20 Traditional & Modern Sauerkraut Recipe Ideas

Perfectly fermented and great for your gut, sauerkraut is a versatile condiment that pairs well with meats, fish, and soups. Its sour flavor adds a touch of tang to your favorite meals.

Traditional sauerkraut recipes

If you are new to fermentation, making your own sauerkraut is actually one of the best ways to get started. It is simple to make and doesn’t require too much special equipment. Start with some traditional sauerkraut recipes and move on from there.

1. Basic sauerkraut

To make basic sauerkraut, you need a medium head of green cabbage and 1 tbsp of salt. You’ll also need a 1qt jar with a lid and a smaller 4oz jar. Shred the cabbage using a knife, mandolin, or shredder and place in a large bowl. 

Add the salt to the cabbage and mix with your hands. Let sit for a few minutes, and the salt will draw liquid out of the cabbage, creating a brine. Pack the cabbage into your quart-sized jar and push it down to make it compact. Pour in any brine left in the mixing bowl and push the small 4oz jar (without a lid) on top to ensure the cabbage pieces stay submerged in brine during the fermentation process. Put the lid on the quart jar, but not completely tight so gas can escape.

Place the jar somewhere at room temperature away from direct sunlight, such as in your pantry or a cabinet. Wait for 1 to 4 weeks for your sauerkraut to ferment.

2. Seasoned sauerkraut

Take your sauerkraut to the next level with the addition of traditional spices. The following spices are commonly used to make sauerkraut and can be combined or used alone according to your taste preferences: juniper berries, caraway seeds, black pepper dill, and celery seeds. 

3. Red cabbage sauerkraut

Simply replace green cabbage with red cabbage for a more colorful version of traditional sauerkraut. Red cabbage makes for a more visually appealing end result, but just be wary that the red brine can leave stains behind.

Sauerkraut recipe variations

Once you have the basics down, you can really start to experiment with different types of sauerkraut that incorporate various fruits and vegetables. Here are a few to get you started.

4. Beet root sauerkraut

Elevate your basic sauerkraut with the addition of thinly grated red beets. Peel raw beets and use a grater. Add 2 or 3 cloves of garlic and a teaspoon of caraway seeds. To remove red stains from your hands, use lemon juice and salt before washing your hands with soap and water. 

5. Kim chi-style sauerkraut

While making traditional kimchi is a bit different than making German sauerkraut, you can use the same techniques to make a dish that is very similar. Use green or Napa cabbage to make your base, and add thinly sliced or shredded carrots, daikon radish, green onions, ginger, and garlic. You’ll also want to add 1Tbsp of fish sauce and 1-2tsp of Korean red pepper powder.

6. Apple caraway sauerkraut

Apples are a great addition to sauerkraut, giving it a sweet and sour flavor. The combination of caraway seeds ties the 2 flavors together adding greater complexity. To add apples, simply add thin slices of apple to your cabbage mix.

Grab it now on Instacart:

Vlasic Old Fashioned Sauerkraut (32 fl oz)

Gochugaru Korean Chili Pepper Powder (5 lb)

Double-H Sauerkraut (32 oz)

Weis Quality Shredded Sauerkraut (8 oz)

Kimbo Seasoned Sauerkraut-Bamboo Shoots (12 oz)

Tofurky Deli Slices, Hickory Smoked, Plant-Based (5.5 oz)

Recipes that use sauerkraut

Sure you could eat sauerkraut right out of the jar, but it is even better when you incorporate it into meals. Below are some sauerkraut recipe ideas to get you started.

7. Beer-glazed brats and sauerkraut

It’s only natural that the German condiment pairs perfectly with German bratwursts. It gets even better when you glaze your brats with German lager according to this recipe.

8. Sauerkraut potato skins

Have a favorite potato skin recipe? Sauerkraut can probably make it better. It is the perfect accompaniment to crispy potatoes.

9. Reuben spread

No Reuben is complete without a hefty helping of sauerkraut. The rest of the ingredients include corned beef, swiss cheese, Thousand Island salad dressing, cream cheese, horseradish, caraway seeds, and rye crackers.

10. Hot dish with sauerkraut

Hot dish casseroles are famous throughout the Midwest, and sauerkraut is a key component in many of them.

11. Hot dogs with sauerkraut

How about a little shredded sauerkraut with your frankfurter? The pickled cabbage concoction is a classic hot dog topping.

12. Sauerkraut and sausage hash

For a hearty breakfast, sear off some German sausage and diced potatoes along with heaping spoonfuls of your favorite sauerkraut.

13. Latkes with sauerkraut

Kick up traditional potato pancakes with the addition of sauerkraut. Just add to your latke mix and cook as usual, or top latkes with sauerkraut.

14. Reuben pizza

Who says a Reuben has to be a sandwich? Use sauerkraut, corned beef, and Swiss cheese to make a delicious pizza with a German flair.

15. Sauerkraut potato soup

Add sauerkraut to your favorite potato soup recipe. It goes even better when you add sliced sausage or bacon to the mix as well.

16. Stuffed rolls

Use a mix of kielbasa and sauerkraut when making stuffed rolls or kolaches. Don’t forget the mustard!

17. Ham and bean soup

Add sauerkraut to classic ham and bean soup to give it a bit more punch.

18. Salmon with sauerkraut

Grill or barbeque salmon and top with delicious sauerkraut. Try it with kimchi-style kraut if cooking an Asian-style salmon.

19. Sauerkraut cheese spread

Make a quick and easy cheese spread for crackers and bread. Just mix sauerkraut with your favorite cream cheese or goat cheese and enjoy.

20. Sauerkraut quesadilla

Sprinkle some sauerkraut into your basic quesadilla to give it a more interesting flavor. It pairs great with chicken tinga, ground beef, or even Tofurky.

Try one of these sauerkraut meal ideas today

Once you start coming up with sauerkraut ideas, you won’t want to stop. Remember to add a jar to your cart whenever you shop on Instacart.

Cady Cohen

Author

Cady Cohen is a culinary writer at Instacart who empowers home cooks to navigate the exciting world of food with confidence. She has worked in digital media for over seven years covering food, health, and wellness. From handy conversion charts and recipe calculators to in-depth cooking guides, Cady's work makes grocery shopping a breeze and empowers you to make informed choices about what you put on your plate.

Heather Matley

Editor

Heather Matley is an editor at Instacart whose passion for food and cooking has inspired her work on everything from grocery guides to recipe development. With over eight years of experience in editing, content creation, and search engine optimization, she strives to empower readers with the most effective tools, guides, and ideas to transform their home cooking.