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Square overhead shot of sauerkraut with bacon and a sausage.
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5 from 3 votes

Sauerkraut with Bacon

My grandmother's easy sauerkraut recipe requires just 3 ingredients and 15 minutes!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine European
Keyword how to cook sauerkraut, how to prepare sauerkraut, sauerkraut with bacon, sauerkraut with brown sugar, what to add to sauerkraut
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 8 people
Calories 59kcal
Author Blair Lonergan

Equipment

  • saucepan or braiser

Ingredients

  • 4 slices bacon, chopped
  • 1 (27 ounce) can sauerkraut, drained but liquid reserved (You can use any store-bought or homemade sauerkraut recipe that you prefer. My mom recommends the Silver Floss brand, so that's what I use)
  • 1 ½ tablespoons packed light brown sugar
  • Optional garnish: caraway seeds; chopped fresh parsley; chopped fresh dill

Instructions

  • Heat a large saucepan or braiser over medium-high heat. Cook the bacon until it’s crispy.
    Frying bacon in.a cast iron skillet.
  • Drain off most of the bacon grease, leaving the bacon and about 1-2 teaspoons of drippings in the bottom of the pan.
  • Place the drained sauerkraut and brown sugar in the pan with the bacon. Cook, stirring regularly, over low heat until warmed through and the sugar is dissolved. Gradually add reserved sauerkraut liquid so that the dish is moist and reaches the desired consistency.
    Heating sauerkraut in bacon drippings in a cast iron pan.
  • Serve right away or cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
    Horizontal overhead image of a plate of sauerkraut with sausage.

Notes

  • Cook bacon fully before adding the sauerkraut.
  • Drain but do not discard the sauerkraut liquid; add it back as needed.
  • Add brown sugar gradually to balance the tanginess.
  • Use low heat to avoid a mushy texture.
  • Optional add-ins: onion, apple, caraway, dill.
  • Adjust the seasoning after heating.
  • Store for up to one week; freeze for up to three months.
  • Reheat slowly with a splash of liquid.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/8 of the recipe | Calories: 59kcal | Carbohydrates: 7.8g | Protein: 2.9g | Fat: 2.6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 815.3mg | Potassium: 181.1mg | Fiber: 2.5g | Sugar: 5.3g