We overheard a local woman at a grocery store recently talking about making pork and sauerkraut for New Year’s Day dinner.
And believe us, she was not happy about it.
Apparently, from what we and just about everyone in the store could hear, she found pork and sauerkraut to be disgusting.
Maybe she’s not a fan of sauerkraut. Or maybe she’s not a very good cook and dries out her pork roast.
Either way, she should change her tune on this traditional good luck dish and also may want to consider not using the speakerphone (or her outside voice) when talking on the phone in the grocery store.
Well, we can help with one of those two, the pork and sauerkraut.
Pork and Sauerkraut Recipes for New Year’s Day Dinner
We went searching far and wide for some of the best pork and sauerkraut recipes. And we think we have captured a good variety of recipes, from the ultra-traditional to some newer takes on this classic traditional recipe. Due to rules a lot of these recipe sites have, we can discuss the recipes but in order to see the full recipe and cooking instructions, you’ll need to go to the site where it is directly.
Things You’ll Need for a Good Pork and Sauerkraut Dinner
Regardless of which pork and sauerkraut recipe you choose, you’ll need to have these things at the ready:
- Pork (of course): So, which cut of pork is best? Nearly every pork and sauerkraut recipe calls for using a pork loin roast. Now, that’s not pork tenderloin. You’ll want pork loin roast. You could also use a pork shoulder or even some pork chops. But the pork loin roast is the best.
- Sauerkraut: Scroll down to see which sauerkraut is best for this dish.
These things aren’t really mandatory but you should at least consider these additional ingredients for a really superb pork and sauerkraut dish:
- Onions
- Apples and apple juice
- Garlic
- Smoked paprika
- Caraway seeds
- Brown sugar
So, let’s get to the recipes. Remember to follow the links to the recipe that you think you’d like best. We tried to find a good variety of pork and sauerkraut recipes. Let us know what you think or share your own secrets or recipes in the comments below.
Williams Sonoma Pork and Sauerkraut
This recipe from Williams Sonoma uses pork shoulder and Granny Smith apples in the slow cooker. With a shoulder, you’re going to have the pork you’d often find for pulled pork sandwiches.
This recipe takes about 8-10 hours from start to finish, so you’ll need to plan ahead on this.
Fox Valley Foodie Says Brown Your Roast First
The Fox Valley Foodie says you should brown your roast first. And that’s a fantastic idea. This recipe uses the pork loin roast and requires the use of a slow cooker or Crock Pot. You’ll still need about 6 hours.
A Coalcracker in the Kitchen Suggests Dumping the Ingredients in the Crock Pot the Night Before
You have to trust anyone who calls themselves a coalcracker. And we’ve tried several of her recipes in the past and you really can’t go wrong. This recipe calls for pork and sauerkraut in the traditional way. And even though the Coalcracker in the Kitchen doesn’t live in the area any more, she knows what’s expected of the dish locally on New Year’s Day.
The Land O Lakes Recipe is Simple, Sounds Delicious
Hey, here’s a pork and sauerkraut recipe that doesn’t take a year to cook! The folks over there at Land O Lakes stopped fussing over their “offensive” logo long enough to share a tasty recipe for this New Year’s Day tradition. Be sure to check out the comments section for some tweaks to the recipe. We’re not sure about adding maple syrup to it. Never heard of that but how bad could it be?
A Pork Roast Wrapped in Bacon
Finally, we have this recipe from Southern Living magazine. This is definitely a foodie’s recipe for pork and sauerkraut … Dijon mustard? Apricot preserves? Pearl onions and thyme? Sounds pretty interesting and would be a bit different from the traditional style you’re probably used to having.
Pork and Sauerkraut Side Dishes
What should you serve with your traditional pork and sauerkraut dinner on New Year’s Day? The side dishes for this meal are so important. And in our opinion, there are 2, maybe 3, side dishes worthy of your consideration:
- Mashed potatoes
- Pierogies
- Egg noodles
Picking the Best Sauerkraut
You can’t have a really good pork and sauerkraut dinner without some good sauerkraut.
Now, you may be tempted to use a local favorite. Or you may even use your own sauerkraut. But if you’re going to the grocery store for your New Year’s Day dinner items, you’ll be confronted with a few choices.
At most stores, you can find sauerkraut sold in cans, plastic pouches, and glass jars.
You’re probably thinking that the pouches of sauerkraut, often found in the refrigerated sections of the store (probably right next to the pork roast), is the best. Refrigerated, fresh .. it’s a no-brainer, right?
Wrong.
The food experts we trust the most say the best sauerkraut is found in a can. Yes, a can: Want the Best Sauerkraut? Reach for a Can. Yes, a Can!
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