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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

If you love your pressure cooker and steaming in your Instant Pot, this easy Instant Pot brats recipe is for you! It’s one of my husband’s favorite Instant Pot recipes! (originally published 12/17, affiliate links present)

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!

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 and mustard sauce, oh my!!

Doesn’t this look so yummy?!!

FIRST – You should sign up for my free newsletter so you get new posts emailed to you twice a week and never miss out on anything! Now let’s start with a few basic tips:

For reference, this is the pressure cooker I have (a 6 quart) and use for all recipe creations.

star wars instant pot

Instant Pot bratwurst

  • We made Instant Pot hot dogs for the kids but we wanted something heartier.
  • 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!!
What is the best way to cook bratwurst indoors?

Your Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi grill are the answer! Now you can create tender insides with a crisp outside in no time at all. This is a game changer y’all.

What beer is best for brats?

I am not a connoisseur at all so I usually just grab what I have in the fridge to make beer bread etc… Enjoying a light flavor I tend to veer away from dark brands like Guinness but others swear by that.

It is totally up to you depending on your taste buds, use your favorite I say.

How long do bratwurst take to steam?

5 minutes is usually perfect if using uncooked pork sausages straight out of the package. If precooked it would be closer to 2 depending on their thickness.

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

brats in instant pot

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 beer 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.

Instant Pot brats

  1.  Vegetable steamer
  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.

instant pot brats with beer

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.

How long to cook frozen sausage in the Instant Pot

  • 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 bangers and mash

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:

  • 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.
ninja foodi frozen sausage

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.

Instant Pot Bangers and Mash

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.

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the typical mom

Brats in the Instant Pot

Instant Pot Brats 2
Print Pin
4.41 from 5 votes

Instant Pot Brats

How to make Instant Pot brats and sauerkraut that taste amazing! Easy way to steam bratwurst or sausage with some beer in your pressure cooker for dinner.
Course Entree, Main Course
Cuisine American, german
Keyword brats, bratwurst, instant pot, pressure cooker
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 13 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 379kcal
Author The Typical Mom

Ingredients

  • 6 brats or sausage links of your choosing
  • 6 rolls or buns
  • 1 c sauerkraut
  • 1/4 c spicy mustard or regular mustard
  • 1 pint beer
  • If making with mashed potatoes follow recipe starting at step 6

Instructions

  • 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 Kitchen Deluxe vegetable steamer basket, lower inside your pot.
  • Put brats on steamer rack and close lid. Close steam valve and set to manual, pressure, 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 are cooked completely (can cut one in half to ensure or use thermometer)
  • Put in a bun and add sauerkraut and mustard on top…and other favorite toppings.
  • 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. If you want to crisp outsides you can put into an air fryer at 400 degrees for a few minutes, under the broiler, or sear outsides in a pan on your stovetop.
  • 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 until it is the right consistency for you.
  • Serve brats and mashed potatoes together.

Video

Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Brats
Amount Per Serving (2 oz)
Calories 379 Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Fat 20g31%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Cholesterol 49mg16%
Sodium 931mg40%
Potassium 1191mg34%
Carbohydrates 31g10%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 16g32%
Vitamin C 28mg34%
Calcium 99mg10%
Iron 8mg44%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
instant pot sausage
instant pot brats with beer
Recipe Rating




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Meagen Brosius

Thursday 30th of January 2020

I loved this one! So easy and any excuse to use my Instant Pot is a winner in my book, makes life in the kitchen so much easier.

Beth

Thursday 30th of January 2020

We love brats in my family and I love my instant pot so making it this way is heaven to me!

Ryan

Tuesday 5th of March 2019

5 stars for all your recipes! Thank you! Could quartered potatoes & sliced onions be added to the steamer? Or, add potatoes then add sauerkraut & sliced onions maybe at the 1-2 minute mark?

Kim McKoy

Wednesday 2nd of January 2019

Would sauteing the brats in the Instant Pot first be better? I will be cooking mine tomorrow night.

Miranda

Tuesday 13th of November 2018

This sounds so good! Do you think it would be okay to use spicy bratwursts?

The Typical Mom

Wednesday 14th of November 2018

Of course.

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