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Easy German Sausage and Sauerkraut Skillet Recipe

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A quick and easy one-pan German sausage and sauerkraut skillet that’s perfect for entertaining. Ready in under 30 minutes with simple, pantry-friendly ingredients, this dish delivers bold, satisfying flavor with minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ pounds (680g) smoked German sausage or bratwurst, sliced into 1-inch rounds
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large apple (Granny Smith), peeled and diced (about 1 cup)
  • 1 (32-ounce / 900g) jar or bag of sauerkraut, drained but not rinsed
  • 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • ½ cup (120ml) low-sodium chicken broth or dry white wine
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional)
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients first. Slice the sausage into 1-inch rounds. Thinly slice the onion. Mince the garlic. Peel and dice the apple. Drain the sauerkraut in a colander, pressing gently to remove excess liquid, but don’t rinse it.
  2. Heat your skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and let it shimmer for about 30 seconds. Add the sliced sausage in a single layer (cook in batches if needed). Let it cook without moving for 3-4 minutes until deeply browned and crispy. Flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Transfer browned sausage to a plate and set aside.
  3. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the sliced onion to the same pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes until soft and starting to turn golden at the edges. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  4. Add the minced garlic and diced apple. Stir and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Add the drained sauerkraut, caraway seeds, and black pepper. Stir everything together and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  6. Pour in the chicken broth (or white wine) and the brown sugar if using. Stir to combine. Bring to a gentle simmer. Return the browned sausage to the pan, nestling it into the sauerkraut. Let everything simmer together for 5-7 minutes, uncovered, until the liquid has reduced slightly and flavors have melded.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Remember, sauerkraut is already salty, so go easy on additional salt.
  8. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve straight from the skillet.

Notes

For best flavor, don’t overcrowd the pan when browning sausage. Toast caraway seeds for 30 seconds before adding onion for more pronounced flavor. Use refrigerated sauerkraut for better texture and taste. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld. This recipe doubles easily for larger crowds.

Nutrition

Keywords: German sausage, sauerkraut, one-pan, skillet, quick dinner, easy recipe, bratwurst, comfort food, party food

Find it online: https://lolaspoon.com/easy-german-sausage-and-sauerkraut-skillet-recipe/