each other. They also are great with similar spices. Pork and apples can be seasoned with cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice, brown sugar and vinegar. When I was doing research for this, one article told me that pork pairs great with foods that pigs naturally eat in the wild, such as apples, chestnuts, carrots, truffles, and mushrooms. I thought this makes sense but is a little weird to think about, I am also pretty sure pigs will eat anything… so maybe pork just works with everything, including apples and applesauce?
Put the potatoes and apple juice in the slow cooker. Mix together the sauerkraut, brown sugar, mustard, and apples in a large bowl, and toss well. Place half of this mixture on top of the potatoes and apple juice.
To prevent the edges of the pork chops from curling, cut two 1-inch slits at each end. Season the chops with 2 tsp. of the salt and 1 tsp. of the pepper. Heat the oil in a skillet over high heat. Once the oil is smoking, sear the chops, 30 to 40 seconds on each side. Put the chops on top of the apple-sauerkraut mixture in the slow cooker. Tuck the bay leaves around the chops.
Add the onions to the skillet. Season with remaining 2 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. pepper. Saute the onions until they start to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Put the onions on top fo the pork chops. Top with the remaining apple-sauerkraut mixture.
Cover and cook on high for 5 to 6 hours. Remove and discard the bay leaves before serving.
Notes
You can skip the skillet step and put the pork chops and onions directly into the crockpot uncooked if you are short on time. (That’s what I did.)
I can’t even believe we’re heading into 2015 so soon. Parenthood really changes the way you look at time. In some ways, days or phases your kids go through can seem to last forever. If your toddler is in a screaming phase or your 7-year-old is in a talking back phase, it can feel like time is standing still while you wait for them to grow out of it. At the same time, you look at these little people and wonder how they got so big so fast. It seems like a lifetime ago that I wasn’t a mother, but it seems like yesterday that my now 8-year-old was making macaroni art at preschool.
Looking for more slow cooker pork recipes? You’ll love these too!
Andi Gleeson is a passionate blogger and mom based in San Francisco who focuses on easy and delicious dinner recipes.
10 comments
Bridget
6 years ago
This recipe sounded interesting, even a bit odd… But I had all the ingredients on hand and tried it. Really Delicious blend of flavors. Will be making it again. I’m also going to check out your other recipes!
Mark P
7 years ago
This reminded me of a recipe my mom used to make (without the juice and mustard). She baked hers. So I thought I’d give this a try. It’s good. I cooked it for 5 hours on high which may have been a bit too long. The apples and kraut were overcooked and soggy. Next time I might try cooking this on low and reducing/eliminating the juice. But I’d definitely make it again…or add the mustard to mom’s recipe and bake it!
Thanks for bringing back a tasty recipe from my childhood!
Carol at Wild Goose Tea
10 years ago
I have been craving sauerkraut. I’ve never done it in the slow cooker, but this sounds like the way to go for me. My Swedish friend traditionally serves this for Xmas eve.
Andi
10 years ago
What did you eat for Christmas Eve? We had red beans and rice. I hope you are enjoying the holiday, Carol! Merry Christmas!
Cate @ Chez CateyLou
10 years ago
This looks like a delicious dish, and I love that it is just for New Year’s! What a fun way to celebrate! I can’t believe how fast this year flew by. I hope you have a great weekend!
Andi
10 years ago
Thanks, Cate. I can’t believe that it’s already the end of the year either! Hope you have a good holiday!
Jaren (Diary of a Recipe Collector)
10 years ago
That looks so good Andi! His cookbook really does sound so great!
Andi
10 years ago
Thank you, Jaren!
Meg @ The Housewife in Training Files
10 years ago
Another recipe from that book?! I definitely need to get my hands on it!
Andi
10 years ago
I know! I was excited to get the OK to share this one too because it’s really tasty! Thanks, Meg :)
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10 comments
This recipe sounded interesting, even a bit odd… But I had all the ingredients on hand and tried it. Really Delicious blend of flavors. Will be making it again. I’m also going to check out your other recipes!
This reminded me of a recipe my mom used to make (without the juice and mustard). She baked hers. So I thought I’d give this a try. It’s good. I cooked it for 5 hours on high which may have been a bit too long. The apples and kraut were overcooked and soggy. Next time I might try cooking this on low and reducing/eliminating the juice. But I’d definitely make it again…or add the mustard to mom’s recipe and bake it!
Thanks for bringing back a tasty recipe from my childhood!
I have been craving sauerkraut. I’ve never done it in the slow cooker, but this sounds like the way to go for me. My Swedish friend traditionally serves this for Xmas eve.
What did you eat for Christmas Eve? We had red beans and rice. I hope you are enjoying the holiday, Carol! Merry Christmas!
This looks like a delicious dish, and I love that it is just for New Year’s! What a fun way to celebrate! I can’t believe how fast this year flew by. I hope you have a great weekend!
Thanks, Cate. I can’t believe that it’s already the end of the year either! Hope you have a good holiday!
That looks so good Andi! His cookbook really does sound so great!
Thank you, Jaren!
Another recipe from that book?! I definitely need to get my hands on it!
I know! I was excited to get the OK to share this one too because it’s really tasty! Thanks, Meg :)