Give your crockpot sauerkraut the taste of autumn with the addition of seasonal apples, brown sugar, Oktoberfest beer, diced onion, and caraway seeds.
Oktoberfest here in Herndon is a pretty big affair. Each year, we get together with several friends and neighbors to eat copious amounts of sauerkraut and sausages, dance to German music, and drink crazy amounts of Bitburger with our dear friends Mario and Andrea who originally hail from Germany. Unfortunately, this is the last year that these two dear friends of ours will be living in the United States, which means that over this past weekend, we sadly experienced our final Oktoberfest together as a group. As you can imagine, it was a bittersweet event. As we were standing in the drizzling rain, one particular friend put it best, “Even the skies are crying at the thought of them leaving.”
To show their love for both the United States and Germany, this year’s party featured not only traditional German food but also BBQ as well. Really y’all, I do truly believe that it was a wise decision on their part. If you’ve never tried sauerkraut with smoked brisket before, you need to actively do something to change that. It’s a pretty exceptional and unexpected combination, especially when you add in coleslaw, brats, potato salad, pretzels, and tons of heavenly homemade desserts. Without Mario and Andrea, things around here will not be nearly as exciting. The skies and all of us here in Herndon truly do weep at the mere thought of their departure.
Ingredients:
- 1 (32-oz.) Bag Sauerkraut, Rinsed & Drained
- 4 Granny Smith Apples, Peeled & Diced
- 1 Sweet Yellow Onion, Finely Diced
- 1 (12-oz.) Oktoberfest or Pumpkin Beer
- 1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar, Packed
- 1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Caraway Seeds
- 1/2 Teaspoon Finely Ground Black Pepper
- 4 Tablespoons Butter
Directions:
- Place all of the ingredients into a crockpot, stir well, and then cook on low for 8 hours.
Suggestions:
- If you are not a fan of caraway seeds, you can either leave them out or place them in a tea diffuser so that they make less of an impact.
- Use European butter in this recipe if possible. It has a lower water content and much more flavor.
- If you prefer your sauerkraut sweeter, add an additional 1/2 cup of brown sugar.
Improvements:
- Add crumbled bacon or browned brats to the sauerkraut.
- Replace the diced apples with diced pears or a mixture of the two fruits.
- If you love sauerkraut, make sure to check out these recipes for Oven-Roasted Sauerkraut with Beer and Crock-Pot Candied Bacon Sauerkraut.
Ingredients:
- 1 (32-oz.) Bag Sauerkraut, Rinsed & Drained
- 4 Granny Smith Apples, Peeled & Diced
- 1 Sweet Yellow Onion, Finely Diced
- 1 (12-oz.) Oktoberfest or Pumpkin Beer
- 1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar, Packed
- 1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Caraway Seeds
- 1/2 Teaspoon Finely Ground Black Pepper
- 4 Tablespoons Butter
Directions:
- Place all of the ingredients into a crockpot, stir well, and then cook on low for 8 hours.
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MORE GREAT OKTOBERFEST RECIPES
Make-Ahead Spicy Oktoberfest Meatball Stew
Butternut Squash Oktoberfest Ground Beef Chili
Oktoberfest Smokehouse Bourbon Meatballs
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.
We’re celebrating #Oktoberfest by sharing our favorite Biergarten and German Cuisine-inspired recipes below. Please make sure to check them all out. A special thanks to Sue from A Palatable Pastime for hosting this Oktoberfest event.
- Autumn Crockpot Apple Sauerkraut by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
- Bierocks by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Braised Red Cabbage with Apples by Caroline’s Cooking
- Brombeere-Butterkuchen – Blackberry German Butter Cake by Food Lust People Love
- Chicken Schnitzel with Dunkelweizen Sauce by Palatable Pastime
- Chicken Schnitzel With Garlic Mayo by Sneha’s Recipe
- German Meatballs with Spaetzle by Cookaholic Wife
- Nusskämme (German Hazelnut Combs) by Tara’s Multicultural Table
