If you’re looking for a delicious and easy meal to make on a busy weeknight, look no further than this Crockpot German Sauerkraut with Brats. This simple dish combines the tangy flavor of sauerkraut with the sweetness of apples and brown sugar, the kick of Dijon mustard, and a little bit of beer and butter for added flavor and richness. The best part? It all cooks together in a crockpot or slow cooker, making cleanup a breeze.
Welcome to Crockpot Monday. Say “Hello.” everyone. Become BFFs till death do us part. I guarantee that you are going to love one another forever-ever. Here’s the thing. I have wanted to start an event of my own for quite some time now. I already take part in #BundtBakers, #FishFridayFoodies, and have plans to join many other groups over the next few months to broaden my horizons, as well as purchase more kitchen gadgets that I will just NEED to have. After all, the best part of cooking and baking is buying all of the toys, and then getting to play with them, and allow no one, not even the beloved B.O.B. Bob to go near them. MINE. Every so often though, I find myself getting bored, and in need of a challenge. Enter the magnificent crockpot. The crockpot can be the most innovative gadget in your kitchen, or the biggest FAIL. Y’all know what I’m talking about. I’m sure each and every one of you has scooped something out of one at one point in your life, and wished that you were not forced to eat the under-seasoned, over-cooked, unappealing looking sludge. Let’s hope that won’t happen here. Let’s pray that the crockpot fairies are dancing around with their magic wands, granting only good wishes here at Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck.
So why Crockpot Monday? Why not Crockpot Wednesday, Crockpot Solar Eclipse, or Crockpot All Saints Day? Simple answer. Monday is the worst day of the week. Monday is the day we could all use a little help. Just imagine walking into your door Monday evening, exhausted, drained, dragging, ready to fall onto the couch and dream of winning the lottery so that you never have to return to work again. Not too hard to imagine is it? Now, picture a crockpot waiting on the counter, condensation forcing the lid to bubble up with the most welcoming greeting imaginable. Yes. Monday just got a whole lot better, didn’t it? Now for the added bonus. Sunday is before Monday. I’m a genius. You have time on Sunday to grocery shop for the ingredients you need to make Crockpot Monday’s recipe, as well as prep the ingredients if you choose to. That’s right folks. Plan ahead. Brilliant. But wait, that’s not all. If you don’t have an army in your household to feed, Crockpot Monday also means that you will have leftovers for another day or two. Even less cooking for the week. Hallelujah. If you’re really lucky, you may even be able to throw a lunch or two in there somewhere. So now what do you think of Crockpot Monday? Do you want to be playmates? This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
For the first Crockpot Monday I decided to make sauerkraut with German sausages. If you swear that you are not a fan of sauerkraut, I think I could change your mind. This sauerkraut had even B.O.B. Bob drooling. That doesn’t happen often. Don’t get me wrong. B.O.B. Bob loves food, but it is not often that he actually has a strong response to food. It goes in the mouth, it gets chewed, but it rarely gets any flattery or grand praise. Not the case this time around. He actually commented that this sauerkraut could ruin all other sauerkraut for him. He actually compared it to my Candied Corned Beef Brisket. For those of you not in the know, this is the one dish I make that B.O.B. Bob holds above all others, and has ruined him for any other version of corned beef. We have pretty much come to the solution that he is not allowed to order corned beef if we are out at a restaurant. He will hate it, he will be disappointed, and then he will blame it all on me. I’m delighted/miserable to have yet one more dish added to the list of foods that he will only eat if I make them. Thank goodness the crockpot makes this dish so effortless to make. You just gotta love those crockpot fairies when they do their thing, and they do it well.
If you are interested in joining Crockpot Monday, please let me know. There are no rules. It’s not an every Monday thing, or even a set date of the month Monday thing as of right now. It’s just a crockpot, Monday, dinner, and hopefully a whole lotta yummy, uncomplicated, and timesaving scrumptious food. Feel free to share pictures or recipes in the Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck comment section, on our Facebook page, or even get ideas on our special Crockpot Monday Ideas Pinterest page. There’s even a special Crockpot Monday badge on my side header that I miraculously managed to put together for this oh so special occasion. It took me a while to figure out, and it’s not totally perfect, but I somehow managed to do something I have never previously done before on a computer. The crockpot fairies must be working overtime.
Ingredients:
- 1 (32-oz.) Bag Sauerkraut, Rinsed and Drained
- 2 Peeled, Cored, and Chopped Apples
- 1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar, Packed
- 1 Tablespoon Whole Grain Dijon Mustard
- 1 (12-oz.) Bottle of Good Quality Lager Beer
- 4 Good Quality German Brats
- 4 Tablespoons Premium Salted Butter
Directions:
- Place the sauerkraut and chopped apples in a crock-pot; stir to combine.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, mustard, and beer.
- Pour the liquid over the sauerkraut, and stir to combine.
- Place the brats on top of the sauerkraut mixture.
- Set the crock-pot on low temperature for 8 hours.
- Remove the brats; set aside.
- Stir the butter into the sauerkraut, place into a large serving dish, and then place the brats on top.
Suggestions:
- Slice the brats on a bias, before placing them on top of the sauerkraut to serve.
- Serve with potato salad or mashed potatoes.
- I used a high quality German beer brat from a German butcher in this recipe. Search your area for a place to buy premium sausages. You will really notice the difference. You may of course use whichever brat you prefer in this recipe, or add more than 4 if you desire.
- Premium butter lends a decadent flavor to this dish. Look for European, French, or Irish butter at your local market. A little goes a long way.
Improvements:
- Add finely chopped crispy bacon to the sauerkraut.
- Replace the apples in this recipe with pears.
Ingredients:
- 1 (32-oz.) Bag Sauerkraut, Rinsed and Drained
- 2 Peeled, Cored, and Chopped Apples
- 1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar, Packed
- 1 Tablespoon Whole Grain Dijon Mustard
- 1 (12-oz.) Bottle of Good Quality Lager Beer
- 4 Good Quality German Brats
- 4 Tablespoons Premium Salted Butter
Directions:
- Place the sauerkraut and chopped apples in a crock-pot; stir to combine.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, mustard, and beer.
- Pour the liquid over the sauerkraut, and stir to combine.
- Place the brats on top of the sauerkraut mixture.
- Set the crock-pot on low temperature for 8 hours.
- Remove the brats; set aside.
- Stir the butter into the sauerkraut, place into a large serving dish, and then place the brats on top.
PIN THIS RECIPE
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MORE GREAT CROCKPOT & SLOW COOKER SAUERKRAUT RECIPES
Apple & Red Cabbage Slow-Cooker Sauerkraut
Autumn Crockpot Apple Sauerkraut
Crock-Pot Candied Bacon 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.
