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    Home » Instant Pot Pork

    Instant Pot Brats

    Posted: Jul 26, 2021 · Updated: Oct 2, 2021 by Tonje

    Jump to Recipe
    Bratwurst sausages and onion in a bowl.
    Two images of cooked brats.

    Cook perfect bratwurst in your pressure cooker with this easy recipe! Instant Pot brats are tender and juicy, and when they are cooked in beer and onions, they make the best hot dogs!

    Bratwurst sausages in a bowl, with beer and hot dog buns in the background.
    Bratwurst are best served with a pint of beer!
    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love it
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Top tips
    • Serving suggestions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Frequently asked questions
    • You might also like these recipes
    • Recipe
    • Food safety tips

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read more about it in the privacy policy.

    If you're looking for a simple dish for beer fest or October fest, these Instant Pot beer brats are exactly what you need. A really simple dish that you can make with only a few minutes of effort, using only 3 ingredients.

    Brats are great served in a bun as a snack, and pair perfectly with beer. They are also amazing as a simple entree served with your favorite side dishes.

    Why you'll love it

    • So easy to make
    • Only require 3 ingredients
    • Taste amazing
    • Perfect hot dogs
    • Great for October fest, or any other occasion

    🥘 More INSTANT POT RECIPES From Hint of Healthy

    Ingredients

    Bratwursts: Bratwurst sausages, also known as brats, are really tasty, and easy to cook. You can also replicate this recipe with virtually any sausage.

    Onion: Onions pair perfectly with sausages. You can use white, yellow or red onion.

    Beer: The beer adds a great flavor to brats, and is a very traditional way to cook them. The alcohol will evaporate during the cooking process. You can use non-alcoholic beer or chicken stock if you prefer.

    The ingredients needed to make this recipe.

    Instructions

    You can find full instructions + ingredient measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of this page

    One: Add the sausages, sliced onions and a splash of beer to an Instant Pot. Select the SAUTE setting, and cook until the sausages have browned on the bottom. Flip, and repeat on the other side.

    Two: Scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon or spatula to loosen up any stuck pieces of sausage or onion. Seal the lid, and cook on the PRESSURE COOK or MANUAL setting, for 5 minutes on high pressure. Quick release the pressure, and serve.

    Step by step images showing how to make this recipe.

    Top tips

    • Make sure that any stuck pieces of onion or sausage are loosened up from the bottom of the pot before you start pressure cooking to avoid seeing the Instant Pot Burn Message.
    • As the alcohol evaporates during cooking, there's no point in using beer with a high alcohol percentage.
    • Browning the sausages before you pressure cook them is optional, but make them look a lot more appetizing, and adds to the flavor.

    Serving suggestions

    These pressure cooked bratwursts in beer are perfect to serve in a bun like a hot dog, or as an entree paired with side dishes. Serve them for lunch or dinner, or as a delicious late night snack.

    I love to top my Instant Pot brats with any of these toppings:

    • Balsamic Caramelized Onions
    • Cheesy Sour Cream Sauce
    • Honey BBQ Sauce
    • Spicy Burger Sauce

    Serve your brats with these side dishes:

    • Healthy Mashed Potatoes
    • Air Fryer Potato Wedges
    • Skin On Fries
    • Baked Sweet Potato Fries
    Bratwurst and onions in a bun.

    Variations

    Without alcohol: Substitute the beer with chicken stock, or use non-alcoholic beer instead. This is great if you don't like to cook with alcohol, or want to make sure that there is no alcohol in the recipe.

    Using other sausages: You can use any other sausages instead of brats in this recipe. Try using pork sausages, chicken sausages or smoked sausages.

    With sauerkraut: Add ½ cup sauerkraut to the Instant Pot after the sausages are pressure cooked. The sauerkraut will warm up quickly in the warm beer, and tastes great with the brats.

    With potatoes: Add diced potatoes to the pressure cooker, and cook the sausages and potatoes for 12 minutes instead of 5 minutes. This is a great one pot recipe idea, perfect for quick meals.

    Equipment

    To make this recipe, you will need an Instant Pot, or any other pressure cooker. This recipe has been tested in a 6 qt Instant Pot, but a pressure cooker of any size should work fine.

    You will also need a cutting board and a sharp knife to slice your onion.

    Brats in an Instant Pot.

    Storage

    Leftover Instant Pot brats can be stored in a sealed container in a refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat the sausages in a skillet or microwave, and serve them warm.

    You can also slice or dice the leftover sausages, and use them in other recipes like Sausage and Rice Casserole or Sausage and Cabbage Skillet.

    🥘 More INSTANT POT RECIPES From Hint of Healthy

    Frequently asked questions

    How do you make boiled sausages taste good?

    Boiled sausages can often taste bland. To improve the flavor, you can season them, boil them in a flavorful liquid instead of water, and brown the sausages beforehand.

    Can you cook brats without beer?

    Absolutely. You can also cook brats in water, chicken stock or beef broth.

    What's the difference between bratwurst and regular sausages?

    Brats, or bratwurst, is practically synonymous with "sausage" in German. They are simply German style sausages.

    You might also like these recipes

    • Oven Baked Bratwurst
    • Air Fryer Brats (Bratwurst)
    • Instant Pot Sausage and Peppers
    • Sausage Pasta Bake
    • Instant Pot Pulled Pork Shoulder
    • Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole
    • Instant Pot Pork Roast
    • Instant Pot Pork Chops and Rice

    If you make this recipe, make sure to post a photo to Instagram with #hintofhealthy!

    Recipe

    Close up of a bowl of brats and onions.

    Instant Pot Brats

    These Instant Pot brats are bratwurst sausages pressure cooked with beer and onion. They are perfect German hot dogs, that pair perfectly with beer, and a great choice for October fest, or simply as a weeknight dinner any time of the year.
    No ratings yet
    Created by: Tonje
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 2 minutes mins
    Cook Time 7 minutes mins
    Time to Pressure 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 14 minutes mins
    Course Dinner, Main Course
    Cuisine American, German
    Servings 6 brats
    Calories 244 kcal

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot
    • Tongs
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 6 Bratwurst sausages
    • 1 cup beer
    • 1 onion

    Instructions
     

    • Add the sausages, sliced onions and a splash of beer to an Instant Pot. Select the SAUTE setting, and cook until the sausages have browned on the bottom. Flip, and repeat on the other side.
    • Scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon or spatula to loosen up any stuck pieces of sausage or onion. Turn off the Instant Pot, and seal it with a lid. Turn it back on. Select the PRESSURE COOK or MANUAL setting, and set it to 5 minutes on high pressure.
    • The Instant Pot takes about 5-10 minutes to pressurize, and will then start counting down. When the timer is up, perform a quick release of the pressure according to the manufacturer's instructions.
    • Serve the pressure cooked brats in buns as hot dogs, or as an entree paired with any side dishes that you like.

    Video

    Notes

    • Store leftover brats in a refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in a skillet or microwave, and serve them warm.
    • Use chicken stock or non-alcoholic beer for a non-alcoholic version.
    • The alcohol will evaporate from the beer while the sausages cook.
    • This recipe has only been tested with a 6 qt Instant Pot.
    • You can replicate the recipe with any sausages of your choice.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 244kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 9gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 561mgPotassium: 267mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 4IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 24mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword beer, brats, bratwurst, easy, october fest, quick, sausage
    Tried this recipe?Mention @hintofhealthyfood or tag #hintofhealthy!

    Food safety tips

    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    More Instant Pot Pork Recipes

    • Instant Pot Ham and Beans.
      Instant Pot Ham and Beans
    • Instant Pot Ham.
      Instant Pot Ham
    • Instant pot sausage and peppers in tomato sauce.
      Instant Pot Sausage and Peppers
    • Instant Pot Carnitas.
      Instant Pot Carnitas

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    Hi, I'm Tonje! I make easy and healthy everyday recipes that your family will love. Browse my recipe collection to discover new favorites, and make sure to let me know what you think!

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