Instant Pot Brats with Beer

How to make Instant Pot brats with beer and sauerkraut that taste amazing! Easy way to steam bratwurst in pressure cooker or Ninja Foodi sausage turns out tender for dinner.

Instant Pot Brats with Beer

Whether you’re watching the Super Bowl with friends, having people over to celebrate Oktoberfest, or just looking for a new meal, try this with our homemade mustard sauce.

Steamed bratwurst that maintains it’s “snap” while cooking, and absorbs the flavors of the liquid inside the pot are a fantastic dinner idea. Topped with overnight sauerkraut it is an easy meal we love, oh my right?!! Doesn’t this look so yummy?!!

Instant Pot bratwurst

We made Instant Pot hot dogs for the kids but we wanted something heartier one night. I grew up going to Octoberfest with my German grandfather and remember enjoying this larger weiner with lots of spicy dijon mustard on a bun we all enjoyed together on those nights in California.

Smoked brats are amazing too but if it’s chilly outside is nice to skip the grill and this way is the answer y’all!!

This is how easy these bratwurst are to cook in your pressure cooker…….

Pressure Cooker Brats

It is totally up to you whether you want to make your own sauerkraut or buy it ready made in the store, either way these taste delicious.

I had some ready made small french style rolls just the right size for sausages in my freezer so I used those this time but you could use hot dog buns or hoagie style rolls too….or go bunless!

Instant Pot brats

Perfect for the big game get togethers or just a yummy Instant Pot dinner idea. You can put the brats directly in the liquid, beer, but I find they keep their snap and don’t get as soft if I use a steamer basket so I usually go that route but totally up to you.

1. Vegetable steamer works well to keep them out of the liquid below
2. Bratwurst
3. Beer (or other liquid such as water)
4. Sauerkraut
5. Spicy mustard
6. Hoagie rolls or hot dog buns
7. Onion gravy is great to lather it with when done

If you make mashed potatoes with it you’ll need potatoes. Recipe for that method below as well.

How long to cook frozen sausage in the Instant Pot

When making these Instant Pot bratwurst and other recipes you’d like to steam it is really handy to have a basket like this one that has an extendable handle to lift things out without your fingers getting too hot. A Vegetable steamer comes in this variety as well as this two tiered vegetable steamer basket I used here.

• If your brats or large sausage similar to these are frozen cook for the same amount of time
• You can put them under your broiler for 4-5 minutes until the outsides crisp up too if you wish
• When using a Cosori follow these air fryer sausage directions 

But WAIT!! We have a second way to make Instant Pot bangers and mash!

Instant Pot Frozen Brats

Instant Pot Beer Brats

If you love this you should try our pressure cooker jambalaya made with sausage links too, the rice comes out amazingly flavorful. Whether you make Ninja Foodi brats using the air fryer method or the one below you’re going to have an amazing meal for sure.

Yes you can make these in a few hours in your slow cooker but we are all about fast meals. Here are quick instructions but there is a printable recipe card at the bottom of this post as well:

Brats in the Instant Pot

• Open your beer bottle. You can add a fresh can or if it is left over and flat that is fine too.
• Pour it into your Instant Pot and open your vegetable steamer basket, put on bottom of the pot. Put bratwurst pieces on top of steamer rack and close lid. Put steam valve at sealed position.
• Set to manual, pressure cook, high for 5 minutes. (if yours are really large they may need more time but this should be just right)
• Do a quick release. Since this is pork always make sure to check that they reach the proper internal temperature. Put bratwurst on top of bun and add sauerkraut and mustard, and other favorite toppings.

Instant Pot Bangers and Mash

If you want to crisp outsides you can put into an air fryer or Ninja Foodi at 400 degrees F for a few minutes, under the broiler, or sear outsides in a pan on your stovetop. If making with mashed potatoes follow these directions:

• Put 6 washed, partially peeled and diced potatoes into pot with 1/2 c. broth.
• Place 5-6 frozen or defrosted brats and/or sausages right on top of them.
• Close lid and steam valve and set to high pressure for 6 minutes with a 3 minute natural pressure release. Then release rest of steam.
• Remove brats and set aside to keep warm.

Use potato masher in pot to mash potatoes then add fixin’s like: 1/2 c sour cream, 1/4 c. bacon bits, chives, 1 tsp. garlic salt, 1/4 c. shredded cheese, pinch of pepper, and thin mixture with as much milk as you desire.