If you’re wondering what to serve with your sauerkraut, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, I list 60 of the most popular side dishes for sauerkraut.
In a rush? Here’s the short answer.
The best dishes to serve with sauerkraut are potato and cheese pierogis, wiener schnitzel, mashed potato casserole, and butter burgers. You can also go with sesame miso ramen, fried rice, or salt and pepper pork belly. Try avocado toast, scrambled eggs, or corned beef hash for breakfast options.
Ready? Let’s jump right in.
Flavor pairings for sauerkraut
Sauerkraut is a fermented condiment involving shredded cabbage. It has a distinctive sour-salty flavor that’s similar to kimchi without the spice.
This flavor profile intensifies the longer it sits. Sauerkraut pairs well with:
- Meaty, savory flavors – sauerkraut’s tangy twist works superbly with boldly-spiced sausages and savory dishes like corned beef.
- Rich flavors – sauerkraut’s sour notes can cut through the richness of ingredients like cheese and heavy cream to give you a more balanced bite.
- Delicate flavors – sauerkraut isn’t as pungent as other fermented condiments so you can also pair it with more delicate proteins like pork and white fish for an added zing.
Breakfast Items
Sauerkraut is a condiment you can enjoy any time.
I love it over avocado toast for an easy, energizing meal. But you can also use it as a topper for your scrambled eggs.
Throwing a brunch party? Sauerkraut is the perfect accompaniment to some potato waffles!
Avocado toast
Want to start your day with a dose of sauerkraut?
Use it to jazz up your avocado toast – the creamy mashed avocados are an excellent contrast to the sauerkraut’s salty-sour notes.
Plus, the sauerkraut’s firm texture adds a bit of crunch to your toast.
Why we love this recipe: it’s great for a quick but nourishing breakfast.
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Avocado toast
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Sweet potato avocado toast
Make it low-carb
Avocado toast chaffles
Corned beef hash
My favorite way of repurposing leftover corned beef is turning it into a breakfast hash.
It’s a quick and easy dish that you can make in on skillet.
And since corned beef is packed with flavor, you don’t need to do much to make the potatoes tasty.
This recipe goes with a blend of dried Italian herbs, cayenne pepper, and smoked paprika, but feel free to choose your favorite spice blend!
Why we love this recipe: this will energize you for the day.
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Corned beef hash
Make it decadent
Corned beef cottage pie
Make it crispy
Corned beef fritters
Soft-scrambled eggs
Ever wondered how brunch restaurants achieve those fluffy, gooey scrambled eggs?
I’m going to let you in on the secret (and it’s not adding cream!). Just cook the eggs on a very low heat and stir them gently for about two minutes.
Pair these scrambled eggs with a slice of toast and a serving of sauerkraut for a balanced breakfast.
Why we love this recipe: you’ll have a restaurant-worthy brunch without the luxurious price tag.
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Soft scrambled eggs
Make it fancy
Poached eggs
Make it heartier
Egg salad sandwich
Main dishes
Sauerkraut is a quick and easy addition to level up your favorite main dishes.
Use it as a condiment for your hotdogs and pizzas or enjoy it as a palate cleanser for fatty dishes like roast beef and porchetta. Psst… here’s the best way to reheat roast beef.
Wiener schnitzel
This classic Austrian dish is one of my go-to recipes for veal.
It’s super easy to make, and the fine breadcrumb coating gives it a satisfying crunch.
The schnitzel is typically served with potato salad and lingonberry jam, but it also pairs well with tangy sauerkraut!
Pro tip: use clarified butter when you’re frying to give the schnitzel a richer flavor.
Why we love this recipe: it’s kid-friendly.
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Wiener schnitzel
Make it saucy
Veal marsala
Make it hearty
Veal goulash
Butter burger
This burger is a must-have for cheat days.
True to its name, everything – from the buns to the patties and onions – is cooked in copious amounts of butter.
Sounds divine, right?
But very rich. Sauerkraut is exactly what you need to balance out all the butter and add a touch of freshness.
Why we love this recipe: it’s indulgent, but absolutely delicious.
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Butter burger
Stick with the classics
Smash burgers
Ditch the meat
Mushroom burgers
Beer brats with beer cheese sauce
Hotdogs are great, but these beer brats are on another level.
Not only are brats naturally more flavorful than traditional hot dogs, but cooking them in beer and onions adds even more oomph.
And they’re topped with a luscious beer cheese sauce that’ll have you licking your fingers.
All you need is some sauerkraut to complete the meal.
Why we love this recipe: these are guaranteed crowd-favorites.
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Beer brats with beer cheese sauce
Fire up the oven
Puff pastry beer brats
Skip the buns
Sheet pan bratwurst and veggies
Spicy sausage pizza
If you’ve never tried topping pizza with sauerkraut, you’re missing out.
Especially if it’s this Italian sausage pizza.
Not only does the sauerkraut bring a hint of crunch, but it also adds the right amount of tang to cut through the greasiness of the sausage and cheese.
Why we love this recipe: it’s better than a takeout pizza.
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Spicy sausage pizza
Make a favorite
Homemade pepperoni pizza
Make it meatless
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Salt and pepper pork belly
Need a show-stopping dish? You can’t go wrong with this golden roasted pork belly.
It’s juicy and oh-so-tender, but what makes this dish stand out is its crunchy pork crackling.
The trick to achieving this is to ensure the pork’s skin is dry before roasting.
Enjoy a slice (or two) with sauerkraut to offset the fattiness for a well-balanced bite.
Why we love this recipe: everyone will be drooling over that crackling.
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Salt and pepper pork belly
Make it different
Pork tenderloin roast
Skip the oven
Honey sriracha pork chops
Blackened fish tacos
I love tacos of every kind, but these blackened fish tacos are my go-to.
They’re lighter than the usual beefy variety, and the blackened seasoning adds a delightful heat.
Plus, they’re topped with an avocado and cilantro tartar sauce that makes them oh-so-refreshing.
Foodie Crush uses freshly shredded cabbage to add crunch, but I prefer sauerkraut for its added tangy hit.
Why we love this recipe: they’re picture-perfect!
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Blackened fish tacos
Skip the seafood
Carne asada tacos
Make it meat-free
Cauliflower tacos
Comfort food
Comfort food is indulgent, so a condiment like sauerkraut will prevent it from getting too overwhelming.
It may sound odd, but you have to try mixing sauerkraut with something cheesy, like mac and cheese or quesadillas.
Mashed potatoes studded with sauerkraut is also heavenly.
Potato and cheese pierogi
Got some leftover mashed potatoes? Transform them into these classic Eastern European pierogies!
These tasty morsels are first boiled and then pan-fried, which helps create delightfully golden crusts.
Not a fan of potato and cheese? Try other filling combos like ham and cheese or ground beef and onions.
Enjoy these pierogies with sauteed mushrooms and sauerkraut for a complete meal.
Why we love this recipe: you can make a big batch and freeze the rest.
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Potato and cheese pierogi
Go Italian
Mushroom pierogi
Make it German
Bread dumplings
Sesame miso ramen
Traditional ramen takes hours to make, but this recipe uses the instant pot to reduce cooking time to 30 minutes.
It’s not authentic, but it still boasts a rich, creamy broth brimming with umami goodness – thanks to the combination of tahini and miso paste.
This recipe includes a crispy mushroom topping, but I also like adding sauerkraut for a sour surprise.
Why we love this recipe: it’s pure comfort in a bowl.
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Sesame miso ramen
Make it authentic
Tonkotsu ramen
Go Thai
Red curry ramen
Cheese quesadillas
Cheesy quesadillas are probably the easiest comfort food you can make.
You’re good to go as long as you have tortillas, a block of good-melting cheese, and butter!
But why not take it up a notch and add a scoop of sauerkraut too?
It’s not traditional, but it’ll add a zesty surprise that’ll make your taste buds tingle.
Why we love this recipe: it’s impossible to mess up.
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Cheese quesadillas
Make it dairy-free
Vegan cheese quesadillas
Skip the tortillas
Grilled cheese sandwich
Egg fried rice
Egg fried rice is one of the easiest Chinese takeout dishes to replicate in your kitchen.
All the ingredients are basic pantry staples, and you can add in any veggies or proteins you want. Anything goes (even pineapple).
Day-old rice is best, but you can also use freshly cooked rice that has cooled down in a pinch.
Add a spoonful of crunchy sauerkraut on the side and you’re good to go.
Why we love this recipe: it’s even better than the takeout version.
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Egg fried rice
Make it fun
Omurice
Make it low-carb
Cauliflower fried rice
Loaded mashed potato casserole
This mash recipe uses butter, cheese, and sour cream meaning it’s super creamy and decadent.
And the cherry on top of this fabulous casserole is the bacon bits that add crisp, savory goodness to every bite.
This casserole is superb on its own, but it’s even better with well-fermented sauerkraut to cut through all the richness.
Why we love this recipe: everyone will be clamoring for seconds.
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Loaded mashed potato casserole
Make it crispy
Czech potato pancakes
Keep it simple
Roasted garlic butter parmesan potatoes
Three-cheese mac and cheese
This mac and cheese boasts an extra rich, creamy sauce made with bechamel and three kinds of cheese.
And if that’s enough, everything is topped with a buttery panko and cheese mixture that crisps up nicely in the oven.
This mac and cheese is excellent as is, but I like adding sauerkraut on the side for a palate cleanser.
Why we love this recipe: it’s comfort food at its finest.
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Three-cheese mac and cheese
Skip the oven
Stovetop mac and cheese
Make it low-carb
Cauliflower cheese
Dishes that incorporate sauerkraut
Sauerkraut isn’t just a condiment, it’s a popular ingredient in many dishes across several cuisines too.
A Polish hunter stew called bigos is one of the most common dishes that use sauerkraut.
And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can try it in a dessert!
Polish hunter’s stew
This isn’t technically a side dish, but it’s one of my favorite ways to use sauerkraut.
It’s a satisfying stew that you can packed all kinds of meat. This recipe goes with pork stew meat, kielbasa, and bacon.
The sauerkraut brings a zesty bite to counter the smokiness from the meat products, while a blend of spices gives the soup a complex flavor.
Why we love this recipe: it’s even tastier the next day.
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Polish hunter stew (bigos)
Go Polish
Sauerkraut soup (kapusniak)
Make it different
Polish braised cabbage
Arugula salad
You might think adding sauerkraut to this arugula salad won’t work, but don’t count it out until you’ve tried it.
The arugula’s pepperiness is a tasty contrast to the salty-sour sauerkraut.
Plus, that splash of lemon juice adds a bright flavor to tie everything together.
And the best part? The sauerkraut makes this salad even healthier, thanks to its natural probiotics.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a versatile side salad.
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Arugula salad with parmesan, lemon, and olive oil
Add starch
Orzo arugula salad
Skip the arugula
Massaged kale salad
Reuben sandwich
One of the most iconic dishes often associated with sauerkraut is a classic Reuben sandwich.
The tangy condiment provides a nice balance for the flavorful corned beef and the luscious Swedish cheese.
You can enjoy the sandwich hot or cold, but I love them fresh off the panini press – after all, who can say no to melty cheese?
Why we love this recipe: it’s better than what you’d get from delis.
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Reuben sandwich
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Hot reuben dip
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Rachel sandwich
Sauerkraut chocolate cake
Before you scroll away, hear me out – sauerkraut in desserts may be odd, but it works really well.
The sour and salty notes of sauerkraut enhance the chocolatey flavor of this cake without turning it too sickly.
And the cake is extra moist and spongy.
Psst… you can’t even taste the sauerkraut. Win-win!
Why we love this recipe: no one will guess the secret ingredient unless you tell them.
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Sauerkraut chocolate cake
Make it Oktoberfest-inspired
Beer and sauerkraut fudge cupcakes
Another classic treat
Special brownies
Pork sauerkraut
Want to stick with more traditional sauerkraut dishes? Go with this classic pork and sauerkraut combo.
Fountain Avenue Kitchen uses sweet apples and sauerkraut to infuse the pork with a sweet-sour kick.
They also add kielbasa to the mix for an added savory element.
Enjoy this show-stopping dish over a bed of creamy mashed potatoes for a satisfying meal.
Why we love this recipe: it’s great for special occasions but easy enough to make for regular weekday dinners.
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Pork and sauerkraut
Fire up the oven
Country-style ribs with sauerkraut
Skip the pork
Kielbasa and sauerkraut
The best side dishes for sauerkraut
- Avocado toast
- Corned beef hash
- Soft-scrambled eggs
- Wiener schnitzel
- Butter burger
- Beer brats with beer cheese sauce
- Spicy sausage pizza
- Salt and pepper pork belly
- Blackened fish tacos
- Potato and cheese pierogi
- Sesame miso ramen
- Egg fried rice
- Loaded mashed potato casserole
- Three-cheese mac and cheese
- Cheese quesadillas
- Polish hunter’s stew
- Arugula salad
- Reuben sandwich
- Sauerkraut chocolate cake
- Pork and sauerkraut
What To Serve With Sauerkraut – Avocado toast
Ingredients
- 1 large avocado, or 2 small ones
- 4 slices whole wheat bread
- sea salt
- ground black pepper
Instructions
- Toast the bread slices. While waiting, slice the avocado in half and scoop out the flesh into a bowl.
- Mash the avocado to your desired consistency and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Generously spread the avocado mixture over the toasted bread slices. Add more black pepper if needed.
- Top with your sauerkraut and serve immediately.
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