Pork Sauerkraut and Gnocchi

This pork sauerkraut and gnocchi recipe is a super easy in the slow cooker and you only need 5 ingredients. So if you eat pork and sauerkraut for good luck in the New Year try this twist of adding gnocchi to make a one pot meal.

You might also like slow cooker sausage and peppers recipe.

Every year for New Years Day we eat pork and sauerkraut for good luck. Both my husband and my families have been doing it for years. I don’t know maybe it’s a Pittsburgh thing? Anyway it’s a fun tradition and this year I wanted to do something different.

Some people add potatoes to this their pork and sauerkraut and we often it eat it over mashed potatoes. But one day my sister in law told me she added gnocchi so I had to try it. Today I made this pork sauerkraut and gnocchi recipe in the slow cooker and I wanted to share it with you.

The pieces of gnocchi taste like potato dumplings and they soak up som of the tangy sauerkraut juice. It goes perfectly with the tender pork roast and sauerkraut. This is a great dish to eat all winter long and it’s comfort food to us. Plus it’s really quite easy and filling.

Recipe ingredients I used and notes.

The simple ingredients I used to make this recipe is a pork roast, sauerkraut, onion and gnocchi. I also used some olive oil, salt and black pepper to brown the roast before adding to the crockpot.

Pork Butt Roast
I used a pork butt for this recipe because it’s inexpensive and it’s pretty flavorful. Other cuts you can try are a pork shoulder, pork chops or even boneless pork ribs if you want. Pork loin might also work but they are very dry in my opinion so I’ve never tried that.

Sauerkraut and Onion
I used this jarred German style kraut I buy at Aldi all year round. You can also find fresh sauerkraut in the refrigerator or meat section in a bag. You and use that or even canned. All will work find for this recipe. And if you are interested you can make your own sauerkraut with just green cabbage and salt

Also I use yellow onion but a white onion or red one would work. A vidalia onion would a bit of sweetness which might be nice too.

Potato Gnocchi
I used frozen gnocchi for this recipe because is what I could find. Sometimes Aldi has packages of dried gnocchi in the pasta aisle. Those would work and even fresh gnocchi. Just made sure it’s potato and not another type of flavor.

And as a substitute for gnocchi, you can just make this recipe as is without it and eat it over mashed potatoes. Or you can add some chunks of potatoes too. Sometimes I add kielbasa to mine for added flavor.

Some people like to add brown sugar or even apples to their sauerkraut to add a bit of sweetness. However with the pasta I don’t like the sweet flavor so much. But if you want to add a bit of brown sugar mix it into the kraut before you cook it.

How to make pork sauerkraut and gnocchi in the slow cooker.

Step 1: Heat up a large skillet, or cast iron skillet if you have one, to medium high heat. While it’s heating up if you roast has big chunks of fat you might want to cut some of it off. Don’t be meticulous because fat is what gives it flavor but you don’t want the dish to be too greasy when it’s done.

Step 2: Sprinkle salt and black pepper on both sides of the pork butt. Add a tablespoon of olive oil and once it’s hot add the roast and brown on both sides. It will take 3-5 minutes on both sides to do this.

Step 3: Spray the crock pot with nonstick cooking spray and then add the sliced onion. When the roast has browned on both sides add that on top of the onion layer and then cover with sauerkraut. Note you don’t need to drain sauerkraut as you want the juices from it to add more flavor.

Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours until the roast falls apart. Cooking times may vary depending on the size of your roast.

Step 4: Once the roast is fork tender, take it out of the crock and place into a large bowl or platter. Cut the roast up or shred it a bit with two forks. Add the gnocchi to the sauerkraut mixture in the crockpot, cover and cook for 30 minutes or until the gnocchi texture is to your liking.

Step 5: Add the pork back into the slow cooker and let it cook for 5 minutes or so to make sure it’s warmed through in case it lost some heat while you where cooking the gnocchi.

Spoon and serve this dish in a large serving bowl or on a big platter. It’s pretty much a complete meal but you can serve it with a salad or green vegetable if you want.

Store leftovers in an air tight container. Please scroll down to view the printable recipe card.

More variations of this recipe for your New Year’s Day meal.

I have two very popular recipes that are variations of this one. There is an Instant Pot kielbasa, pork and sauerkraut recipe that uses boneless country ribs. And I have an Instant Pot roast with sauerkraut which is much like this recipe but without the pasta. Both are low carb and you can also make them in the slow cooker.

Well if you are looking for something different this New Year’s Day, try this slow cooker pork and gnocchi with sauerkraut recipe. I love the flavor combination of the rich and chewy pasta with the tart and tangy sauerkraut and tender pork. So good! Enjoy!