Slow Cooker Ribs and Sauerkraut
68 Comments Aug 17, 2021
Updated Jun 22, 2025
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When the cooler weather hits, there’s nothing like a hearty meal to warm you up. This slow cooker recipe for ribs and sauerkraut will do just that!
Recipe Highlights
- Great one-pot dish—no extra sides needed!
- Prep it in the morning, set up the crockpot, then enjoy a great meal during football.
- Perfect for fans of German-inspired comfort food.
- Easy to make ahead and let the slow cooker do the work.
Key Ingredients
- Baby back ribs – Cut and broiled for extra flavor
- Red potatoes – Sliced thick for a hearty base
- White onion & garlic – Adds depth and aroma
- Dried thyme, salt, pepper – Simple seasoning blend
- Sauerkraut – Rinsed and layered for a tangy bite
- Chicken broth – For rich, savory cooking liquid
How to make sauerkraut and ribs in the slow cooker
- Give those ribs a quick broil to get them nice and golden.
- Layer everything in the slow cooker—potatoes, onion, garlic, sauerkraut, and seasoning.
- Pour in your broth or crack open a beer and let it ride.
- Set it, forget it, then come back to tender, tangy, rib-loaded goodness.
Do you drain bagged sauerkraut before cooking?
I like to drain and rinse my sauerkraut, as I prefer a less intense sour flavor in this recipe. If you’re a die-hard sauerkraut fan, don’t rinse it; instead, add a half cup of the juices to the slow cooker.
Tips & Variations
Other ribs: You can substitute the baby back ribs for any pork ribs, such as spareribs, country-style ribs, and other types! If beef is more your style, then try using beef short ribs instead.
Peels: You can peel the potatoes if desired, I like to keep the peel on for it does keep the potatoes from falling apart as much.
Liquid Swap: Instead of adding chicken broth you can do beer, white wine or even water if you don’t have any of those.
Searing: If you want to save time you don’t have to sear under the broiler, you can skip it or you can brown in an oiled skillet.
Featured Comment
“Delicious! I used country ribs and they came out extra tender and wonderful! Next time I won’t rinse my sauerkraut, we like the sourness. Overall, a keeper!”
– Kate
Another one pot meal that will hit the spot like this one is Slow Cooker Cornish Game Hens, or Kielbasa and Sauerkraut recipes.
Slow Cooker Ribs Sauerkraut Recipe
How to Video
Ingredients
- 1 rack pork baby back ribs
- 1 white onion, sliced
- 2 Tbsp. cooking oil
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1 tsp. dried thyme
- 3 garlic cloves
- 2 lbs. sliced red potatoes, about 3/4 inch thick
- 16 oz. sauerkraut, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup chicken broth, (or your favorite beer!)
Instructions
- Remove the membrane off the back of the ribs by sticking a finger under it in the middle of the ribs, lift up and pull. It may not come off in one piece. You can see how I remove this in the video.
- Preheat the oven to Broil.
- Cut the ribs into single rib pieces. Place the cut onion onto a baking sheet. Add the ribs on top of the onion. Drizzle over the oil. Sprinkle over the salt, pepper and thyme over the ribs. Add the garlic cloves.
- Place the baking sheet into the oven under the broiler. Leave in the oven until the ribs are slightly browned. Mine took about 10 minutes. Keep an eye on them so they don’t burn.
- Add the sliced potatoes to the slow cooker. Add the contents of the baking sheet on top of the potatoes. Drain and rinse the sauerkraut if desired. Add the sauerkraut on top of everything.
- Pour over the chicken broth.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 5 hours or for 7-8 on low. You will know your recipe is done when your ribs are fork-tender and the potatoes are no longer hard.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More Slow Cooker Ribs:
Slow Cooker Beef Ribs and Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs are rich, tender, and perfect for a hearty, hands-off dinner.
For a classic barbecue favorite, Crockpot Ribs and Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs are easy to prepare and full of bold, smoky flavor.
If you’re craving something with a kick, Buffalo Style Ribs bring the heat, while Dr. Pepper Ribs add a sweet and tangy twist that’s always a hit.
This just screams for apples too. When would you add sliced/quartered apples that keep their shape & not turn to applesauce?
I would add the last hour and a half.
I dislike sauerkraut. May I use cabbage instead
yes. I like cabbage as well..
Rinse and drain the saurkraut????? You realize this takes the sour out of the kraut right? Pffft. Next recipe.
It’s still plenty sour. You don’t have to rinse yours!
What veggies can I substitute? One family member hates potatoes, another doesn’t like carrots & nobody likes sauerkraut. It’s ridiculous, I know.
What would you recommend substituting for?
Thanks!
Hi! I’m unsure? I would cook it as is, and they can pick out what they want?
What do you mean what can I substitute? This is a sauerkraut and ribs recipe. Then don’ t make this, if your family doesn’t like the ingredients. Choose something else to make.
ROTFLMFAO
Right? Common sense is dead.
lol! I’d recommend finding another recipe.
why make it if u know no one will eat it
Looks like slow braised with sides of sour crust, etc in a different pot or you will be eating the whole pot
HAVE MADE THIS BEFORE WITH PORK CHOP’S VERY VERY GOOD
We always made sauerkraut and spareribs, but we moved and our local stores only care big huge hunks of spareribs. Was so glad to find your recipe as I wanted to make this dish with baby back ribs. Thank you for an easy down-to-earth recipe for obe of our fav meals.
The first time I made this was for a family gathering. I borrowed a slow cooker, and it was delicious. The sauerkraut I used was not the “pickled in vinegar” variety. I found naturally fermented SK in the refrigerated section, in bags. The flavor and crispness are wonderful, and the “Best By” date was 7 months out.
Can I use beef ribs
Yes, that will work fine.
2nd time doing this recipe. First time I used the kraut undrained. It was more liquidy than I thought it would be but Oh sooo good! This time I srained the liquid but no rinse. I remember the delish meals my mom made w/ kraut and spare ribs. Dad was Polish so I grew up on this.
try adding a few slices of apple and some baby carrots. country style pork ribs work good too.