We're not blowing up the kitchen with spices this time, but there's still plenty of flavor in this soup! Bratwurst and sauerkraut, lots of vegetables, dill weed, and pepper. It's just that simple!
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This is a Hearty, Filling Soup with Lots of Flavor!
If you've been following our recipes, you know we use a lot of spices. But it's really all about flavor, and sometimes you don't always need a complex spice mix to achieve that. Sausage and sauerkraut are natural partners, and you only need a few seasonings... dill, pepper, and vinegar... to make this delicious soup.
Ingredients You'll Need
My go-to sausage is kielbasa, but I wanted something different this time so I went with bratwurst. It has a milder flavor, and complimented the sauerkraut nicely.
The recipe calls for a half teaspoon each of black pepper and white pepper. That may sound like a lot but it doesn't really shout out in this soup, it just adds a little background heat.
- sausage
- sauerkraut
- potato
- carrots
- celery
- mushrooms
- chicken broth
- cream of mushroom soup
- apple cider vinegar
- dill weed
- black pepper
- white pepper
- bacon
- sour cream
Frequently Asked Questions
I can use other kinds of sausage, right?
Yes, you can use any type of sausage you have. This origin of this type of soup is likely Central European (Germany, Poland). I'm not sure how well this would work with spicy Latin sausage, like chorizo, or Middle Eastern, like merguez. If you feel adventurous, try it and let us know how it goes!
Why do you always use apple cider vinegar?
We like apple cider vinegar because it has a deeper flavor than white vinegar, isn't quite as acid as white vinegar, and has a lot of health benefits.
If you're buying apple cider vinegar, be sure to look at the bottom of the bottle to see if there's sediment there. That's a good thing! It's called the "mother", and it contains a lot of nutrients. When you're measuring it out, shake the bottle to mix the mother into the vinegar.
Note: Apple cider and apple cider vinegar are not interchangeable, especially in sweet dishes!
Slow Cooker Soup is Easy to Make!
After you do the prep work, this soup is really easy. Start it in the afternoon to have it ready for dinner! Here are the sliced vegetables: potato, carrots, celery, and mushrooms.
Sauerkraut and sliced bratwurst. You're almost done!
The supporting cast: chicken broth, cream of mushroom soup, spices (dill, black pepper, and white pepper), and apple cider vinegar.
I couldn't find condensed cream of mushroom soup at the store! Supply chain problems are everywhere. I got Progresso mushroom soup, but it's ready-to-serve. The soup wasn't as thick as usual, but it was still delicious!
Mix everything except the garnishes in the slow cooker, and set it to high for 6 hours.
Soup's on! It's ready to serve.
Garnish with sour cream and bacon if you like. (The bacon is really essential, in my opinion!)
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📖 Recipe Card
Slow Cooker Sausage and Sauerkraut Soup
Special Equipment Needed
- 6-quart slow cooker
Ingredients
- 1 pound bratwurst cut into ½ inch slices
- 32 ounces sauerkraut rinsed and well drained
- 1 medium russet potato cut into ½ inch cubes
- 2 medium carrots sliced
- 2 ribs celery sliced
- ½ pound fresh mushrooms sliced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup undiluted
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons dill weed
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon white pepper
Garnishes
- 4 strips bacon cooked and crumbled
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients except the garnishes to a 6-quart slow cooker and mix well.1 medium russet potato, 1 pound bratwurst, 32 ounces sauerkraut, 4 cups chicken broth, 1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup, ½ pound fresh mushrooms, 2 medium carrots, 2 ribs celery, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 2 teaspoons dill weed, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon white pepper
- Cover and cook on high for 6 hours.
- Serve garnished with chopped bacon and sour cream.4 strips bacon, Sour cream
Nutrition Estimate
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Elaine says
Wonderful combination of flavors! Easy to make in the slow cooker, and a meal in itself. Perfect for a Sunday supper!
Kurt says
I'm an appliance junkie, and with our multi-function pressure cooker, air fryer, Ninja grill, and Vitamix blender, I tend to forget about the lowly slow cooker and microwave. I'll make sure to feature them more. I have some pretty good casserole recipes made in the microwave. (Yes, a microwave can do more than reheat leftovers and make popcorn!)