It’s one of my favorite ways to brighten up simple meals.

Reviewed by Dietitian Katey Davidson, M.Sc.FN, RD, CPT

Key Points

• Aldi’s sauerkraut costs less than $2 and is made with just cabbage and salt.


• It adds tangy flavor to grilled meats, soups, sandwiches and more.


• Sauerkraut is a fermented food that may support gut health.

I’ve been shopping at Aldi for nearly two decades. This means I’ve gotten pretty familiar with the grocery chain’s regular offerings, from my go-to weeknight pasta sauce to the items I toss into my cart to make a simple high-protein dinner. Yes, there are always new and seasonal products hitting Aldi shelves, but I return for the Aldi products I’ve come to depend on in my kitchen.

One of my must-buy items is Aldi’s Deutsche Küche German Style Sauerkraut, which I use year-round in my kitchen, whether I’m pairing it with dishes from the grill in the summer or adding it to hearty soups in the winter. It costs less than $2 for a 24-ounce jar and has only two ingredients: white cabbage and salt. It tastes great, and it has health benefits too: sauerkraut happens to be one of the best fermented foods for gut health.

What Makes Aldi Sauerkraut a Fridge Staple

Deutsche Küche German Style Sauerkraut is a traditional sauerkraut, made by mixing white cabbage with salt until the salt draws out the cabbage’s juices to create a brine. It’s got that perfect, tangy, fermented taste and a texture that’s crisp and fresh with every bite.

And because it’s a fermented food, it may protect the intestinal wall from inflammation and help regulate blood sugar levels. An ingredient that can add gut health benefits to my meals for less than $2 a jar is a pretty big win. That plus its great flavor and budget-friendly price motivate me to pick it up during every Aldi trip.

Simple Ways to Use Aldi Sauerkraut in Everyday Meals

There are many ways I incorporate this sauerkraut into everyday meals. On busy weeknights, I serve sauerkraut as a topping for dishes like roasted chicken sausage and vegetables or grilled pork loin and mashed potatoes. On weekends, when my family often grills, I’ll set out Deutsche Küche German Style Sauerkraut as a topping for grilled meats like hot dogs and bratwurst.

The fermented condiment has also become a staple for holidays and Sunday dinners in my home since it’s a delicious, gut-healthy addition to everything from turkey burgers to casseroles. Among my favorite recipes to use this jarred sauerkraut in are Reuben sandwiches and the Polish soup kapusniak, made with kielbasa, carrots and potatoes.

Why I Reach for Aldi Sauerkraut Again and Again

There are so many benefits that come from adding sauerkraut to your meals. Sauerkraut is a modest source of fiber, so it can help with regularity and bowel movements. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and probiotics that may support healthy aging, as well as heart and metabolic health. A condiment that can add plenty of flavor to your meals and improve your overall health is well worth grabbing on your next Aldi run.

And there’s a personal reason I reach for a jar of Deutsche Küche German Style Sauerkraut again and again: my husband’s family has a tradition of making sauerkraut on New Year’s Eve, letting it simmer overnight so it cooks into the new year for good luck. When we started making our own version of his traditional New Year’s meal of slow-cooked pork and sauerkraut served over mashed potatoes, this Aldi brand of sauerkraut was the most delicious we tried. Knowing the sauerkraut is the same kind we cooked to ring in the new year is a good reminder all year long to appreciate family and look for little bits of good luck every single day.

Tips for Making the Most of Aldi Sauerkraut

Because Deutsche Küche German Style Sauerkraut can be found among Aldi’s shelf-stable ingredients, it’s a condiment that can be stored in the pantry until you’re ready to use it. Once that jar of fermented goodness has been opened, however, you’ll want to keep it in the fridge. Because it’s a pasteurized, jarred ingredient, it should last for a month or two in the fridge. Just be sure to pay attention to the expiration date on the jar.

Looking for more great ways to use your newly acquired jar of sauerkraut? Adding Sriracha hot sauce to the condiment makes a spicy, kimchi-like topping for rice dishes, and adding a bit of sauerkraut to an egg scramble makes for a delicious, gut-healthy breakfast. However you decide to enjoy this light, tangy, fermented food, you can’t go wrong with the less-than-$2-a-jar price tag, especially with all the health benefits it provides.

The Bottom Line

Aldi’s Deutsche Küche German Style Sauerkraut is a simply made, budget-friendly condiment that contributes bright, tangy flavor to everything from grilled sausages and Reuben sandwiches to soups, casseroles and even egg scrambles. Since sauerkraut is a fermented food, having it on hand can help you easily add a gut-friendly food to everyday meals. Be sure to grab a jar on your next trip to Aldi.