Alright, let’s talk about them slow cooker pork chops and sauerkraut, you know, the kind that makes your belly warm and happy. I ain’t no fancy chef or nothin’, just a plain ol’ woman who likes good food, and this here dish is about as good as it gets.
First off, you gotta get yourself some pork chops. Don’t go gettin’ them skinny little things, you want some nice, thick ones, you hear? The kind with a good bit of meat on ‘em. I like the bone-in kind, they got more flavor, but if you ain’t got those, the boneless ones will do just fine. Just make sure they ain’t too lean, a little bit of fat is good, it keeps ‘em juicy.
Now, about that sauerkraut… Some folks don’t like it, say it’s too sour, but I tell ya, cooked right, it’s just the ticket. You can get the stuff in a can or a bag, it don’t really matter. I like the kind that’s got a little bit of caraway seeds in it, gives it a nice little zing. If you’re scared of the sour, you can rinse it off a bit, takes some of the bite out. But don’t rinse it all off, you still want some of that tang.
So, here’s how I do it, real simple-like:
- First, I take them pork chops and season ‘em up good. Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, whatever you like. Don’t be shy with it, you want them chops to taste good.
- Then, I dump about half that sauerkraut in the bottom of the slow cooker. Just spread it out even.
- Next, I lay them pork chops right on top of that sauerkraut. Don’t crowd ‘em, you want ‘em to cook even. If you got a lot of chops, you might need to do two layers, just put some more sauerkraut in between.
- After that, I pour the rest of the sauerkraut over the top of the chops. Make sure they’re all covered up nice and snug.
- Now, here’s a little secret… I like to add a little bit of apple juice to the slow cooker. Just a cup or so. It gives it a little sweetness and helps keep them chops from dryin’ out. You can use water if you ain’t got no apple juice, but the juice is better.
- Then, I put the lid on that slow cooker and turn it on low. And that’s it! You just let it cook for about 6-8 hours, or until them chops are so tender they just fall apart.
You can cook ‘em on high if you’re in a hurry, but they ain’t as good. Low and slow is the way to go, that’s how you get ‘em real tender and juicy. And the smell… oh my, the smell! It’ll fill your whole house with that good, home-cooked smell. Makes your mouth water just thinkin’ about it.
Now, when they’re done, you can eat ‘em just like that, straight out of the slow cooker. Or you can serve ‘em up with some mashed potatoes, or some rice, or some noodles. Whatever you like. I like to have a little bit of bread on the side to sop up all them juices. And don’t forget the applesauce! Pork chops and applesauce go together like peas and carrots.
Some folks like to fancy it up, add in some onions, or some apples, or some brown sugar. And that’s alright, you can do that if you want. But me, I like to keep it simple. Just pork chops, sauerkraut, and a little bit of apple juice. That’s all you need to make a good, hearty meal that’ll stick to your ribs and warm you up on a cold day.
And listen, don’t you go frettin’ about puttin’ raw pork in that slow cooker. I been doin’ it for years, and nothin’ bad ever happened. That slow cooker gets hot enough to kill anythin’ nasty. And besides, cookin’ it low and slow makes it extra tender. You ain’t gotta brown it or nothin’ first, just throw it in there and let it do its thing.
I tell you what, this here dish is good luck too. At least that’s what some folks say. They say eatin’ pork and sauerkraut on New Year’s Day brings you good luck and prosperity all year long. I don’t know about all that, but I figure it can’t hurt, right? And even if it don’t bring you no luck, it’ll sure fill your belly and make you happy.
So, there you have it. My recipe for slow cooker pork chops and sauerkraut. It ain’t fancy, but it’s good, honest food. The kind that sticks to your ribs and makes you feel good all over. Give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.
Tags: slow cooker, pork chops, sauerkraut, easy recipe, comfort food, hearty meal, dinner, slow cooking, pork recipe, sauerkraut recipe