Today we are making a delicious main dish, using only 3 ingredients and your lovely Instant Pot.
This recipe features your favorite bratwurst and your favorite beer that come together to make an easy Instant Pot meal!
Forget about grilling sausages (for now) and let me introduce you to my top delicious and so, so easy Instant Pot Italian sausage recipe that has low prep time and is sure to bring everyone back for seconds.
Table of Contents
- Recipe Video
- Why this Beer Brats recipe is worth trying
- What makes Instant Pots a must in every kitchen?
- Can I use other Instant Pot sausage?
- How to cook Kielbasa in an Instant Pot
- How long does it take to cook frozen bratwurst in an Instant Pot?
- How long does it take to boil frozen Brats?
- How long does it take?
- What if my Brats are a little pink in the center?
- How to serve
- Do I have to use a trivet?
- I want to make more! Can I modify this recipe?
- Can I replace the beer?
- Other Instant Pot Sausage Recipes
- Can I make it vegan?
- Instant Pot Brats
Recipe Video
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Why this Beer Brats recipe is worth trying
It’s guaranteed to give impeccable results — you’ve discovered one of the juiciest and most flavor-packed Instant Pot Brats with beer recipes around.
These scrumptious, beer-y, buttery brats are just perfect. Every bite helps you understand why I brag about this recipe so much. I just LOVE them.
I have tried other Instant Pot beer brats recipes, but each time the brats were either undercooked or overcooked. With a few tests, I have perfected my recipe, finding the cooking time sweet spot.
I always thought brats tasted best from the grill, but since trying Instant Pot brats, I am never going back!
Finding recipes for busy weeknights can be a struggle — especially when you want something both fast and delicious. This Crock-pot dinner is perfect for:
- Fussy kids
- Surprise home visits from family and friends
- Preparing big big portions for weekend camping trips
It’s also really low carb, so perfect for keto, low carb dieters, and those who want a (kinda) healthy option.
Instant Pot bratwurst in beer has quickly become one of my absolute favorite speedy dinners and this exact recipe is enjoyed very often in my home.
What makes Instant Pots a must in every kitchen?
Instant Pots are so good — they literally do it all. I’m pretty sure if you’re here for the recipe, you already know just how awesome they are.
These pots act as a slow cooker and a pressure cooker, replacing multiple kitchen appliances. It can also transform into an air fryer if you have the right accessory — and an air fryer can be a lot of fun.
They are super versatile — Instant Pots can fry, sauté, steam, and sterilize, as well as make a variety of Instant Pot recipes from Instant Pot chicken to yogurt, oatmeal, pies, and even cakes!
The pressure cooker function reduces time, cooking on low heat for hours, while using the slow cooker function means you can “set and forget”.
The air fryer function makes food extra crispy and is also lower carb than deep frying recipes, as the air fryer uses less oil.
Scroll to the bottom of this article to find a great cooker. Be sure to look for the number of views and stars before you purchase — there are so many amazing options.
The good bits and the not so good bits of cooking with an Instant Pot:
| ★ Super quick or super slow? You can choose! Instant Pot is both a pressure cooker and a slow cooker combined. | • Use Instant Pot with caution, especially when using the pressure cooker function — steam can burn. |
| ★ Instant Pot is versatile and has many different functions (i.e becoming an air fryer), which allows you to cook a variety of recipes all in one. You can even sterilize baby bottles. | • You can’t look inside an Instant Pot while your food cooks. But all this does is make the end results more surprising! |
| ★ Instant Pot is simple to use, and takes the hassle out of cooking, allowing you to combine all your ingredients in one pot before it does the cooking for you. | • Sometimes cooking a dish yourself is fun and satisfying. Instant Pot is perfect for those days when you want hassle free meal-making. |
| ★ When Instant Pot cooks, it’s always extra tasty recipes — it seals and locks the flavors inside, making for delicious and succulent meals. | |
| ★ Instant Pot is a time and space saver, and can replace many of your kitchen appliances (such as pressure cookers, slow cookers, or an air fryer), giving you more counter space. Making meals in one pot means you’ll have less dishes to clean up! | |
| ★ Great for midweek, no fuss dinners. |
Can I use other Instant Pot sausage?
Sure, you can! If you cannot find bratwurst at the grocery, you can also use kielbasa sausages, Italian sausages, or any other raw sausage. I think any variety tastes fantastic.
The pressure cooking time may vary as different sausages come in different thicknesses. The key is to remember the inner temperature should be 160F — that way you know your meat is cooked all the way through.
You can cook these sausages with onions, peppers, potatoes, or sauerkraut.
You can also use brats for to make Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana, a healthy and hearty soup.
How to cook Kielbasa in an Instant Pot
To cook kielbasa sausages in an Instant Pot, you first drain and add sauerkraut, onion, and peppers into the bottom of the pot.
Next, add a cup of your preferred liquid. This can be water, chicken broth, beer, or even the drained sauerkraut juice if you want a more traditional flavor.
Layer your kielbasa in a ring formation in the Crock-pot. Place the lid on, and make sure the steam valve is sealed. Cook for 15 minutes on High Pressure.
Once finished, release the steam and hey presto! A super tasty kielbasa recipe, cooked in a bratwurst cooker.
This is a wonderful lunch idea — easy when a crowd turns up unannounced.
How long does it take to cook frozen bratwurst in an Instant Pot?
It takes 7 minutes cook-time to pressure cook a frozen brat.
Ensure your bratwurst are cooked in the brats cooker with 1 to 2 cups of whatever liquid of your choosing, depending on how many sausages you are cooking.
Add in your favorite seasonings to cook the recipe with a bit more flavor.
How long does it take to boil frozen Brats?
Boil frozen brats over the stove for 6 minutes at 212°F (or 100°C).
You can also boil frozen brats in the microwave by cooking on High for 30 to 40 seconds. I love my microwave, because it’s super quick.
BUT be careful: make sure you use a microwave safe container.
Alternatively, you can pressure cook frozen brats in the Instant Pot by placing the meat in your choice of liquid and cooking on High Pressure for 7 minutes.
How long does it take?
It takes 6 minutes to cook brats in an Instant Pot.
I know right? Only 6!
That gives you 5 minutes to get the kids to set the dinner table, and 1 minute for you to pour a glass of wine. Ideal!
The meat comes out tasting succulent and juicy with no wrinkly skin.
Once you experience how quick and hassle free brats are to cook, you’ll never go back to cooking them any other way!
What if my Brats are a little pink in the center?
If you see a pink center, cook the brats for 1 minute more.
If you are using frozen brats, cook them for a further minute — you will need to adjust your time to have them cooked perfectly.
Seeing a little pink after you cook Instant Pot brats in part happens if you are using a thicker type of bratwurst.
How to serve
You can serve your bratwurst with a whole host of different side dishes, which double as their own Instant Pot recipes:
- Boiled potatoes — Elevate your bratwurst recipes with some sophisticated, restaurant quality carbs.
- Mac and cheese — Great for the kids and the little kid in you!
- Broccoli — A great way to give this sometimes bland veggie a little extra oomph.
- Eggplant Parmesan — Quick and easy side of eggplant roasted with sauce and melted parmesan cheese.
Another idea is to serve them in a hot dog bun or with plain bread to make a tasty sausage sandwich.
Need more ideas? Check out What To Serve With Brats for 15 delicious side dishes.
Do I have to use a trivet?
For the pressure cooking process, it's better to place the brats on a trivet. That way you will get delicious and juicy Sausage.
No need for a special Instant Pot trivet or fancy accessories. You can use the metal trivet that came with your Instant Pot.
I want to make more! Can I modify this recipe?
You can easily modify this recipe if you want to cook larger portions, or if you want to swap out or add any ingredients.
If you’re having a family gathering, dinner party with a few friends, cooking for game day, or prepping for a weekend camping trip, I advise to double or triple the measurements used in my original recipe. Cooking time stays the same and you just need to add use more butter and beer. Check out this table:
| 4 bratwurst | 2 tablespoon butter 1 cup beer |
| 8 bratwurst | 4 tablespoon butter 2 cups beer |
| 12 bratwurst | 6 tablespoon butter 4 cups beer |
For larger portions, cook your bratwurst in batches, keeping a single layer of meat on the bottom of the pan to ensure it cooks evenly.
Can I replace the beer?
For those of you that don’t want beer brats, you can replace this with various other liquids, in the same quantity. Why not experiment and see how the recipes turn out? Here are some options:
Water
Beef broth
Pork broth
Apple juice
You can add almost anything to your Instant Pot bratwurst, including onions, peppers, potatoes, and ground beef.
Be adventurous and create a party in a pot!
Other Instant Pot Sausage Recipes
If you like this recipe, check out this Instant Pot Sausage and potatoes or the Instant Pot sausage and peppers.
If you wanna go super simple, just make these Instant Pot hot dogs with the Instant Pot or the Air Fryer Lid.
Can I make it vegan?
To make this recipe vegetarian or vegan, you can cook with your favorite vegetarian or vegan sausage alternative and use oil and vegetable stock — don’t forget to add onions and peppers for extra flavor.
I love how this recipe can cater to anyone!
The Instant Pot is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. It is so easy to use, and cooks up the most delicious recipes.
Instant Pot Brats
Ingredients
- 4 bratwurst
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 cup beer
Instructions
- Select Saute and melt butter in the Instant Pot.
- Once melted, add brats and brown on all sides.
- Remove brats from the Instant Pot and pour in beer.
- Insert metal trivet into the Instant Pot and arrange the brats on top.
- Lock lid into place and cook the brats on high pressure for 6 minutes.
- Once finished, allow the Instant Pot to release the steam pressure naturally until the pin drops.
- Open the pot and enjoy :]
Nutrition
Video
Instant Pot Simple And Easy Brats
If I am making 8-10 brats do I need to add more beer or time?
Yes, there is a table in the blog that explains it. Use 2 or 2 1/2 cups of beer and 4-5 tbsp of butter, but cooking time stays the same.
Tried it today and it turned out great! Thank you!
I used chicken broth as a sub for beer.
Awesome! Thanks for the sub suggestion!
Delicious. Instead of water I added mango hard cider.
Wow! I've got to try that. Glad you liked the recipe.
Thank you for this delicious Dish
Yum! We just made some brats for the first time with our instant pot using this recipe and they turned out great. We cut them up after they were cooked and threw them in with angel hair pasta and alfredo sauce. Thanks for the recipe!
That sounds fantastic, you're very welcome!
After cooking in the pot,. Save the broth or juice in the refrigerator. Put into sauce pan one evening measuring as you do. Add rice to match two liquid for one rice. Add nearly any protein desired.. 30 minutes later and you have dinner.
Do you and the onion during saute of afterwards.
If you want to add onions, I would do it after you brown the brats and before you add the beer (step 2).
Thank you for all the yummy recipes. I used to work nights and not cook much. Because of Covid I'm home. Just purchased an instant pot for black Friday deal at $49! Been having fun experimenting
Hope you enjoy your new Instant Pot!!
Thank you for your recipe. I used Hard cider instead of beer. Added onions and green peppers and caraway seeds. It was awesome!!
Sounds like a great upgrade for these brats! Glad you love it 🙂
Wow, this recipe looks incredible! I've been looking for new ways to make brats, and I looooove sauerkraut, I can't wait to try this out. Thank you for sharing!
I do ketchup, beer and onions l.