Sluggish Cooker Pork and Sauerkraut

For those who’re searching for a easy however deeply flavorful vacation meal, Pork and Sauerkraut within the sluggish cooker is the reply. That is a kind of recipes that’s excellent for particular events due to how superb the outcomes are with minimal effort.

This 6-Level fundamental is straightforward and hands-free, but the feel is so divine. We make some wholesome swaps to maintain factors down and the components are easy and accessible. It’s certainly one of our favourite Weight Watchers dinner recipes!

Why must you attempt Pork and Sauerkraut within the Sluggish Cooker?

• Simple Prep, Arms-Free Cooking: The very best of this Pork and Sauerkraut recipe is its simplicity. When you’ve layered the components in your sluggish cooker, it’s hands-off for six to eight hours, leaving you free to deal with different vacation duties. This recipe shines at Thanksgiving or Christmas, particularly because it’s adaptable for a bigger pork roast or a number of smaller pork loins. Whereas this cooks, you’ll be able to prep sides or adorn for visitors, making it an important stress-free fundamental course.
• Excellent Sluggish-Cooked Texture: Cooking pork within the sluggish cooker retains it juicy and tender with out drying it out. The low-and-slow technique caramelizes the pork’s exterior for a roasted, golden end whereas retaining the within juicy. That wealthy taste and texture give this dish a particular high quality, as if you happen to’d slow-roasted it within the oven for hours.
• Weight Watchers Pleasant: Whereas pork does have a couple of extra Weight Watchers factors than, say, hen breast, it’s undoubtedly a worthwhile deal with, and a small portion is barely round 5 factors. This recipe is right for vacation meals if you’re searching for one thing hearty, filling, and a bit extra particular.
• Basic Vacation Taste: Pork and sauerkraut is a traditional consolation dish that’s particularly in style throughout the colder months.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Prepare dinner Time: 6-8 hours on low

Servings: 6

Serving Dimension: About 1 1/2 cups (roughly 300 g)

6 WW Factors Per Serving. You may view the recipe on the WW App right here. (WW login required.) 

Elements

• 1 1/2 kilos pork loin (about 680 g)
• 2 cups yellow apple, peeled, cored, and sliced (about 2 massive apples or 300 g)
• 1 cup apple juice (240 ml)
• 4 cups sauerkraut, drained (450 g)
• 2 envelopes Splenda (or your most well-liked sweetener)
• 2 tablespoons vinegar (30 ml)
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper, to style

Directions

1. Put together the Pork: Start by trimming any extra fats from the pork loin, as it will assist hold the ultimate dish lean and scale back any undesirable greasiness. Season the pork generously with salt and pepper on all sides, urgent the seasonings in to make sure the flavour penetrates the meat throughout cooking.
2. Layer the Sauerkraut: Within the backside of your sluggish cooker, add the drained sauerkraut, spreading it out evenly to create a mattress for the pork. 
3. Add Apple and Sweetener: Prepare the apple slices on high of the sauerkraut. Sprinkle the Splenda evenly over the apples to barely offset the sauerkraut’s acidity, balancing candy and tangy.
4. Add the Pork and Seasonings: Place the seasoned pork loin on high of the sauerkraut and apples. Nestle the bay leaves across the pork for a light-weight natural notice, then sprinkle the thyme over all the things. 
5. Pour in Apple Juice and Vinegar: Pour the apple juice and vinegar over the pork. Combine gently with a spoon, although the juices will mix naturally throughout cooking.
6. Set the Sluggish Cooker: Cowl the sluggish cooker with its lid, set it to low, and let all the things cook dinner for 6-8 hours.
7. Last Touches and Serving: As soon as the pork has cooked totally (you must be capable to simply shred it with a fork), verify the seasoning and modify if wanted. Take away the bay leaves earlier than serving.
8. Serve and Take pleasure in: Slice or shred the pork as desired, and serve alongside the sauerkraut and apple combination.

Variations and Substitutions for Pork and Sauerkraut

• Selecting Your Pork Lower: Pork tenderloin or trimmed pork loin are splendid right here, as they’re lean and cook dinner evenly. If you’d like one thing extra strong, a boneless pork shoulder may also work nicely. For a lower-point possibility, you should definitely trim any seen fats.
• Fruits and Juices: Apple is a traditional pairing with sauerkraut, however you’ll be able to combine it up through the use of peach slices with peach juice. Or, if you happen to like a citrusy kick, oranges and recent orange juice add an acidic notice that pairs nicely with the tang of sauerkraut.
• Spice It Up: This recipe is flexible with spices. Rosemary, thyme, or herbes de Provence add a aromatic contact that enhances the pork’s pure flavors. You may as well add a sprinkle of smoked paprika for a refined smoky notice or perhaps a pinch of crushed crimson pepper for warmth in case your visitors get pleasure from a bit spice.

Suggestions and Methods for making Pork and Sauerkraut within the Sluggish Cooker

• Trim the Fats: Step one is to take away as a lot seen fats from the pork as potential. This retains the dish gentle.
• Season Generously: Don’t skimp on salt and spices—pork advantages from a beneficiant dose of seasoning, because it permits the flavors to penetrate absolutely throughout the sluggish cooking course of. The sauerkraut additionally mellows out because it cooks, so be at liberty so as to add extra spices than you may sometimes use.
• Use recent components when potential: Recent apples and pure, unsweetened apple juice add a greater taste than their processed counterparts. If recent juice isn’t accessible, make sure that any canned or bottled alternate options are free from added sugars.
• Layer thoughtfully: Begin with a beneficiant layer of sauerkraut on the backside of the sluggish cooker; this creates a basis that enables the pork to cook dinner evenly. Place the pork on high and pour the apple juice over all the things to let the liquid steam up by the pork, including taste all through.
• Low and sluggish: Sluggish cooking for at the least 6 hours brings out the most effective taste and texture. You may even cook dinner on low for as much as 8 hours if you happen to’re utilizing a bigger reduce of pork or choose a melt-in-your-mouth texture.