Oma's Pork Chops with Sauerkraut – Schweinekoteletts mit Sauerkraut

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares easy, authentic German recipes you can trust, rooted in family tradition and featured in her cookbooks.

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This German baked pork chop recipe, aka Gebackene Schweinekotelett, is an easy dinner of pork chops and sauerkraut. It is similar to a braised pork chop.

The chops are first browned, then baked, covered, on a bed of sauerkraut mixed with fried bacon pieces and chopped sweet apples, and topped with caramelized onions.

The result? Absolutely delicious, tender and juicy pork that just melts in your mouth.

Adding both caramelized onion rings and apples are scrumptious additions to this traditional German meal. Of course, sauerkraut is such a classical German food. A perfect addition to a pork dinner.

Tips on making this baked pork chop recipe

• You can use bone-in or boneless pork chops. If you wish, you can trim away any excess fat from the chops. Doing so will help reduce the caloric value of this meal.
• According to pork.org, pork chops are the most popular cut of pork. They come from the loin, which runs from the pig’s shoulder to its hip. While out shopping, keep in mind that there are various names for pork chops like loin, rib, sirloin, top loin, and blade chops.
• The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the chops, which can vary from ½ to 2 inches. My recipe calls for 1-inch slices.
• For tender and delicious pork chops, cook until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F.

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How to make German baked pork chops with sauerkraut

Start by cooking some diced bacon in a large skillet or saucepan. Once it has rendered all its fat and is nicely browned, remove to a large bowl.

Now place the pork loin slices in the hot pan and brown both sides of the pork in the bacon fat. Add a little oil, if needed. Remove to a plate when nicely browned.

Add onion rings or slices and cook slowly until nicely caramelized. When done, remove to a separate bowl.

Lastly, add chopped apples to the pan and cook briefly.

Combine sauerkraut with the bacon, along with the apples, a little bit of dry mustard, caraway seeds, black pepper, and water. Mix well with a wooden spoon and spread evenly in the bottom of a baking dish.

Place the browned chops in a single layer over the sauerkraut mixture, and top the pork chops with the onion slices.

Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake pork chops in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake for about 15 more minutes.

Enjoy!

Oma says,

Do try this baked pork chop recipe using various combinations of the optional ingredients. Or, just make it without any of them. Each is a delicious variation.

Don't have time to do any of the browning?

Just layer the sauerkraut in the casserole dish. Put the un-browned chops on top. Cover and bake. 

But, if you really want amazing flavor, then take the time to brown the pork chops, the onions, the bacon, the apples. Each browning step adds a depth of flavor!

What to serve with baked pork chops and sauerkraut

Serve the baked chops and sauerkraut together with boiled potatoes and some German mustard on the side. Adding an extra vegetable side dish or a refreshing salad is also wunderbar. Here are some ideas:

• Pan-roasted baby carrots 
• Oma’s green beans 
• Roasted or steamed broccoli
• Roasted asparagus 
• Roasted Brussels sprouts 
• Oma’s German asparagus salad 
• Oma’s lettuce salad with grapes 

You can roast the veggies in the oven while the pork chops are baking. It’s an easy meal the whole family will love and you'll find yourself making it often because it's so delicious and so easy.

Want more easy pork recipes?

• Oma’s Schweinshaxe ~ Roasted Pork Hocks 
• Oma’s German Schnitzel 
• Oma’s Breaded Pork Chops 
• Oma’s Smoked Pork Chops 
• Oma’s Pork Roast 
  

Ready to make these delicious German pork chops?

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Print Recipe

Oma's Baked Pork Chops with Sauerkraut - Schweinekoteletts mit Sauerkraut

If this is your first time making this baked pork chop recipe, it may soon become your favorite meal. The chops are first browned, then baked, covered, on a bed of sauerkraut mixed with fried bacon pieces and chopped apples, and topped with caramelized onions. So yummy! You'll enjoy absolutely delicious, tender and juicy pork that just melts in your mouth.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 80 minutes

Total Time 100 minutes

Servings:

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 6 slices bacon, diced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 pork chops, 1-inch thick
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 1 - 2 apples, peeled and coarsely chopped (optional)
• 28 ounces canned or jarred sauerkraut, drained
• ½ teaspoon dry mustard (optional)
• ½ - 1 teaspoon caraway seeds (optional)
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ¼ cup water

Instructions:

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
2. Meanwhile, put diced bacon into a large cold saucepan. Bring heat up to high and cook bacon till it's nicely browned and the fat has been rendered out. Remove browned bacon to a large bowl.
3. Brown pork chops in bacon fat in saucepan. Add oil if needed. Remove to a plate once browned.
4. Reduce burner to medium heat and add onion slices to saucepan. Cook slowly until nicely caramelized. Remove the onions to a separate bowl.
5. Add the chopped apples to the saucepan and briefly cook.
6. Add the drained sauerkraut to the bacon bits in the bowl. Add the apples and the remaining ingredients, except the onion slices. Mix well. Put into a large baking dish.
7. Place the browned pork chops on top of the sauerkraut mixture.
8. Spread the caramelized onions on top of the chops.
9. Cover dish and bake for about 45 minutes. Remove cover and continue baking for 15 minutes.

NOTES/HINTS:

• For more flavor, you can use apple cider, apple juice, or chicken broth instead of water.
• Use a sweet apple to balance out the tartness of the sauerkraut.
• You can also use my easy homemade sauerkraut recipe instead of canned or jarred sauerkraut. You'll need about 3 cups of homemade sauerkraut for this recipe.

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Unless otherwise noted, recipes, images, and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

05.25.2022 revision update

Check out more of Oma's Pork Recipes here ->

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Oma's Pork Chops with Sauerkraut ~ Schweinekoteletts mit Sauerkraut

By Oma Gerhild Fulson

Oma’s baked pork chops with sauerkraut is an easy German dinner that’s quick to make. Adding both browned onion rings and apples are scrumptious additions to this traditional meal.

Ingredients: pork chops, bacon, oil, onion, apples, sauerkraut, seasonings,

For the full recipe, scroll up ...

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Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.