This hearty, nourishing sauerkraut casserole with chicken and potatoes is packed full of flavour and nutritious ingredients. It's super simple to make and requires very little effort.
This sauerkraut casserole is the perfect Oktoberfest dish, rainy day dish, and a one-pot healthy comfort food dish that's ideal for sharing. It's filling, tastes delicious the next day too and takes minutes to assemble. It requires few ingredients and most of the cooking takes place in the oven so all you have to do is give it a stir every once in a while.
This sauerkraut casserole with chicken isn't a Polish recipe though it is loosely based on traditional Polish bigos sauerkraut stew.
Is sauerkraut healthy
Yes, it is! Sauerkraut is not only delicious, but also healthy.
Sauerkraut contains beneficial probiotics (important for good digestive health), is a source of fibre, vitamins and minerals. It is also naturally low in calories.
It contains, however, a lot of salt. This in itself is not a great thing but you can also use it to your advantage. You simply won't need to add much salt to your chicken sauerkraut recipe!
Sauerkraut casserole ingredients
- Sauerkraut. See below for more details.
- I used skinless chicken thighs but you can use drumsticks or chicken legs if you prefer. I do not recommend using chicken breast as it just becomes dry and stringy if cooked for too long. Dark meat is best.
- I used a handful of simple vegetables including onion, carrot and potatoes to offset the sourness and to add more substance to this dish.
- Porcini mushrooms add more depth of flavour.
- Prunes go extremely well with sauerkraut adding a hint of sweetness.
- I also used a little white wine, allspice berries, one bay leaf and caraway seeds for more flavour.
Top tip
You can replace the water with chicken or vegetable stock (and omit adding the salt).
How to buy sauerkraut
When you shop for sauerkraut try to look for yellow and greenish rather than grey coloured sauerkraut, preferably made without any additives. Polish delicatessens usually sell good quality sauerkraut.
Sometimes sauerkraut contains a little carrot which is added in for sweetness. It's absolutely fine to use that too.
How to prepare the sauerkraut
All you have to do is remove excess water from the sauerkraut (without making it completely dry) and chop it roughly to get rid of long strands. I do NOT recommend rinsing your sauerkraut as this will rinse away some of the flavour (along with the salt) and the dish may be a little bland.
Step-by-step recipe instructions
Once you've prepared all the ingredients putting the casserole together is a quick process (it takes about 10 minutes).
1.Preheat the oven to 170 C. Start by heating up some oil and frying the onion, garlic, caraway seeds, bay leaf and allspice for 2-3 minutes.
2. Move the onion mixture to the sides and add the chicken. Fry for 3 minutes on each side.
3. Add the sauerkraut, prunes and porcini, stir and continue cooking for 2-3 more minutes.
4. Add the rest of the ingredients, give a stir, cover and place on the bottom oven shelf. Bake for 2.5 hours. Stir twice during cooking.
5. Remove the chicken from the pot, put on a plate and separate the meat from the bone. Put the chicken back in the pot, stir and serve!
Serving suggestions
Sauerkraut chicken casserole tastes delicious on its own, but you can also enjoy it with crusty bread, pumpernickel or rye bread.
Top tips and FAQs
- I used chicken thighs but you can use chicken quarters or drumsticks if you prefer. I do not recommend using chicken breast.
- I recommend using low-starch potatoes (what you would normally use for salads), such as Charlotte, baby potatoes or Red Bliss, as they hold their shape well in cooking.
- You don't need to add much salt into the casserole (sauerkraut is salty) but be generous with the pepper.
- I recommend buying sauerkraut in a Polish delicatessen. Look for yellow and greenish rather than grey looking sauerkraut.
- This sauerkraut casserole tastes even better the next day. Keep refrigerated for up to 4 days.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
What else can you do with sauerkraut
A while ago I posted a vegetarian version of the popular Polish sauerkraut soup, a delicious low fat comfort food recipe. (Anything with sauerkraut in it can be classed as comfort food really). See also my zesty Polish sauerkraut salad with carrot and apple. You might also like Polish sauerkraut pierogi, a traditional Christmas Eve dish, as well as sauerkraut cabbage rolls.
Don't forget to check out my tips on how to cook sauerkraut!
You might also like
- Sausage and Bean Casserole with Spinach
- Chicken and Butternut Squash Casserole
- Leftover Chicken Potato Bake (Healthy)
- Chicken Potato Winter Stew
Check out also this collection of healthy, easy chicken recipes!
Keep in touch!
How has your chicken sauerkraut casserole turned out for you? Let me know in the comments below, thanks!
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for regular recipe updates! Or you could subscribe to this blog and receive all my latest recipes right into your mailbox!
Sauerkraut Casserole with Chicken
Equipment
- Medium size casserole dish suitable for all heat sources.
Ingredients
- 300 g (10.58 oz) sauerkraut chopped
- 4-5 chicken thighs skinless
- 1 large carrot peeled, diced
- 6 small/medium potatoes peeled, cubed
- 6 prunes deseeded, halved
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 4 porcini mushrooms rinsed thoroughly
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 tbsp white wine
- 240 millilitres (1 cup) water
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 allspice berries
- ½ tsp caraway seeds
- 1 tsp coarse sea salt or to taste, plus pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F/ 180 C/ gas mark 4. You will need a deep casserole dish with a lid.
- Heat up the oil in the casserole dish, add the bay leaf, allspice, caraway seeds, onion and garlic. Fry for a couple of minutes over a medium heat stirring often.
- Move the onion mixture to the sides, add the chicken and fry for 2-3 minutes on each side. Add the prunes, sauerkraut, mushrooms and stir thoroughly. Continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes.
- Add the carrot, potato, wine and water, salt and a generous amount of pepper and stir thoroughly. Cover and place on the bottom oven shelf and bake for 2.5 hours. Stir the stew 2-3 times throughout cooking.
- Remove the chicken from the pot and separate the meat from the bone. Put the chicken pieces back in the pot and stir. Serve with crusty bread or simply on its own.
Notes
- I used chicken thighs but you can use chicken quarters or drumsticks if you prefer. I do not recommend using chicken breast.
- I recommend using salad potatoes, such as Charlotte, baby potatoes or Red Bliss, as they hold their shape well in cooking.
- You don't need to add much salt into the casserole (sauerkraut is salty) but be generous with the pepper.
- You can replace the water with chicken or vegetable stock (and omit adding the salt).
- I recommend buying sauerkraut in a Polish delicatessen. Look for yellow and greenish rather than grey looking sauerkraut.
- This casserole tastes even better the next day. Keep refrigerated for up to 4 days.
- Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is automatically generated and should be considered as an estimate.
**A note about baking: If using a fan-assisted oven refer to your appliance's instructions and adjust the temperature accordingly.
hijackedbytwins
Arrrr this recipe has reminded me I have some homemade sauerkraut that needs checking on!!! Thank you. This recipe sounds delicious and one to try. Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Monika
Thank you! I am impressed you make your own sauerkraut, I once tried but found that it takes too long to make and I don't like waiting for food:)
Shinta
I've never cooked with sauerkraut before, which is a shame as its so popular here in Switzerland. I am definitely going to give your recipe a try... it does sounds delicious. I can imagine how the prunes would lend a lovely sweetness. Thank you for sharing at Fiesta Friday, Monika!
Monika
Thank you Shinta! Sauerkraut is not for every day but I get a craving for it every once in a while, especially when the weather gets colder.
Jhuls
This sounds like a lovely dish! Thanks for sharing, Monika and happy Fiesta Friday!
goatsandgreens
This looks lovely! I absolutely love sauerkraut in my mains! Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday!!!
Monika
Thank you! Happy FF:)