Imagine sauerkraut all dressed up in its holiday best, simmering away in a slow cooker with beer, maple syrup, brown sugar, and dried cranberries.
Last-minute side dishes can easily be a thing, right? They don’t always have to require hours of slaving away chopping, slicing, sautéing, parbaking, and pretty much sweating all over the place while trying to get a holiday meal on the table by two o’clock because everyone is STARVING and BORED and ready to eat so that they can take a nap and not have to talk to one another for the rest of the day. Sometimes, a holiday side dish can be as simple as throwing everything into a slow cooker and walking away for 8 hours. Sounds good right?
Well, if you’re looking for something a little bit different this holiday season, might I suggest giving this Sweet Cranberry Slow Cooker Sauerkraut a try. Imagine sauerkraut all dressed up in its holiday best, simmering away in a slow cooker with beer, maple syrup, brown sugar, and dried cranberries. Then, add in a little bit of ground chipotle for some back heat, you know, that little tingle that hits the back of your throat. This side dish is a little bit sweet, a little bit sour, and has just the littlest hint of heat to round things out. Your BORED and STARVING guests will absolutely adore it.
Ingredients:
- 1 (32-oz.) Bag Sauerkraut, Rinsed & Drained
- 1 (12-oz.) Beer
- 1/2 Cup Dried Sweetened Cranberries
- 1/4 Cup Maple Syrup
- 4 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- 3 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar, Packed
- 1 Tablespoon Whole Grain Mustard
- 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Chipotle
Directions:
- Place all of the ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on low heat for 8 hours.
Suggestions:
- I used a seasonal lager in this recipe, however, you can use whatever beer you have on hand.
- If you are at home while this is cooking, stir the mixture every few hours. If not, it’s no big deal.
- This sauerkraut is not super spicy but the ground chipotle does give it some nice heat. Leave it out if spice is not your thing, or lower the amount used to 1/4 teaspoon.
Improvements:
- Serve with premium brats, sausages, pork, or poultry.
- For added texture, serve topped with finely chopped toasted, candied, or spiced pecans.
- Cook a pork loin in the slow cooker along with the sauerkraut.
- Stir in an additional pat or two of butter upon serving.
Ingredients:
- 1 (32-oz.) Bag Sauerkraut, Rinsed & Drained
- 1 (12-oz.) Beer
- 1/2 Cup Dried Sweetened Cranberries
- 1/4 Cup Maple Syrup
- 4 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- 3 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar, Packed
- 1 Tablespoon Whole Grain Mustard
- 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Chipotle
Directions:
- Place all of the ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on low heat for 8 hours.
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MORE GREAT SAUERKRAUT RECIPES
Oven-Roasted Sauerkraut with Beer
Apple & Cranberry Oven-Roasted Sauerkraut
Autumn Crockpot Apple Sauerkraut
Whether you prefer the convenience of oven-roasting or the hands-off approach of a slow cooker or crockpot, we have a sauerkraut recipe for you. No matter which recipe you choose, it’s sure to be a hit on game day, for a quick and easy weeknight dinner, or even as a traditional good luck New Year’s Day side dish. CLICK HERE for the recipes.
