One Pan Pork Chops with Sauerkraut and Apples

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Pork chops with sauerkraut and apples is a savory and flavorful dish made in one pan.
Pork Chops with apples and sauerkraut in a skillet simple and savory

Pork chops with sauerkraut with apples is a delicious balance of flavors and textures that combines tender pork chops with tangy sauerkraut and sweet apples. This dish is so easy to prepare and is perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner or a weekend family meal.

pork chops and sauerkraut in a skillet with a spoon

Every year during the holiday season, this recipe is trending because some people believe that consuming pork and cabbage on New Year’s Day brings good luck for the new year. I think this recipe is simple enough to make any time of the year so you can keep that good luck going. And, not only is it lucky, it’s packed with flavor. The boneless pork chops are seared quickly and baked with sauerkraut and apples until tender and juicy.

You can increase the health benefits of this tasty meal by using homemade sauerkraut. Homemade sauerkraut is made with fresh cabbage and undergoes a traditional fermentation process called lacto-fermentation, which makes it even healthier. However high heat can destroy the healthy bacteria, so if you are looking for the health benefits of fresh sauerkraut, you might want to add half before the pork goes into the oven for flavor and the remainder after the meal is cooked.

Why you will love pork chops and sauerkraut

  • It’s an easy meal to make with four ingredients and a skillet!
  • It’s perfect to make ahead of time and tastes great leftover too!
  • Flavor! It’s filled with flavor from the salty sauerkraut, sweet apples and savory juicy pork chops.

If you are cooking for a crowd, give this recipe for pork loin roast with sauerkraut a try.

A view of the ingredients: boneless pork chops, sauerkraut, apples

Here is What You Will Need

This is a brief summary of the ingredients needed to make this recipe and a convenient shopping list from my Instacart affiliate link. For a printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions, scroll down to the recipe card section.

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Ingredients

🥄Equipment

How to make pork chops with sauerkraut and apples

Before you begin cooking, get everything ready: slice the apples, measure the sauerkraut, preheat the oven to 350.

4 boneless pork chops in a pan searing

STEP 1: Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the boneless pork chops once the skillet is hot. Cook the chops for about 5 minutes until they begin to turn brown.

STEP 2: Flip the pork chops over and cook them for about 5 minutes longer on the other side. Once you have golden brown pork chops, remove them from the skillet and set them aside.

overhead view of 4 pork chops in a skillet brown on one side

sauerkraut and apples in a skillet

STEP 3: Lower the heat to medium heat and add the apples and sauerkraut to the bottom of the pan.

STEP 4: Place pork chops on top of the sauerkraut and apples cover, and bake in a preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove the cover and cook for 5 to 10 minutes longer until the internal temperature of the pork reaches 145 degrees.

4 boneless pork chops on top of apples andn sauerkraut ready for the oven

Cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the pork chops, use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature.

Ingredient notes and substitutions

Olive oil. Can be substituted with an equal amount of avocado oil.

Boneless pork chops. I prefer boneless pork chops in this recipe, but you can use bone-in pork chops as well.

Substitute pork chops with pork tenderloin, small boneless pork loin or pork ribs.

Apples. Any type of apple will work in this recipe. Our favorites are Braeburn, Fuji, Honeycrisp or Granny Smith Apples.

Sauerkraut. Good quality fermented sauerkraut is best. I use homemade sauerkraut to make this recipe. It tastes much better than packaged sauerkraut and has so many health benefits.

If you don’t have homemade sauerkraut, look for good quality refrigerated sauerkraut such as Bubbies Sauerkraut near the deli in your supermarket. Shelf-stable sauerkraut has been pasteurized and many of the health benefits are lost.

Fun Fact! Eating pork and sauerkraut in New Year’s Day is a German tradition because it brings luck.

an overhead view of pork chops with sauerkraut and apples in a skillet

This is the perfect recipe to make ahead of time, here’s how: Brown the pork chops and store them in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for up to 1 day.

Add the sauerkraut, apples, and browned pork to an ovenproof skillet or casserole, cover, and bake approximately an hour before serving.

Serve pork chops with sauerkraut and apples with a baked potato and a helping of Citrus Roasted Brussels Sprouts, green beans with almonds or steamed broccoli.

Store leftover pork and sauerkraut in an air-tight container for up to 4 days. To reheat the leftovers, place the ingredients into an ovenproof casserole and cover it. Bake at 325 until heated through for about 30 to 40 minutes.

Freeze pork and sauerkraut in an airtight container for up to three months. I like these durable stasher bags for this.

Defrost the pork and sauerkraut in the refrigerator overnight. Place the contents in an ovenproof dish, cover, and bake at 325 until heated through.

This is a versatile recipe, you can change up the ingredients or add more. Here are some suggestions for making this pork and sauerkraut recipe your own.

Chicken with Sauerkraut and Apples – Use one pound of boneless chicken breasts or thighs in place of pork.

Pork Chops with Sauerkraut– If you don’t have apples, no problem!  You can leave them out.

Brown Sugar and Apple Juice – Stir in a little bit of brown sugar and apple juice for a sweet flavor.

Add Wine or Beer – Before placing the pan into the oven; stir in a quarter cup of beer or wine and a dash of caraway seeds to the skillet.

Grilled Pork Chops with Sauerkrut and Apples – Grill the pork chops until they are almost cooked. In a separate pan or grill topper, cook the apples until they start caramelizing lightly. Then, add the sauerkraut and heat it through. Finally, top the pork chops with the sauerkraut and apple mixture. This method not only tastes great but also ensures that you get the health benefits of fermented sauerkraut.

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Here’s What People Are Saying…

I replaced the sauerkraut with 1 cup of ‘kraut brine and 1 cup hard apple cider, then after taking the chops out of the oven I barely heated our homemade sauerkraut to 90F (all the beneficial bacteria and Vitamin C are destroyed when heated above 120F for an entire hour) before serving with the kraut on the side. It was just fabulous; thank you so much for this recipe!

“Pork, Sauerkraut and Apples, YUM! I added Fennel Seed to the seasoning.”

“This recipe was really good and SO easy. I used a jar of sauerkraut and cooked at 350 for 65 minutes. Served with sour cream.”

pork chops and apples on a blue plate with a fork

Tips

  • For nicely browned chops, pat the meat dry with a paper towel before adding it to the hot skillet.
  • For the healthiest benefits from the homemade sauerkraut, add half of the sauerkraut to the skillet just before baking and the second half to the skillet just before serving.
  • If you have lean pork chops, reduce the cooking time and remove the chops once they reach 145 degrees f, for tender pork chops.
  • For the best juiciest pork chops, avoid overcooking the meat.

Can I turn up the temperature in the oven for the chops?

Yes! You can turn up the temperature to 375 degrees, and check the temperature of the meat after 15 to 20 minutes.

How do you keep the boneless pork chops from becoming dry in this recipe?

I have found that cooking boneless pork chops at a lower temperature and nestling the boneless chops in the sauerkraut mixture will help to keep the chops tender.
Also, don’t overcook them. As soon as they reach an internal temperature of 145 remove them from the oven.

Can I make pork chops with sauerkraut and apples on top of the stove instead of baked pork chops and sauerkraut?

Yes, you can. Follow the directions in the recipe; instead of placing the pork, apples and sauerkraut into the oven, reduce the heat to low. Cover, and cook on top of the stove until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.

Can I make pork chops and sauerkraut in a slow cooker?

Yes, you can easily make pork chops and sauerkraut in a slow cooker. Brown the chops in a skillet, and layer the sauerkraut and apples on the bottom of your slow cooker and place the seared pork chops on top. Cook over low heat until cooked through to at least 145 degrees f, which is 3-4 hours.

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Pork Chops with apples and sauerkraut in a skillet simple and savory

Pork Chops with Sauerkraut and Apples

Pork chops with sauerkraut and apples is a savory and flavorful dish made in one pan.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Click on serving size to scale this recipe

Course: Dinner Recipes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Pork chops with sauerkraut and apples
Servings: 4
Calories: 271kcal
Author: Anne
Scale this Recipe 4

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Pre-heat oven to 350.
  • Place oil in a heavy skillet and heat over medium to high heat.
  • Add the chops to the heated pan and cook them until they start to turn golden brown (about 5 minutes), flip and cook them until they become golden brown on the other side (about 3 to 5 minutes longer) remove them from the pan.
  • Add the sauerkraut and apples to the skillet and top them with the browned pork chops.
  • Cover the skillet and place it in the oven – bake for 20 minutes, remove the cover and cook for 10 minutes longer or until the pork reaches an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees.

Video

Notes

This recipe can also be made with bone-in pork chops, pork tenderloin, pork loin or ribs. The cooking time may be longer for larger pieces of meat.
Try substituting one-pound boneless chicken breasts or thighs for the pork chops.
*Cooking time can vary depending on the thickness of the pork chops.

Nutrition

Serving: 1chop | Calories: 271kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 642mg | Potassium: 671mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 70IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used

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12 Comments

  1. I made the mistake of starting dinner to late. Is it possible to turn the oven up in the temperature for the chops.

  2. It’s probably the wrong season to have made this, but I don’t care! I’ve been thinking about making a dish like this for months and finally got around to it. This recipe was really good and SO easy. I used a jar of sauerkraut and cooked at 350 for 65 minutes. Served with sour cream. Yum!

    1. Thank you Colleen! I’m glad you enjoyed it, and I love the addition of sour cream, I’m going to try that the next time I make it!

  3. EXCELLENT DISH! The only changes I made was to replace the sauerkraut with 1 cup of ‘kraut brine and 1 cup hard apple cider, omit the salt (‘kraut brine already has plenty, then after taking the chops out of the oven I barely heated our homemade sauerkraut to 90F (all the beneficial bacteria and Vitamin C are destroyed when heated above 120F for an entire hour) before serving with the kraut on the side. It was just fabulous, thank you so much for this recipe!

    1. I am so glad you liked it Chris! And I love the idea of using the brine and serving the warm sauerkraut on the side, I am going to try that the next time I make this.

  4. 5 stars
    Great recipe but bottled sauerkraut works as well and it is probably equally nutritious as heating any fermented product kills the fermented benefit. I save my fresh sauerkraut for non heated recipes

    1. Thanks for your comment Douglas! I am sure bottled sauerkraut works well and is a great option. Aside from the health benefits of fermented sauerkraut when it’s cold, I enjoy the flavor and texture of it more than packaged even when it’s heated.