Easy CrockPot Neck Bone Soup with Sauerkraut
This easy crockpot neck bone soup with sauerkraut recipe is a dish that has those classic flavor combinations of pork and sauerkraut, it’s filling and with a bit o’ prep, super easy to make.
And you know what’s even better? This delicious pork recipe helps to cut down on your food budget.
The ingredients are usually easy to find, and the recipe is versatile, so you can stretch your food dollars a lot farther than normal without sacrificing flavor.
Easy Crock Pot Pork and Sauerkraut
I love this recipe because it’s just a few easy steps and then you toss everything into the slow cooker and let it do its magic. I love my slow cooker because it gives you more time to get on with your day while all those flavors develop into a delicious, no-fuss, hands-off, versatile meal that can be served a few different ways.
Another reason I love this dish is that it’s budget-friendly! So, I’m aware that maybe pork bones aren’t the first thing you’d think about when going to buy pork, but these proteins are often overlooked because they don’t seem appetizing.
But my friend, don’t throw away the idea before trying it once. Pork neck bones usually still have a good amount of meat on them, they’re relatively inexpensive at most grocery stores and pack a lot of flavor when used right.
Lastly, I love this recipe because my Ukrainian grandma would make it from time to time when I was younger. She knew how to pinch a penny and make minimal, inexpensive ingredients taste incredibly divine!
Ingredients and Substitutions
| Ingredients | Possible Substitutions |
|---|---|
| Pork Neck Bones | Cheapest cuts of pork you can find. Pork steaks, small pork butt roast, or pork collar. Ask your butcher what they have in the back to wrap up for you! |
| Sauerkraut | If you have homemade sauerkaut that you like, that’s the best to use! Thinly sliced cabbage can also be used. |
| Broth | Chicken broth. |
| Carrots and Onions | Turnips, rutabega, onion powder. |
| Seasonings: Dill, Montreal Steak seasoning. | Fresh Dill, Montreal Steak Seasoning (optional). In place of the steak seasoning, use pepper, garlic, and onion powder |
👩🍳Step by Step Instructions
Believe it or not, it’s quite simple to make this neck bone stew. It’s basically only a few simple steps and then letting the slow cooker do all the hard lifting to develop all those deep flavors.
STEP 1: Prep the meat.
On a baking pan, I seasoned the neck bones with the Montreal steak seasoning. If you don’t have it, simply use the seasonings listed in the recipe card below. Preheat the grill to 400.
NOTE: Grilling the neck bones gives the meat on the bones color and lends this delicious grilled flavor that will help enhance the overall dish. You can skip the grilling step if you want or easily pan-sear the meat or put it under the broiler for a few minutes to develop some char and color.
STEP 2: Assemble the ingredients.
Put your meat into your slow cooker with the sauerkraut, dill, broth, and carrots, and turn your slow cooker on and let it do its thing!
NOTE: All the exact ingredient amounts and more detailed instructions along with recipe notes will be included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Recipe Tips and Variations
It’s best to use tougher cuts of pork and cuts that are a bit fattier because fat is flavor. I like to use pork hock with the skin removed, or pork button bones when they go on special. Slow cooking these cuts renders the meat super tender and flavorful.
If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can still make this dish! Instead of gathering everything into the crock pot, you can combine it all into a Dutch oven to put into the oven and cook low and slow is also a fantastic option. I just love using my slow cooker because it develops such deep flavor in recipes like my slow cooker beef shank stew, my crock pot smoked pork hock soup, and my slow cooker sausage curry dish.
If you’re not a fan of dill, that’s ok. Leave it out. Add Italian seasoning instead or add more of the Montreal steak spice we used earlier. To kick it up a notch, add some diced peppers or some red pepper flakes.
If you are looking for a way to bulk this meal up a bit you can add in a drained can of butter beans, corn, or any other hearty vegetable that will not easily turn to mush during the long cooking time.
❄️Serving, Storing, and Freezing
This slow cooker pork and sauerkraut can be eaten as is, in a big bowl with crusty Dutch oven bread that you can easily whip up at home or make use of day-old bread clearance at the store for dipping into the broth. (Buttered, of course!) on the side.
I like to make some rustic garlic mashed potatoes or rice to make it go further and save even more money. To help make it thicker for serving over mashed potatoes or rice you can reduce how much broth you use in the recipe.
Store your leftovers to enjoy later! You can keep them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or store in the freezer for up to a month making this a great meal prep option using meal prep containers for ready-to-go lunches.
To enjoy thaw in the refrigerator overnight or microwave for 2-3 minutes to thaw before warming and serving.
Common Questions
I typically don’t. The pork bones take a long time to tender up and I find the potatoes overcook and almost dissolve in the broth. The sauerkraut can withstand the cooking time, but I find the potatoes can’t unless you’re adding them in large chunks. Plus, I love to serve this over buttered mashed potatoes so I don’t add them in the soup!
Technically you can, but I don’t recommend it. Fast fry chops are usually cut thin, and for slow cooking purposes, they can dry out faster than you can blink an eye.
If you can’t find them in your regular grocery store in the meat counter, ask the butcher (or go to a local butcher’s deli) and ask them if they have any. If that’s not possible, I almost always find them at my local Asian supermarket in the meat department.
Crock Pot Neck Bone Soup with Sauerkraut
This Slow Cooker Pork Neck Soup with Sauerkraut is an easy, hearty, and budget-friendly meal that brings comforting flavors to your table with minimal effort.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds pork neck bones (939 kg)
- 3 1/2 cups sauerkraut
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 Tablespoons, dill, dry
- 3 Tablespoons Montreal Steak Spice
- 8 cups Chicken Broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pat dry the neck bones. Season with the steak spice. See below for other seasonings to use if you're not using the Montreal steak spice.
- Heat the grill to 350 or medium-high. Grill the bones to add that smoky flavor. Just sear the bones, do not cook through.
- Remove the neck bones and add them to the slow cooker bowl. Add the sauerkraut, broth, dill, and carrots. Season with salt and pepper.
- Set your crock pot/slow cooker to low for 6 to 7 hours or run on high for 4 to 5 hours for the perfect tender pork.
- The soup is ready to enjoy once the meat has reached 145 degrees and falling off the bone. Serve with buttered crusty bread on the side.
Notes
Grilling the bones is a step that's so worth the time, in my opinion. It adds such a nice smoky flavor. But if you don't have a grill available, you can also broil them over high heat in the oven to add a bit of that 'char' or even sear them in a skillet. This step is optional of course, but again, is worth it to take the time and do it.
Serve the stew over mashed potatoes for a nice change and to add more volume to the dish to stretch it further.
Adding canned beans (kidney, butter, cannellini, etc) are another way to added volume, protein and fiber to the soup!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 214Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 1255mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 27g
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
