This New Year’s pork and sauerkraut with kielbasa dish is an easy meal that you can make in the Instant Pot, slow cooker or on the stove top. A traditional meal to bring good luck in the New Year. It uses simple ingredients and it’s low carb! Each serving of this kielbasa recipe has only 4.6g net carbs or 2.4g for the low carb version. And you only need 4 ingredients!
You might also like this slow cooker pork tenderloin dinner.
Do you eat delicious pork or kielbasa and sauerkraut on New Year’s Day to bring good luck? We always have since I was little and even my husband was raised with this tradition. As a kid I wasn’t much of a fan of sauerkraut but I really love it now as an adult, especially the taste combination with pork and kielbasa.
We eat this kielbasa, pork and sauerkraut dinner many times in the winter as it’s a family favorite meal on busy weeknights. We keep it really simple as the savory flavors of tangy kraut go great with garlic bite of kielbasa (or sometimes called Polish sausage) and meaty pork.
I make variations of this meal and in different ways. Today I am showing you my simplest version and how you can make pork and sauerkraut on the stove, in an Instant Pot and in a slow cooker. So here is my super easy New Year’s pork and sauerkraut with kielbasa recipe 3 ways.
However while you can make this traditional dish for good luck in the new year, it really makes for a hearty meal all winter long! The instructions for all three ways to make it are in the printable recipe card below.
Table of Contents
- Why is pork and sauerkraut a New Year’s tradition?
- Recipe ingredients I used and substitutions.
- How to make pork and sauerkraut on the stove top.
- How to make pork and sauerkraut in the Instant Pot.
- How to make pork and sauerkraut in a slow cooker.
- What to serve with New Years pork and sauerkraut and a low carb version.
- Recipe Notes and Tips.
- Nutritional information.
Why is pork and sauerkraut a New Year’s tradition?
I was always told we eat this dish on New Year’s Day to bring good luck in the new year. I was looking into why we eat pork and sauerkraut on New Year’s Day and there are various thoughts. Some say it’s a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition and some say it’s a German tradition.
Some say the cabbage and pork represent wealth because pork is rich in fat. One thought is that pigs root forward and you want to move forward in the new year and not backwards. (source)
Others say it’s all hogwash and just pure comfort food. Regardless we love the amazing flavor combination and eat it once a month. Today we are using boneless pork ribs, pork sausage (pork kielbasa) to go with the sauerkraut. However I also have a recipe using a pork roast and one with both a pork roast and gnocchi!
Recipe ingredients I used and substitutions.
The simple ingredients I used in this delicious recipe were: sauerkraut, 1 package of Polish kielbasa sausage, country pork ribs, salt, black pepper and brown sugar for a touch of sweetness. That’s all you need for this simple recipe. Below you can what I normally use.
Country Pork Ribs
I like to use these because they are cheap and already cut up. You could also use bone-in or boneless pork chops if you want. If you want to make a juicy pork roast I would suggest this recipe and make it in the Instant Pot or slow cooker. I prefer a pork shoulder roast or butt as opposed to a pork loin roast as these cuts of pork have a higher fat content and therefore more flavor.
Sauerkraut
I use a jar of sauerkraut that I get at Aldi. It’s a German style kraut but you can use any kind you want. You can find jarred or canned sauerkraut in most stores and sometimes it’s in the refrigerated section of the grocery store.
Polish Kielbasa
Sometimes kielbasa is referred to as Polish sausage. You can use pork, beef, or turkey kielbasa or a combination of any of these meats. Below you can see what I used and I buy it at Aldi.
Brown Sugar Sweetener
I use the Swerve brown sugar sweetener for a lower carb version but even with regular brown sugar it’s still low carb. So if you don’t care about carbs go ahead and just use regular brown sugar. I only use a tablespoon of it for a bit of sweetness.
Some people like to use yellow onions or sweet onions but since the kielbasa has so much garlic I don’t think it needs the onions. And while I use water and the juice from the sauerkraut in the Instant Pot you can also use broth if you want.
How to make New Year’s pork and sauerkraut with kielbasa on the stove top.
This is a very easy recipe and here is how you make it in a pan on the stove.
- Get out a large pan or Dutch oven and heat to medium high heat. Add the olive oil and let get hot. While that is heating up get out the country ribs and season with salt and black pepper.
- When the pan is hot, turn the heat down to medium heat and brown the pork for about 2-3 minutes on both sides. Then add the sliced kielbasa into between the pieces and brown for another minute.
- Turn the heat down to medium and spoon out the sauerkraut over the meat but retain the liquid. Cover the meat evenly. Add the brown sugar to the liquid in the jar and mix well. Pour it all over the sauerkraut.
- Place the lid on the pan and cook over medium low heat for about 35-40 minutes until the pork is tender.
When the dish is done, let cool for a few minutes before serving.
How to make pork and sauerkraut in the Instant Pot.
For this Instant Pot version I first browned the country ribs because that’s a nice feature this gadget has: the ability to saute and then pressure cook.
To cook pork, kielbasa and sauerkraut in the Instant Pot:
- Press the saute button on the Instant Pot and adjust heat to high. Add 1 tablespoon of olive or vegetable oil.
- Sprinkle salt and black pepper over the country ribs and brown both sides for a couple of minutes in the Instant Pot until golden brown. This will take about 1-2 minutes per side.
- In the meantime slice kielbasa into 1 inch bite size pieces.
- Cancel the sautéing and add the jarred sauerkraut on top of the meat. Sprinkle a layer of brown sugar over kraut.
- Place the kielbasa pieces on top of the sauerkraut mixture layer and pour ⅓ cup of water in as well. Some people like to use beer or even sweet apple juice for extra flavor but I like just water.
- Seal the lid and pressure cook for 15 minutes.
- Let the pressure come down naturally or use a quick release. Spoon kielbasa mixture into a casserole dish or platter and serve.
How to make pork and sauerkraut in the slow cooker.
You can make this pork recipe in a crock pot as well. Just add everything to the crock pot and cook for 6-8 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high until the pork falls apart. his is a good way to make a pork roast as well as the slow roasting makes the meat nice and tender.
You can brown the country pork ribs in a skillet first if you wish but it’s not necessary. Slow cooking this dish works just as well but the cooking process just takes longer.
Store leftover kielbasa and sauerkraut in an airtight container or place in a baking dish and cover with plastic wrap. Please scroll down to view and print the recipe card.
What to serve with New Years pork and sauerkraut and a low carb version.
We like to eat our pork with sauerkraut over mashed potatoes to make it a complete meal. Also because we love the taste of creamy potatoes with the delicious flavor of tangy sauerkraut and garlicky kielbasa. Just add a fresh salad and you are set!
Also homemade applesauce would be great with this meal as pork and apples go great together. I have an easy slow cooker recipe that uses both apples and pears but you can use all apples if you want.
When I’m watching my carbs, I eat it without the potatoes and use Swerve brown sugar sweetener in place of the brown sugar.
Sometimes I just eliminate the brown sugar or sweetener altogether. It’s a bit more tangy but my husband prefers it this way.
I also eat it without the mashed potatoes and it’s delicious and of course that lowers the carbs.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- I used sweetener brown sugar but even with regular brown sugar the carbs are not that high. Sometimes I grate a sweet apple and use that instead to add a hint of sweetness and balance the sour flavor of sauerkraut. You could even substitute apple cider for the water for added sweetness when making in the Instant Pot.
- You can make this dish on the stovetop, in the Instant Pot or crockpot. I personally like making it in the slow cooker the best because it’s a dump and go kind of dinner. In second place I like the pressure cooker because the meat gets fall apart tender and doesn’t take as long as the slow cooker. And if I didn’t have much time at all I would do it on the stove top which still results in a great dish. The meat is a bit tougher though.
- Some people add potatoes to this recipe however I have never tried it. I do have a lot of kielbasa recipes on this blog. And this kielbasa and potatoes skillet meal is one of my most popular recipes. So perhaps I will to try it sometime.
- I have also heard of using caraway seeds for extra flavor and while I have never tried it I can see how that would go nicely if you like their flavor. Also sprinkle some hot pepper flakes to add a bit of heat if you like.
- I use water in my Instant Pot but you could also use chicken broth, chicken stock or some people use apple juice. However the juice will have sugar so if you are low carb you will not want to use that.
Whether you make this New Years Day pork, kielbasa and sauerkraut on the stove, in the Instant Pot or slow cooker you will end up with this warm, comforting family meal. Even if you are not a huge sauerkraut fan it just might bring you luck in the new year! Can’t hurt right?
And the amazing flavor combination just might become be part of your winter meal rotation. It’s truly one of my family’s favorite meals in the cold weather.
The nutrition info for 1 serving is: 584 cals / 37g fat / 9.9g carbs / 5.3g fiber / 51.2g protein = 4.6g net carbs
If using sweetener or no brown sugar at all: 576 cals / 37g fat / 7.7g carbs / 5.3g fiber / 51.2g protein = 2.4g net carbs
And if you get a chance check out my sister’s post how to make homemade sauerkraut!
New Year's Pork and Sauerkraut with Kielbasa Recipe
This New Year's pork and sauerkraut with kielbasa is an easy traditional meal that you can make on the stovetop, in the slow cooker or Instant Pot. This good luck food is a delicious meal is the best way to start your New Year!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound country pork ribs
- 14 ounces pork kielbasa, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 4 cups sauerkraut (or 24oz jar)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (or brown sugar sweetener)
Instructions
- To make on the stove top: Get out a large pan or Dutch oven and heat to medium high heat. Add the olive oil and let get hot. While that is heating up sprinkle the country ribs with salt and black pepper.
- When the pan is hot brown the pork for about 2-3 minutes on both sides. Then add the sliced kielbasa into between the pieces and brown for another minute.
- Turn the heat down to medium and spoon out the sauerkraut but retain the liquid. Cover the meat evenly. Add the brown sugar to the liquid in the jar and mix well. Pour it all over the sauerkraut.
- Place the lid on the pan and cook over medium low heat for about 35-40 minutes until the pork is tender.
- To make in the Instant Pot: Push the saute button on your Instant pot and let heat up.
- Add the oil and then place all the ribs in the pot. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper and cook until the ribs are golden brown on both sides. Then press the cancel button.
- Add the sauerkraut and sprinkle the brown sugar on top. Put the Polish kielbasa sausage pieces on top and pour in ⅓ cup water. Close and lock the lid and switch the vent to the sealing position.
- Push the manual button for 15 minutes. When timer is done, either let vent naturally or turn vent to the back for a quick pressure release.
- Open the lid and mix the kraut around a bit. Serve as is or with mashed potatoes.
- To make in a slow cooker: Add everything into the crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-6 hours. Let cool before serving.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container.
Notes
You can make this dish on the stovetop, in the Instant Pot or crockpot. I personally like making it in the slow cooker the best because it’s a dump and go kind of dinner.
In second place I like the pressure cooker because the meat gets fall apart tender and doesn’t take as long as the slow cooker.
And if I didn’t have much time at all I would do it on the stove top which still results in a great dish. The meat is a bit tougher though.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 584Unsaturated Fat: 0g
Lor Reber
I used this recipe today 1/1/2022. It’s delicious And so easy! Thank you so much. Happy new year!
Denise
Happy New Year to you. So glad you liked it!!! We eat this at least once a month because it is so easy.
Maxine
Hi!!! There is a video featuring this recipe – has a piano background! Do you know what the piano piece is??? Also, plan to try lots of your recipes for my son-in-law who has had his stomaxk size reduced so low carbs!
Denise
Hi Maxine, I’m sorry I could not find what it was. I used video software to put that together many years ago and it was stock music you could use. Hope you enjoy the recipes!
Kip
I have for over 30 years used a pack of Lipton’s Onion Soup mixed with 6 oz water.
Denise
Hi Kip, that’s very interesting! I’ll have to try that. We eat this at least once a month.
Carol Ernst
My husband and I were raving about this meal. I’ve tried over and over to make moist pork chops with sauerkraut with little success. The country ribs turned out great because the fat melted to the bottom, the sausage was tender and not crunchy. I added a potato cut in large pieces with complete success, as well as some caraway seeds. I did put it all in a casserole to keep warm till ready, so was able to skim over the liquid in the bottom as not needed. This is a permanent addition to our household menus.
Denise
Hi Carol, so glad you liked it. I see other people put potatoes in theirs as well. I’m going to try that next time as we eat it at least once a month. Thanks for coming back to comment and share your tips!
Stefanie M Lawson
I made this for dinner tonight in my Foodi. I had a small pork roast that I cut up in the size of boneless ribs. OMG, it was sooo delicious! Thank you so much for the recipe. I will definitely be making this often.
Denise
HI Stefanie, so glad you liked it! We eat this at least once a month because it’s so easy and because it’s one we all like (even my picky son) lol.
Lauren
I have some diced pork stew meat I would like to use for this. Any suggestion for time adjustments? Thanks, sounds delish!
Denise
Hi Lauren, I guess it depends on how big the diced pieces are. I would still do 10-15 minutes but I’m really not sure. Here is Instant Pots time chart. It seems that lamb cubes are 12-15 minutes per lb and beef stew meat is 20 minutes per pound. https://instantpot.com/instantpot-cooking-time/#tab-id-4
Also I found this for another reader about using less pork.They said that whether you are halving or doubling a recipe the time will be the same because
“Cooking time doesn’t change. That’s because the time is based on the size, and not the quantity of food.”
https://www.hippressurecooking.com/halve-or-double-pcs/
Hope one of those helps.
Levi
Hi, I will be making this recipe for only 2 people and would like to cut it in half. Should I decrease the amount of cook time? If so, by how much?
I am excited to try this!!
Thanks!
Denise
Hi Levi, I think you would keep it the same. I’ve been trying to find a definitive answer and this is what I found.
She says that whether you are halving or doubling a recipe the time will be the same because
“Cooking time doesn’t change. That’s because the time is based on the size, and not the quantity of food.”
And since you are using ribs and not a roast, it won’t matter if you are making 3 ribs or 6 ribs. Hope that helps and that you enjoy!
https://www.hippressurecooking.com/halve-or-double-pcs/
Jeanne
I add celery seed and diced, peeled apples to this dish as well. I’ve made this dish every New Year’s Day for 40 yrs! My kids loved this as it wasn’t so tart for them. Even though I have the Ninja Foodi, I’m using my crockpot so I can smell the deliciousness all day!
Denise
We eat this many times throughout the year and I’ve got all my ingredients for Wednesday!
Marijee
I haven’t ever used sausage in my P&S, but it looks delicious! I’m going to try this, it beats cooking it half the day I’m use to doing. Does cooking it this mellow the sauerkraut like it does on the stove?
My dad was brought up on a farm in Ohio. Both his parents were from a Germany. He always said eating pork and sauerkraut on New Year’s Day gave you good luck for the year. (Plus in cleaned your inside out! Ha,)
Denise
Hi Marjee, thanks for sharing what you dad said. That’s what I’ve already heard but never really questioned it as be authentic or not.
The kielbasa mellows the sauerkraut a bit but it is pretty tangy still. My friend makes it with more brown sugar and butter which would take away the tang more but my family doesn’t like it like that. Do you add any other seasoning to your regular pork and sauerkraut?
sheila wright
Thank you for this recipe… I have been wanting some Kraut for a bit now and do not use my instant pot nearly enough
so this ole gal is very happy to see this ..
have a super day
sheila
Denise
Hi Sheila, we too are kraut lovers. We eat pork and sauerkraut at least once a month…..even in the summer. Hope you enjoy it!
Kristin
Is the pork soft?
Denise
Hi Kristin, yes it gets very soft….falls apart.
Donna
Can you use boneless pork chops instead of the ribs? Will it change the time.
Denise
Nope. They are very similar because they are boneless ribs.
Al
Can you use beer instead of water?
Denise
Hi Al, I don’t see why not. Liquid is liquid. I found this online and it says it’s ok. https://www.gopresto.com/content/pressure-cooking/pressure-cooking-faq Good luck!
Rob
Just rec’d Instant Pot for Christmas.
We add wine to our pork & sauerkraut. How will adding wine affect the result? How much wine would you think is acceptable?
Thanks.
Denise
Hi Rob, I don’t think wine will effect the Instant Pot at all. So go ahead and make it the way you usually do. I think the least amount of liquid has to be 1/2 cup but other than that I don’t believe more liquid will hurt at all. Hope that helps.
Marisa Franca
I love the New Years traditions. I think every country has one including regions of the country. Hubby is German and I come from Northern Italy which has a big Germanic influence so we both grew up eating sauerkraut. We enjoy eating it with pork and with sausage. This is a great recipe — will have to modify for a slow cooker. Mar
Veena Azmanov
I must admit I have never eaten Sauerkraut. I think! I’m not sure. I have definitely never cooked with it. This looks and sounds so yum. Love the flavors.
Kristen
I was never a big sauerkraut fan till i was introduced to this way of cooking with it. Now i crave it and make it often. So good!
Jolina
We love dishes like this. And it looks so delicious! We have not joined the instant pot train yet but your recipes always make us want to stat!
Denise
Thanks Jolina!
Gloria
Well, being Ukrainian, I know and love sauerkraut. My mom and baba made it every year. I still remember the aroma of the cabbage fermenting in the basement….that lasted for weeks!! Pork and sauerkraut are a great combination, and this looks delicious to me!!
Denise
I’ve always want to make my own sauerkraut!
Wendy Lewis
How long will it take to add potatoes with the ribs and sauerkraut.in the insta pot?
Denise
It think it would take the same amount of time – 15 minutes. The potatoes should cook quickly. It’s the meat that you want to make sure gets cooked. Hope that helps!
Carol
Have you tried this recipe in the instapot pot on the crockpot setting? How did it turn out?
Denise
To be honest, I have never used the slow cooker setting but I have made this in the slow cooker too and it should work just fine. You really only need to make sure the pork is cooked. Good luck!
Joanne Rose
How long would you cook this if using less ribs – just 2 ribs? (I only cook for 2 and we don’t want leftovers) TIA!
Denise
Hi Joanne,
I found this information “Doubling a recipe doesn’t require changing the cooking time. Cooking times are more dependent on the density and thickness of the ingredients rather than the weight. So, if you’re cooking 8 chicken thighs instead of the 4 thighs that a recipe calls for, you won’t need to change the cooking time in the recipe (so long as you’re not overcrowding the pot and the liquid has room to circulate). Keep in mind that even though you are not increasing the cooking time, the Instant Pot will take longer to build pressure due to the increased quantity of ingredients.(https://www.paintthekitchenred.com/17-instant-pot-tips-faqs-questions/) So I think you should do it for the same time but it might come up to pressure quicker. Hope that helps!
Stacey
I don’t want to put ribs in with this so does there need to be an adjustment on the time?
Denise
Hi Stacey, are you using any other kind of meat? Because the pork ribs are really the only thing that needs to be cooked so I wouldn’t think you even need to pressure cook anything. You could just heat them up using the saute button on your Instant Pot. And just to note, the ribs are boneless country pork ribs. They are just basically pieces of pork cut in to long thick pieces.
Debbie
I purchased an Instant Pot recently, and I love it. I need to try this recipe, it looks fantastic!
Jen
Anyone who used a pork roast ~ how did it come out?
Denise
Jen this is an email from another reader who used a roast – We skipped the kielbasa and cut the roast in half. Set it for 50 minutes and it was perfect.
Thanks!” – Hope that helps!
Charlene Gralishj
My instapot does not have a manual button what setting should I use for this recipe?
Denise
You want it to cook for 15 minutes so what other buttons do you have that might cook something for 15 minutes? Do you have a meat button?
Jessica
Would you make any changes when using canned Vlasic sauerkraut?
Denise
Nope. That should be just fine!
Cynthia
Can i throw in raw shredded canbage instead of sauerkraut? If so what adjustments do i need to make? Thanks!
Denise
Hi Cynthia, the sauerkraut will give it that bit of acid or tang so if you don’t mind missing that taste, I don’t see why not. Maybe add a bit more salt and some apple cider vinegar. However I would increase the water to be 1 cup total. Good luck!
Linda
Happy New Year! Does the sauerkraut get soft or does it stay a little firm? Thank you
Denise
I would say that it is soft but not mushy. There is no crunch though.
teresa christy
Can I use ribs with the bone in? And would the time change from doing so?
Denise
I think it will be fine because there is less meat with bone in.
teresa christy
Thank you, gonna give it a try.
Denise
Great! I hope you like it.
Michelle Rhineberger
I plan on making this for dinner tonight. You say to use 1/3 cup water but typically recipes need at least 1 cup water for the instant pot? You didn’t have a problem with the meat burning on the bottom?
Denise
Hi Michelle, I did not have a problem because there is liquid in the sauerkraut. I did not drain it. Hope that helps!
chuck
You say switch the vent to the on position is this the “Sealing” position?
Denise
Yes Chuck I meant the sealing position. Thanks for pointing that out!
Viv Kimmel
May I do a roast w this recipe or should I slice it up to use I. Instant cooker?
Denise
Hi Viv,
Whenever I do a roast it takes much longer and I think the kielbasa would be way over cooked.
I’ve never tried that however, that is my instinct. I think if you cut it up it would cook quicker.
Hope that helps!
Barb
Could I follow same directions for Mini pot?
Denise
I believe it would work the same way for the mini Instant Pot though I have never used one before. As long as the food items fit well inside and were not too cramped it should work out using the same timing method. Good luck!
Barb
Can you use pork loin instead and would it need more time
Denise
Hi Barbara,
I don’t think it would need any extra time but it might depend on what size it is. If you are doing a big piece like a roast, it might take more time, but if you cut it in pieces I think it would be the same amount of time.
Good luck!
Denise
Jenn
If I were to not make the kielbasa, would that affect the cooking time for the instant pot?
Denise
Hi Jenn, no that would not. The kielbasa is essentially cooked so it’s really only about cooking the ribs. Hope that helps and that you like this! We eat it quite often in the winter.