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    Home > Recipes > Sides & Salads

    Sauerkraut Mashed Potato Casserole

    ↓ Jump to Recipe · By: Julia Foerster · Posted: 10/05/17 · Updated: 10/05/17 · This post may contain affiliate links

    Sauerkraut Mashed Potato Casserole is a warm and hearty dish made with sauerkraut, apples and creamy homemade mashed potatoes. It's a delicious comfort food side that you can make ahead and that's always a hit!

    Sauerkraut Mashed Potato Casserole is a warm and hearty dish made with sauerkraut, apples, and creamy homemade mashed potatoes. It’s a delicious comfort food side that you can make ahead and that’s always a hit!

    Close-up of a white baking dish with sauerkraut mashed potato casserole on a white and blue dishtowel. A portion of the casserole has been removed.

    This mashed potato casserole with sauerkraut and apples brings a new spin to a dinnertime staple! A great comfort food for winter and fall that’s easy to prepare, loaded with flavor, and topped with a cheesy breadcrumb topping. The apples add sweetness and the crispy breadcrumb topping adds some nice crunch, a great dish with a hearty and warm flavor.

    Mashed Potatoes are probably my favorite way to eat potatoes. They are so versatile and I love the taste and texture especially with gravy. When I was in college I even used to eat mashed potatoes without anything else for dinner.

    But this easy casserole takes mashed potatoes to a whole new level! With Thanksgiving right around the corner, this Potato and Sauerkraut Casserole would be a delicious addition to your dinner table. It is a side dish that wow’s and is easy enough to make even if you aren’t totally kitchen confident.

    Close-up of a white baking dish with sauerkraut mashed potato casserole on a white and blue dishtowel.

    Tips and Tricks for making this Mashed Potato Casserole

    • This casserole makes a great side dish for every meal but it is also great for using leftover mashed potatoes. You can easily half the recipe depending on how much potatoes you have and you can also add leftover turkey or any other meat to the sauerkraut.
    • Instead of using panko breadcrumbs you can also use stale bread and process it in a food processor until you have coarse crumbs. 3-4 slices sandwich bread will make about 1 cup breadcrumbs.
    • If you’re not a fan of sauerkraut or don’t have any at home you make this casserole without it.
    • You can use any apples you have at home for this dish. I prefer sweeter apples like Gala or Golden Delicious.

    A layer of apple pieces and sauerkraut in a white baking dish on a marble surface.

    How to make mashed potatoes

    Making homemade mashed potatoes is really easy. When I started cooking for my husband and me, I always used Instant Mashed Potatoes because I thought it would be too complicated to make them from scratch and would take forever. But then I tried it a few year ago and to my surprise, it was easier than I thought.

    So here are my hints for perfect mashed potatoes:

    You need to use the right potatoes to get a smooth texture. Russet potatoes work best. Peel the potatoes, then slice them into 3/4-inch rounds, this ensures that they will cook more evenly. I learned this trick from Cook’s Illustrated and it really works!

    A layer of mashed potatoes topped with cheese in a white baking dish on a marble surface.

    Rinse them, put them into a large enough pot and cover them with cold water, THEN turn on your stove. Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes until the potatoes are tender, it is better to overcook them then to undercook them.

    While the potatoes are cooking, melt the butter in a small saucepan. When the butter is melted add the milk to the butter so that it gets warm.

    Drain the cooked potatoes and set a potato ricer over the now empty but still warm pot in which you cooked the potatoes. Process the potatoes into the pot. Then stir in the warm milk-butter mixture and seasonings. Serve as soon as possible, mashed potatoes taste best fresh.

    A white bowl with breadcrumbs and parsley mixture.

    How to make this Mashed Potato Casserole ahead

    You can make this casserole one or two days ahead, perfect for busy days! To make ahead, cover the assembled but unbaked casserole tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

    When you are ready to serve it, take the casserole out of the refrigerator and then preheat the oven to 350°F. Remove the plastic wrap and cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake until the casserole is heated through and the crumbs are crisp, 20 to 25 minutes longer.

    Looking for more easy side dish recipes?

    Pumpkin Dinner Rolls
    German Cucumber Salad Recipe
    Brown Butter Maple Glazed Roasted Rainbow Carrots
    Easy German Spaetzle Recipe

    Close-up of a white baking dish with sauerkraut mashed potato casserole on a white and blue dishtowel. A portion of the casserole has been removed.

    Tools and Products used for Making this Mashed Potato Casserole

    Sauerkraut: You can get sauerkraut on amazon but also in your local supermarket or any health food store. The only ingredient should be sauerkraut and it shouldn’t have added sugar, vinegar, or preservatives.
    Potato Ricer: I love this one! It has soft handles and hooks on any size of pot or bowl. This makes ultra fluffy and smooth mashed potatoes.

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    A white baking dish with sauerkraut mashed potato casserole on a white and blue dishtowel. A portion of the casserole has been removed.
    Servings: 10

    Sauerkraut Mashed Potato Casserole

    Sauerkraut Mashed Potato Casserole is a warm and hearty dish made with sauerkraut, apples and creamy homemade mashed potatoes. It's a delicious comfort food side that you can make ahead and that's always a hit!
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 55 minutes
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: German
    Calories: 424kcal
    Author: Julia Foerster
    5 from 3 votes
    Print PIN RECIPE Rate

    Ingredients

    For the Mashed Potatoes:

    • 4 pounds russet potatoes, peeled, sliced into 3/4-inch-thick rounds, and rinsed thoroughly
    • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
    • 1 cup half-and-half, warmed
    • 1 teaspoons salt
    • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
    • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
    • 2 tsp dijon mustard

    For the Apple Sauerkraut:

    • 25 oz sauerkraut, drained
    • 1 cup apple cider
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
    • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, optional
    • salt and pepper

    For the Topping:

    • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
    • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
    • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
    • Salt and pepper
    • 2 cups shredded cheddar
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    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
    • Place the potatoes in a large pot or dutch oven and cover with 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
    • Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan combine sauerkraut, apple cider, bay leaves, chopped apples, and cumin seeds. Bring to a boil and let simmer with the lid on for 15 minutes until the apples. Season with salt and pepper.
    • When the potatoes are tender, drain them in a colander. Process the potatoes with a potato ricer into a large bowl or use a potato masher for chunkier mashed potatoes. Stir in the melted butter, warm half-and-half, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and Dijon.
    • For the topping, heat 2 tbsp butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the breadcrumbs and toast them while stirring constantly until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes. Take them off the heat and let them cool, then toss them with the parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
    • Transfer the apple sauerkraut into a 13 by 9-inch baking dish, spread mashed potatoes on top, and sprinkle the cheddar cheese evenly over the mashed potatoes, followed by the breadcrumbs.
    • Bake the casserole until the cheese is melted and the breadcrumbs are crisp and browned, 25 to 30 minutes.

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 424kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 470mg | Potassium: 897mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 813IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 234mg | Iron: 2mg
    Did you Make this Recipe? Tag me Today!Share it on Instagram and tag @platedcravings or #platedcravings!

    Close-up of a white baking dish with sauerkraut mashed potato casserole on a white and blue dishtowel. A portion of the casserole has been removed.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mary Eileen Hanisch says

      August 11, 2020 at 8:08 pm

      I would like a copy of this recipe, but I don’t know how to get it to my email. I don’t do Twitter or Pinterest. 

      Reply
      • Julia Foerster says

        August 13, 2020 at 10:17 am

        You can use the “Print Recipe” button in the recipe card and download a pdf of the recipe.

        Reply
    2. Jennifer L says

      August 04, 2020 at 8:11 pm

      5 stars
      I had pork, sauerkraut and mashed potato leftovers, and found this recipe on a search so I cut up the pork and added some sauteed onions and celery to the sauerkraut and otherwise followed the recipe. Delicious!

      Reply
    3. Liane Hooper says

      September 27, 2017 at 9:46 pm

      5 stars
      Just recently discovered this recipe on your website and made it tonite to go with boneless pork chops. It was was soooo good! I used panko crumbs instead of fresh bread crumbs to save time and bother.

      Reply
    4. Rhianon says

      November 09, 2016 at 11:43 pm

      Hi Julia! I love your site, and this recipe in particular. I blog for Bubbies Pickles, and was wondering if it would be ok to repost your recipe in a holiday casserole compilation? We’d give you credit, of course :)

      Reply
    5. Christine | Vermilion Roots says

      December 01, 2015 at 1:12 am

      I am so excited to try making this dish. Sauerkraut and apple sound like a winning combination in a recipe. I imagine it must be pretty exotic to the tastebuds yet strangely comforting. Guess I’m going to have to try this soon!

      Reply
      • Julia says

        December 01, 2015 at 8:26 am

        Thanks, Christine! It’s a really comforting dish :-)

        Reply
    6. Sabrina Modelle says

      November 29, 2015 at 2:29 pm

      Wow, this looks amazing. I love making homemade kraut and I’m constantly looking for new ways to cook with it. Can’t wait to try it.

      Reply
      • Julia says

        December 01, 2015 at 8:23 am

        Thanks, Sabrina! I must admit I have never made kraut from scratch but know I’m curious. I think I have to give it a try :-)

        Reply
    7. KC the Kitchen Chopper says

      November 28, 2015 at 4:32 pm

      This dish has “holiday Show stopper” written all over it. I love using healthful sauerkraut in dishes. Fantastic recipe.

      Reply
      • Julia says

        December 01, 2015 at 8:27 am

        Thank you, KC! I love the health benefits of kraut, too!

        Reply
    8. Mark, CompassandFork says

      November 28, 2015 at 2:42 pm

      I have just got into making my own sauerkraut and I just love it. I haven’t tried it this way though so will give this recipe a good try out.

      Reply
      • Julia says

        December 01, 2015 at 8:31 am

        I’m very impressed that so many make their own sauerkraut!

        Reply
    9. Sherri @ Watch Learn Eat says

      November 27, 2015 at 3:50 pm

      This looks amazing! Such a great idea! I loooove sauerkraut! Pinned! :)

      Reply
      • Julia says

        November 27, 2015 at 5:39 pm

        Thanks Sherri! I love sauerkraut, too.

        Reply
    10. Katie says

      November 27, 2015 at 1:13 am

      5 stars
      What an interesting combination!! I love saurekraut and i’ve never tried it with apples. Thanks for this recipe!

      Reply
      • Julia says

        November 27, 2015 at 10:15 am

        You’re welcome! The apples emphasise the taste of the sauerkraut very well. It’s a little bit like a sweet and sour dish.

        Reply
    11. Lyndsay says

      November 26, 2015 at 11:02 pm

      This Casserole looks amazing. I absolutely love sauerkraut. I’m making this for sure. Thanks for sharing

      Reply
      • Julia says

        November 26, 2015 at 11:10 pm

        Thanks, Lyndsay! It’s really easy to make.

        Reply

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    Julia Foerster from Plated Cravings

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