Instant Pot Pork And Sauerkraut Recipe

According to Wildbrine, it's a German tradition to pair pork with sauerkraut on New Year's, because it symbolizes good luck. During the 17th and 18th centuries, German immigrants introduced the tradition to the midwest, causing the dish to gain popularity in the United States, most notably in Ohio and Pennsylvania. But New Year's Eve certainly isn't the only time you can enjoy a scrumptious, hearty serving of pork and sauerkraut.

Recipe developer Jamie Monkkonen, who shares gluten-free recipes on Vibrantly g-Free, took this traditional dish to a whole new level by incorporating her handy dandy Instant Pot. Monkkonen shares that her favorite part of the dish is the fact that it's super comforting, and we love a good, cozy meal! "It's like the pork equivalent of chicken noodle soup. The first time I had pork with sauerkraut and apples, it tasted familiar, like I'd had it a thousand times before," she shares. "I think that's because it fits the 'classic comfort foods' category so well." And who doesn't enjoy adding another dish to their weekly meal rotation that warms the soul?

Keep scrolling for more details on how to whip up this super easy Instant Pot dish, which only requires a few minutes of prep time.

You won't need a lot of items in order to prepare this tasty dish, and you may already have several of them in the pantry. First up, you will need a few pounds of pork loin. (You will rinse this and pat it try before cutting it into 2 to 3-inch thick pieces.) You'll also need 16 ounces of sauerkraut (drained), a medium yellow onion, and a medium apple (peeled and chopped). To complete the list of ingredients, you will need salt, black pepper, five cloves of garlic, and a cup of vegetable broth. That's it! Once you have your ingredients gathered, it's time to move onto the next step.

For this meal, you'll simply add everything to your trusty Instant Pot. First, fit the pork loin pieces along the bottom of the pot. Then, sprinkle salt and black pepper evenly across the segments. Next, you'll want to distribute the garlic halves (cut side down) as another layer. The above photo gives you a pretty good idea of what it should look like, and then you are well on your way to enjoying what could be a new favorite comfort dish the entire family will request time and time again.

Now, you'll want to continue the layering process. Evenly layer the sauerkraut, onion, and apple on top of the pork and garlic. Then, pour vegetable oil over the top. Close the lid, and set the Instant Pot to 45 minutes at high pressure. 

While you're waiting, there's nothing special you need to do, which is one of the major perks of using an Instant Pot — it does all of the hard work for you. A delicious, hearty meal really doesn't get much easier than that, right?

After the 45 minutes have passed, you'll want to allow the steam on the Instant Pot to release naturally for about 10 minutes. Then, you can use the manual steam release button. 

The ways you can serve this dish are truly endless. "My favorite way to enjoy this dish is to include the broth and serve it like a soup or stew in a bowl," Monkkonen says. "Then I like roasted potatoes and another roasted veggie like broccoli on the side." Now, you're ready to enjoy a fantastic meal with easy cleanup. Be sure to serve your pork and sauerkraut immediately, because it's best enjoyed when hot! Leftovers can be kept in the fridge for up to three days or stored in the freezer for three months.