Tangy, slightly sweet sauerkraut, flavor-packed pork sausage, and warm, buttery noodles come together to make a simple weeknight dinner that is comfort food at its finest (and easiest!). With just five ingredients (unless you count the freshly ground pepper), Fried Sauerkraut and Sausage with Buttered Noodles is a delicious weeknight dinner recipe that is cheap and easy to make and comes together quickly for those busy nights when everyone is hungry. You need a delightful go-to recipe that the whole family will be excited to eat, and this is it!
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This sauerkraut recipe with pork sausage and pasta is an easy and inexpensive dinner idea because pork is historically one of the most economical meats available (March 2022 price in my area is less than $3/pound) and will keep in your freezer for quite a while. Pasta is also a frugal food at less than $2.00 for a 12 or 16-ounce bag and makes an important pantry staple. Canned sauerkraut will also keep well stored in your panty and is a cheap food, coming in at between $1-1.50 for a 14-ounce can. Butter and cream can fluctuate in price, but with the small amount used in this recipe, you are looking at less than $2.00. All told, this recipe makes 8 generous servings for less than $10. (Prices are current as of March 2022 and may fluctuate depending on where you live). Fried Sauerkraut and Pork Sausage makes the cheap and easy dinner recipes idea list for sure!
What Type of Sauerkraut is Best for this Recipe?
Bavarian Sauerkraut is my favorite because it has a little sugar added, so it’s not quite as sour as Polish or original sauerkraut. If you are unable to find Bavarian Sauerkraut, any sauerkraut will do, but you may want to add a sprinkle of sugar and a teaspoon or so of caraways seeds to the pan as you fry the sauerkraut. I recommend draining and rinsing the sauerkraut before adding it to the dish, regardless of what variety of sauerkraut that you use.
If you want to switch things up a bit or avoid pasta, Fried Sauerkraut and Sausage is also yummy served over buttery mashed potatoes or rice.
Ingredients that You will Need:
- 1 16-ounce package egg noodles, cooked according to package directions
- ½ cup butter
- 1 pound ground pork sausage
- 2 14-ounce cans Bavarian Sauerkraut, drained and rinsed
- ½ cup half & half cream
- Fresh ground black pepper
Specific Equipment that You will Need:
- A large pot for cooking the noodles
- A 12-inch frying pan
- A kitchen colander
How to Make Fried Sauerkraut and Sausage with Buttered Noodles
Cook the noodles according to the package directions. Once done, drain and return to the pot. Immediately stir the butter into the hot noodles until it is melted, then cover and keep warm.
While the noodles are cooking, in a large skillet, fry the pork sausage over medium-high heat, stirring often, until cooked thoroughly (meat should no longer be pink and should reach a temperature of 160°). Drain off any excess fat. Return the pan to the heat.
Add the drained and rinsed Bavarian Sauerkraut (see note) to the fried pork sausage. Stir the sauerkraut and meat together and continue to fry until the sauerkraut is heated through, stirring often. Once the sauerkraut is hot, remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the half & half cream. Sprinkle with freshly ground pepper to taste.
Serve the Fried Sauerkraut and Sausage over a bed of warm, buttered noodles.
That’s it! Grab your apron, and let’s make dinner!
Fried Sauerkraut and Sausage with Buttered Noodles
Ingredients
- 1 16 ounce package egg noodles cooked according to package directions
- ½ cup butter
- 1 pound ground pork sausage
- 2 14 ounce cans of Bavarian Sauerkraut drained and rinsed
- ½ cup half & half cream
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
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Cook the noodles according to the package directions. Once done, drain and return to pot. Immediately stir in the butter, then cover and keep warm.
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While the noodles are cooking, in a large skillet, fry the pork sausage over medium-high heat, stirring often, until cooked thoroughly (meat should no longer be pink and should reach a temperature of 160°). Drain off any excess fat. Return to the pan to the heat.
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Add the drained and rinsed Bavarian Sauerkraut (see note) to the fried pork sausage. Stir the sauerkraut and meat together and continue to fry until the sauerkraut is heated through, stirring often.
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Once the sauerkraut is hot, remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the half & half cream. Sprinkle with freshly ground pepper to taste.
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Serve the fried sauerkraut and sausage over a bed of warm, buttered noodles. Enjoy!
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Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
1. You can use another variety of sauerkraut, but for this recipe, I prefer Bavarian Sauerkraut because it is slightly sweeter than other varieties. If you love the tang of sauerkraut, you could skip the draining and rinsing step, but my family prefers a milder taste, so that is how I prepare sauerkraut. It’s a personal preference, so feel free to try it both ways and see what your favorite is!
2. Fried Sauerkraut and Sausage is also delicious served over brown or white rice or mashed potatoes.
If you enjoy this recipe, please leave a rating and share it with a friend!
Looking for a dessert to round out the meal? Here are a couple great ideas: