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–+ servings
Cooked bratwurst sausages arranged in a skillet with sliced apples, onions, julienned root vegetables, and tangy sauerkraut, garnished with chopped herbs.

Bratwurst and Sauerkraut with Apples & Onion (my mom's recipe)

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Bratwurst browned in butter, then braised with sauerkraut and apple juice until the kraut softens and mellows. Sliced apples go in for the last five minutes so they hold their shape, and it all lands on creamy mashed potatoes.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 8 bratwurst sausages
  • 1 cup apple juice
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 3 cups sauerkraut, drained
  • 1 medium apple, sliced
  • Minced parsley, to serve

Mashed Potatoes

Instructions 

  • Start by making the mashed potatoes. Place the diced potatoes in a medium pot and cover them with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 10-15 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water and then drain the pot. Add the butter, cream, salt, and pepper, then mash the potatoes. Slowly stir in some of the reserved cooking water until the potatoes are wonderfully creamy.
    1 lb potatoes, ¾ teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper, 2 tablespoons butter, ¼ cup whipping cream
    A pot of mashed potatoes with black pepper, stirred by a wooden spoon, sits on a white surface—perfectly paired with savory bratwurst and sauerkraut for a comforting meal.
  • While the potatoes are boiling, make the bratwurst. Melt the butter in a large, non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add the bratwurst and cook until brown on both sides, about 10 minutes. Remove them from the pan.
    1 tablespoon butter, 8 bratwurst sausages
    Nine browned bratwurst sausages cooking in a black skillet on a white marble surface, perfect for serving alongside tangy sauerkraut.
  • Add the onion and cook until soft and golden, about 5 minutes, then add the sauerkraut and mix well. Add the bratwurst to the pan, then pour the apple juice over the top. Cover the pan, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook for 20 minutes, until the bratwurst reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
    1 large onion, 3 cups sauerkraut, 1 cup apple juice
    A skillet filled with browned bratwurst arranged on top of a bed of cooked sauerkraut, viewed from above.
  • Nestle the apple slices around the bratwurst and cook, uncovered, for 5 more minutes. Serve the bratwurst and sauerkraut over the mashed potatoes with a little minced parsley for color.
    1 medium apple, Minced parsley
    Round black pan filled with cooked bratwurst and sauerkraut, sliced apples, next to a bowl of chopped herbs and a bowl of mashed potatoes with a napkin on the side.
Serving: 1 serving = ¼ of the recipe, Calories: 671kcal, Carbohydrates: 53g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 42g, Saturated Fat: 15g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 20g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 105mg, Sodium: 2296mg, Potassium: 1355mg, Fiber: 8g, Sugar: 22g, Vitamin A: 143IU, Vitamin C: 44mg, Calcium: 106mg, Iron: 3mg