Pork chops and sauerkraut in air fryer

Add the garlic, onion, sauerkraut, caraway seed, apple juice, and salt and pepper to taste to the hot skillet. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes. Lay browned pork chops on top of sauerkraut mixture, cover, reduce heat to low and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)

245Calories12gFat9gCarbs25gProtein

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Nutrition FactsServings Per Recipe 4Calories 245% Daily Value *Total Fat 12g16%Saturated Fat 3g14%Cholesterol 59mg20%Sodium 806mg35%Total Carbohydrate 9g3%Dietary Fiber 4g13%Total Sugars 4gProtein 25gVitamin C 19mg96%Calcium 72mg6%Iron 3mg14%Potassium 634mg13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

This easy Pork and Sauerkraut recipe (aka German Pork Chops) is a delicious, cozy dinner your whole family will enjoy! It’s made with super simple, delicious ingredients — boneless pork chops, sauerkraut, potatoes, apples and caraway seeds, and it’s baked in a Dutch Oven for ultra tender pork and easy cleanup!

Pork chops and sauerkraut in air fryer

Table of Contents

  • German Pork Chops
  • Pork and Sauerkraut Ingredients
  • Making German Pork and Sauerkraut
  • Pork and Sauerkraut (German Pork Chops) – Whole30, Paleo

German Pork Chops

I have really fond memories of my grandpa making this dish. I can still picture him in the kitchen on a Sunday evening, cooking and listening to a Perry Como tape. He didn’t cook all that often (Grandma was the chef of the family!), but he had a few wonderful recipes up his sleeve. He also made Swedish Meatballs, and that’s another recipe that always reminds me of him.

My grandpa made recipes his grandmother taught him, and now I make them to remember him.

It makes me wonder, what dishes will my great-great-grandkids learn that were passed down by me?

Pork and Sauerkraut Ingredients

Pork chops and sauerkraut in air fryer

The ingredients in this recipe are fairly simple and easy to come by in most grocery stores. Here’s the list of ingredients you need:

  • Boneless Pork Chops. I got mine from Porter Road.
  • Apples: If you don’t have an apple handy, don’t worry! Swap a cup of apple sauce!
  • Potatoes
  • Sauerkraut: It can be a little tricky finding Whole30 compliant sauerkraut. I like to use Eden Organics or Cleveland Kraut brand sauerkraut. Both are available at Walmart and Target and are made without preservatives. At Costco, Wildbrine is compliant.
  • Caraway seeds: This is an important ingredient, so don’t skip the caraway seeds! They have an aromatic quality and a lovely anise flavor (think of the seeds in rye bread!) that works amazing with the sauerkraut and apples. If you don’t have them in your pantry already, you can find them in the spice aisle!
Pork chops and sauerkraut in air fryer

Making German Pork and Sauerkraut

One of the best things about this German Pork Chops recipe is how much hands-off time there is! Cooking pork chops and sauerkraut in the oven means the only real prep work you need to do is peeling and chopping the potatoes and apple. You can do that in advance, if you’d like, and then all you need to to get the meal ready:

  1. Brown the pork chops in the dutch oven on the stovetop.
  2. Add the sauerkraut.
  3. Add the apples and potatoes.
  4. Sprinkle in the caraway seeds.
  5. Cover, transfer to the oven, and bake!

👉 By the way, if you’re wondering, this is the Dutch Oven I use.

Pork chops and sauerkraut in air fryer

Trust me, this will quickly become one of your family’s favorite recipes. My boys (who aren’t even big on sauerkraut to begin with), couldn’t get enough of it!

The sweet apple totally mellows out the bite in the sauerkraut, and the pork chops come out super tender and delicious. If you’re on the fence, give it a try!

Pork chops and sauerkraut in air fryer

Check out some of my other delicious and healthy weeknight dinners:

  • Classic Pot Roast
  • Grilled Pork Chops with Garlic Scapes and Rosemary Peaches
  • Egg Roll in a Bowl Skillet
  • Grilled Chicken Salad with Avocado & Bacon
  • Instant Pot Pineapple Pork Chops

Making this recipe? I’d love to hear about your experience!
Please leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @cookathomemom.

Pork chops and sauerkraut in air fryer

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Pork and Sauerkraut (German Pork Chops) – Whole30, Paleo

A simple one-pan meal with boneless pork chops, sauerkraut, potatoes, apples and caraway seeds.

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American, german

Diet Diabetic, Gluten Free

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Servings 4 servings

Calories 550.84kcal

Author Laura

Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Equipment

  • Dutch Oven

Ingredients

  • 1.5 – 2 lb boneless pork chops about 1/2 inch thick
  • 2 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 4-6 medium russet potatoes
  • 1 apple
  • 18 ounces sauerkraut undrained
  • 1 teaspoons caraway seeds
  • 1 onion optional

Instructions

Do the Prep Work

  • Peel and dice the potatoes, apple, and onion, if using. Set them aside.

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C).

Brown the Pork Chops

  • While the oven preheats, pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel and season very lightly with salt and pepper. Heat a large dutch oven on the stovetop over medium-high heat.

  • Add the oil. Once the oil is shimmering (about 1 minute), add the pork chops.Brown on each side for about 3 minutes per side. They should easily release once they're ready to be flipped.

Bake the Dish

  • Set the pork chops aside and add the saurkraut to the hot dutch oven. With a wooden spoon, gently scrape the bottom to deglaze it.Add the onion, potatoes and apples and then lay the pork chops on top. Sprinkle the caraway seeds.

  • Cover and bake in the oven for one hour. Remove the dutch oven, allow to cool slightly, and serve!

Video

Notes

  • If you don’t have an apple, substitute 1 cup apple sauce.
  • The sauerkraut is usually pretty salty, so be careful about over seasoning the rest of the dish. I add no salt except for the tiny bit I use to season the pork chops. You can always add more! 
Slow Cooker Adaptation: Brown the pork chops in a skillet over medium heat, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer the pork chops to the slow cooker and add all the ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 2.5-3 hours or until very tender.

How long does it take for pork chops to cook in air fryer?

Place pork chops in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket. Air fry at 400° F for 5 minutes. Then flip the pork chops over and continue cooking until they are cooked through to at least 145° F, about 3-7 more minutes for boneless chops or 6-10 more minutes for bone-in chops.

Can sauerkraut be cooked in an air fryer?

Sharing is caring! Sausage and sauerkraut are one of my husband's favorite meals. Making Kielbasa, Potatoes and Sauerkraut in the air fryer is the easiest way to make smaller portions of this classic meal.

Can you put raw pork chops in an air fryer?

Place in Air Fryer basket making sure the chops don't overlap. Cook on 360 degrees for 14-16 minutes, flipping halfway. Pork chops are done when they have reached an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove pork chops from the Air Fryer and loosely cover with foil.

Why are my air fryer pork chops tough?

If your pork chops are tough, it is probably because you overcooked them. My secret trick, as I talked about earlier, is to cook the pork chops to an internal temperature of 140°F, and then take them out of the air fryer basket and let the pork chops rest until the internal temperature hits 145°F.