Sausage Potato & Sauerkraut Skillet - Kielbasa, potatoes and Coca-ColaⓇ-infused sauerkraut creates a winning combination for a traditional and comforting skillet meal.
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This post has been sponsored by THE COCA-COLA COMPANY. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
To think that the holidays are just around the corner is unbelievable. With the holidays comes lots of planning and preparation - home decorating, family get-togethers, wish lists and classic meals we look forward to all year long.
Today I'm sharing one of my favorite meals to make around the holidays - this sausage potato & sauerkraut skillet. Sounds pretty Midwestern, doesn't it? Well, I guess it kind of is. My grandparents on my mom's side were Polish, and we ate lots of Kielbasa (Polish sausage) growing up. The sauerkraut is a German thing and has always been a staple in my family on both sides. The potatoes. . .well, that's just a given for a classic Midwestern dish.
But here's a little twist you maybe weren't expecting. . .I use Coca-ColaⓇ to infuse the sauerkraut with a rich tangy, sweet and unexpected flavor.
When I saw these huge 35 can packs at Sam's Club the other day, it made me think of this recipe. So, I snatched one of these big packs up, knowing that the rest of the cans would also be put to good use in the coming weeks.
Our family drinks Coca-ColaⓇ straight out of the can, we use it as a mixer for cocktails, and as I just mentioned, we cook with it, too. I've made marinades with it, used it in a slow cooker with roasts and have even baked with it. Today, though, it's all about the sauerkraut. And before we get started, here's a tip you're going to want to remember. . .don't forget to drain and rinse the kraut before you put it in the pan!
After adding the Coca-ColaⓇ, a little balsamic vinegar and brown sugar rounds out the flavor of the kraut. You just let it all simmer together for a good hour and then turn the heat up to let the remaining liquid cook down. Often I will make the sauerkraut the day before I make this skillet. I really believe that magical things happen when you set this in the fridge for 24 hours before you use it.
And for full disclosure, the amount of kraut I make is more than what's needed for the skillet recipe. I use about two cups for the skillet recipe and use the leftovers to top bratwurst, add to a pork roast or just eat on its own. It's a superfood, you know!
After the Coca-ColaⓇ cooks down, the sauerkraut will actually glisten. Pretty cool, right? Here's where we start putting everything together.
It's such a comforting flavor combination.
I'll be honest. I haven't always been a sauerkraut fan. I just actually started to really like it about a year ago. My parents always told me that my tastes would change as I got older, and they have. It's really true. Around this time of year, I find myself craving it.
This dish makes me think about my family. Who I am. How I was raised.
It's the perfect recipe to share with loved ones around the holidays. I also whip this up when I have some baked potatoes left over from dinner the night before. I just cut up the baked potatoes, salt and pepper them when they're in the pan and add the other ingredients. So simple. I hope you enjoy this dish as much as our family does.
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Sausage Potato & Sauerkraut Skillet
Ingredients
- For the Coca-ColaⓇ Sauerkraut
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup onion (chopped)
- 14 ounce can sauerkraut (drained and rinsed)
- 1 ½ tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 can (12 fluid ounces Coca-ColaⓇ)
- For the Skillet
- 6 baby red potatoes (cleaned and cubed)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 14 ounces Kielbasa sausage (sliced)
- 2 cups prepared Coca-ColaⓇ sauerkraut
Instructions
- For the Sauerkraut
- Melt the butter in a large skillet and saute onions until translucent.
- Stir in the sauerkraut, vinegar, brown sugar and Coca-ColaⓇ.
- Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour.
- Remove cover, increase to medium heat and allow the liquid to cook down for about 15 minutes.
- Set sauerkraut aside or refrigerate until ready to prepare skillet meal.
- For the Skillet
- In a large skillet, saute the potatoes in butter for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Salt and pepper potatoes.
- Add the sausage and sauerkraut.
- Cook uncovered over medium heat for 5-10 minutes or until heated through, stirring now and then.
Notes
- Properly Prepare the Sauerkraut: Take the time to properly cook and flavor the sauerkraut with ingredients like balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and Coca-Cola®. Allowing the sauerkraut to simmer for an hour helps to meld the flavors and soften its texture, resulting in a richer taste.
- Cook Potatoes Before Adding Other Ingredients: Sautéing the baby red potatoes separately ensures they develop a golden brown crust and cook through evenly. This step enhances their flavor and texture, adding a delicious contrast to the dish.
- Control the Heat: When cooking the skillet meal, maintain a medium heat level to prevent burning and ensure that the flavors meld together properly. Stir the ingredients occasionally to distribute the flavors evenly and prevent them from sticking to the skillet. Adjust the heat as needed to avoid overcooking or undercooking any component of the dish.
Teresa
OMG, This recipe was amazing, I'm 57 years old and have absolutely hated Sauerkraut my entire life... This recipe makes sauerkraut taste amazing, thank you. Now that I know it tastes good I will try it in other recipes. Again, thank you for sharing this great easy recipe.
Sara
Teresa, I'm so happy you loved it. I'm not a huge sauerkraut fan either, but I love it in this dish. It's also a necessary topping when we make brats here at home. So glad you enjoyed this recipe. Thanks so much for reaching out!
Robert
Okay so what's the amount of balsamic vinegar you put into it because you don't give us even a hint on what to put into it
Sara
Take a look at step #2 in the recipe. Add 1 1/2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar when you add the sauerkraut, brown sugar and Coke.
T. Cat
You can make a much healthier dish that is equally flavorful by substituting chicken broth for the Coca-Cola. Omit the sugar. Brown a whole onion till slightly golden. Add the sausage, omit the sale and pepper since they usually have plenty of salt in them and so does the kraut. In a separate pan heat the kraut with 1/2 cup of chicken broth. Cook the saur kraut for about 15 minutes. Add it to the onion and sausage mixture. Then saute some potatoes until soft and brown. Mix with the other ingredients and let it cook for about 10 minutes to let the flavors meld. You can also add some thickly sliced red or green cabbage that you cook with the potatoes. --This is how I made this.
This dish is not sweet. You can add some garlic to the onion, if you wish. I also recommend using a more plain sausage such as bratwurst so there is less competition with the kraut.
Sara
Your substitutions sound delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Diana J Meyer
I would emit the coke and use molasses. Much healthier.
Pat DeLang
Wow! Sugar, sugar and more sugar! Not to mention the HFCS. Think I'll just skip the addendums; sausage, potatoes and sauerkraut with maybe some garlic powder and parsley sounds real good, though.
Sara
Sometimes you need to adapt recipes to your needs and liking. Whichever way you try it, I hope you enjoy!
Anonymous
I'm making this tonight!!! I didn't have any coke so I substituted it with rootbeer. I'll let you know ho it comes out!! The house Smells Sooo Good!!!
Sara
Yes! Let me know how it turns out!