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.

If you love your pressure cooker and steaming in your Instant Pot, this easy Instant Pot brats recipe is for you! 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 sauerkraut and mustard!! Whether you’re watching the Super Bowl with friends, having people over to celebrate Oktoberfesst, or just looking for a new meal to try this is a delicious choice. It’s one of my husband’s favorite Instant Pot recipes! (originally published 12/17, affiliate links present)

Doesn’t this look so yummy?!!

My husband and I had it for lunch this day and although I am not a big sauerkraut fan it was SO good atop these Instant Pot brats which kept their snap while being steamed!

• We made Instant Pot hot dogs for the kids but we got to enjoy these beauties. 😉

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

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!

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.

This is what you’ll need to make these 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

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

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.

• The Vegetable steamer comes in this variety as well as this two tiered vegetable steamer basket I used here.

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 Ninja Foodi follow these air fryer sausage directions 

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

If you love this you should try our pressure cooker jambalaya made with sausage links too.

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4 from 3 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 left out overnight so it is flat
• If making with mashed potatoes follow recipe starting at step 6

Instructions

• Open your beer bottle or can and leave out overnight so it looses it's bubbles and becomes flat.
• 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.

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