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Home » Recipes » Slow Cooker - Crock Pot

Last Updated: Feb 20, 2024 by Angela Latimer · 2 Comments

Slow Cooker Kielbasa and Sauerkraut

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Best slow cooker kielbasa and sauerkraut pin with 2 images and text divider.

Slow cooker kielbasa and sauerkraut is an easy Polish-inspired dinner. You can throw it together in minutes, then set it and forget it. This crockpot recipe features delicious kielbasa sausage, tangy sauerkraut, some light beer, and a bit of mustard. It is an easy comfort food you can whip up any night of the week!

Tasty slow cooker kielbasa and sauerkraut is served up ready to eat in a white bowl.
Slow cooker kielbasa & sauerkraut is the easy crockpot dinner you are missing from your recipe repertoire!
Jump to:
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 🔪 How To Make Kielbasa & Sauerkraut
  • 💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
  • 😋 More Slow Cooker Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 💬 Comments & Reviews

Any recipe where I can throw a few ingredients in a crockpot and call it a day is a winner in my book, and this slow cooker kielbasa and sauerkraut is one of my favorites.

When cooked in the slow cooker, kielbasa becomes so incredibly tender, while sauerkraut has a slight tang - it's enough to make your mouth water!

This Polish-inspired slow cooker recipe is incredibly versatile as well. Eat it as-is, or enjoy it as a sausage dog, with some buttered noodles over jasmine rice, whatever sounds good.

🥘 Ingredients

You can choose any kielbasa you like. For instance, for a smokier flavor use smoked kielbasa!

Slow cooker kielbasa and sauerkraut ingredients needed to get make this crockpot meal.
  • Kielbasa - 1 pound.
  • Sauerkraut - A 32-ounce jar or bag of sauerkraut.
  • Light Beer - 12 ounces of light, not dark, beer.
  • Water - ½ cup.
  • Stone-Ground Mustard (optional) - 1 tablespoon of German mustard.

*Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredients, amounts & instructions!*

🔪 How To Make Kielbasa & Sauerkraut

These steps are incredibly simple, and if you choose not to brown your kielbasa, it will still turn out delicious.

You only need a knife, cutting board, 6 to 8-quart crockpot, and a skillet to brown the sausage.

Process photo 1 optional step of searing the sliced kielbasa before starting in the slow cooker.
1 (optional)
Process photo 2 straining the excess liquid from your sauerkraut.
2
Process photo 3 adding ingredients into the slow cooker.
3
  1. Prep. Slice 1 pound of kielbasa sausage into ½-inch rounds and drain the liquid from 32 ounces of sauerkraut.
  2. Brown kielbasa (optional). - If desired, you may brown the kielbasa by heating a skillet to medium-high heat and searing each side of the sliced kielbasa before adding it to your crockpot. *This step is optional, but I feel it adds more flavor.
  3. Combine. Add the drained sauerkraut, 1 pound of kielbasa, 12 ounces of light beer, ½ a cup of water, and the optional 1 tablespoon of mustard (if using) to your crockpot and mix to combine.
  4. Cook. Cook the kielbasa & sauerkraut for 4-6 hours on the high heat setting or for 8 hours on low heat.

You could eat it with some rice or boiled potatoes for a heartier meal. Enjoy!

Wide image of the slow cooker kielbasa and sauerkraut in white pasta bowl with fork on the side.

💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes

  • Serving Warm: After cooking, set the crockpot to the warm setting to keep the kielbasa and sauerkraut ready to serve for up to two hours.
  • Beer Substitute: If you prefer not to use beer, feel free to replace it with an equal amount of water, apple juice, or chicken broth for a similar cooking liquid.
  • Storage Instructions: Keep any leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to five days. To reheat, simply warm up the servings in the microwave.
Closeup on the slow cooker kielbasa and sauerkraut being forked for a bite.

😋 More Slow Cooker Recipes

  • Boneless Leg of Lamb
  • Beef Bourguignon
  • Cabbage
  • Pulled Pork
  • Eye of Round Roast
  • Butter Chicken

Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
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📖 Recipe Card

Tasty slow cooker kielbasa and sauerkraut is served up ready to eat in a white bowl.
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4.98 from 96 reviews

Slow Cooker Kielbasa and Sauerkraut

Slow cooker kielbasa and sauerkraut is an easy Polish-inspired dinner. You can throw it together in minutes, then set it and forget it. This crockpot recipe features delicious kielbasa sausage, tangy sauerkraut, some light beer, and a bit of mustard. It is an easy comfort food you can whip up any night of the week!
Author | Angela Latimer
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 440kcal
Prep 5 minutes minutes
Cooking 6 hours hours
Total Time 6 hours hours 5 minutes minutes
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Ingredients
 

  • 1 lb kielbasa
  • 32 oz sauerkraut (drained)
  • 12 oz light beer (not dark)
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tablespoon stone-ground mustard (optional, or German mustard)

(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions
 

  • Slice your 1 lb kielbasa sausage into ½-inch rounds and drain the liquid from your 32 oz sauerkraut.
  • (Optional) If desired, you may brown the kielbasa by heating a skillet to medium-high heat and searing both sides of the sliced kielbasa before adding to your crockpot. *This step is optional, but I feel it adds more flavor.
  • Add sauerkraut, kielbasa, 12 oz light beer, ½ cup water, and the optional 1 tablespoon stone-ground mustard (if using) to your crockpot and combine well.
  • Cook on high for 4-6 hours or on high or set to cook for 8 hours on the low setting.

Notes

  • You may switch the crockpot to warm once done, and serve from the warm crockpot for up to 2 hours.
  • If you choose not to use beer, you can easily swap it for more water, apple juice, or even chicken broth.

Nutrition

Calories: 440kcal (22%) | Carbohydrates: 13g (4%) | Protein: 18g (36%) | Fat: 33g (51%) | Saturated Fat: 12g (75%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 79mg (26%) | Sodium: 2539mg (110%) | Potassium: 678mg (19%) | Fiber: 7g (29%) | Sugar: 4g (4%) | Vitamin A: 43IU (1%) | Vitamin C: 34mg (41%) | Calcium: 88mg (9%) | Iron: 5mg (28%)
Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
Course Main Course, Slow Cooker Crockpot Recipes
Cuisine Polish
« Roasted Beets
Slow Cooker Candied Yams »

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Comments

    4.98 from 96 votes (94 ratings without comment)

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  1. CINDY H. says

    August 15, 2023 at 4:41 pm

    5 stars
    I made this for dinner tonight, and I will definitely be making it again!
    Delicious and easy! I followed the recipe as is except I substituted the beer for chicken broth.

    Reply
  2. Autumn says

    May 08, 2023 at 10:16 am

    4 stars
    Good basic recipe. I added Granny Smith apple and a large dice russet potato

    Reply

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Hi there, I'm Angela

I am an avid vintage cookbook collector, cook, baker, and total foodie. I love sharing new, fun, creative recipes and great classic recipes, just like my Grandma used to make! Every recipe on BIWL is tested to ensure that cooks of any experience level can succeed.

Welcome to Bake It With Love. Enjoy!

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