Name: Instant Pot Sauerkraut and Sausage
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 9 min
Total time: 24 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds Smoked Sausage or Kielbasa (cut in chunks); 2 pounds Sauerkraut (jar or bag works fine); 6 Potatoes (washed & cubed - I prefer Yukon Gold potatoes that don't need peeled); 3 sprigs Rosemary (Dill can be substituted); 1 cup beer (your favorite flavor - we like Blue Moon or Yuengling); 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (optional for browning sausage)

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This Instant Pot Sauerkraut and Sausage is an easy recipe and delicious way to enjoy pork and sauerkraut.

Smoked and savory sausage, hearty potatoes and unique sauerkraut notes are wonderfully balanced with beer and fresh rosemary.

Sauerkraut & Kielbasa in Instant pot with potatoes, rosemary and beer

If you love this recipe you’ll also love Instant Pot Sausage, Potatoes and Green Beans, Instant Pot Pork Chops and Sauerkraut, Kielbasa and Sauerkraut, or Pork and Sauerkraut Roll-Ups.

This post is sponsored by Wisconsin Pork, but all opinions are my own!

Sausage and Sauerkraut in the Instant Pot

My husband is very proud of his German heritage and really enjoys eating Pork and Sauerkraut. He loves how sauerkraut has a bigger flavor that is combined with sausage and potatoes to make one of his favorite traditional German meals.

Pork is a great source of protein which helps build and repair tissues like muscle. Protein also helps us to feel full longer which means we cut down on snacking in between meals. We also love knowing that pork is 16% leaner and 27% lower in saturated fat than in 1991.

Pork is both a good source of protein and also provides several important vitamins and minerals. A 3-ounce serving of pork is an “excellent” source of thiamin, selenium, protein, niacin, vitamin B6 and phosphorus, and a “good” source of riboflavin, zinc and potassium

Smoked sausage and Kielbasa are very similar. Both are pork sausages that are mixed with mild seasonings and placed in a casing before being smoked and cooked. Be sure to read the package to confirm, but know that most smoked sausage and Kielbasa has been fully cooked.

Fully cooked sausage tastes best when warmed and allowed to blend with the other flavors in the meal during the heating process. We have tested this recipe multiple times and love how versatile it is. We cook on high pressure for 9 minutes or the stew setting for 30 minutes in an electric pressure cooker. Both options are delicious!

Adding one cup of beer to the Instant Pot takes away some of the sourness and bitterness of the sauerkraut. Be sure to use a beer that you enjoy. Yuengling is a favorite in our house, the citrus flavors in Blue Moon go well with this meal and this is a great opportunity to try new beers too!

Using more than 1 cup of beer has the potential to turn the meal into a soup.

ingredients needed to make Instant pot sausage and sauerkraut on the counter - instant pot, smoked sausage, sauerkraut, potatoes, beer and rosemary

We love that this recipe makes a big batch for our whole family, when we crave a couple servings we love to make Air Fryer Sausage, Potatoes & Sauerkraut.

Instant Pot Sausage, Sauerkraut and Potatoes

Our whole family loves the flavors in sausage and how tender the meat is. Tender meat is so much easier for our young kids to chew and get good, quality protein.

Cooking sausage and Sauerkraut in the Instant Pot is an easy one pot meal. This easy family dinner recipe can be modified in so many ways to best suit your family.

In this recipe we made Instant Pot Sauage, Green Beans and Sweet Potatoes. I like that green beans add more color to the meal. A bag of frozen Italian style green beans can easily be added to this recipe. Like our Sausage and Potato Skillet, this recipe can also be made in a skillet on top of the stove.

If your goal is to eat more vegetables, beets and cauliflower can also be added. Be sure not to fill above the max fill line in the Instant Pot. If lots of vegetables are added the number of potatoes used may need to be decreased.

Pork sausage tastes great with so many flavors. We enjoy the taste of both Kielbasa and Smoked Sausage in the Instant Pot. Pick your favorite pre-cooked sausage and give it a try!

It is so easy to add ingredients or substitute different kinds of potatoes. Yukon Gold potatoes are my favorite to cook with because they don’t have to be peeled. If adding green beans to this recipe use a fresh or frozen green bean as canned green beans don’t hold up well under pressure cooking.

Rosemary adds a nice accent, but Dill can be used instead or the fresh herbs can be omitted all together.

Instant Pot loaded with sauerkraut, kielbasa, potatoes, beer and rosemary getting ready to cook on a wooden table

Cooking with Pork

According to the Food Safety & Inspection Service sausages are either raw or ready to eat. The smoked sausages and Polska Kielbasa that our family typically enjoys are ready to eat, but ALWAYS read the package to be safe.

Raw sausage or ground pork of any type must be cooked to an internal temperature of 160º. There should not be any raw meat pink color remaining at 160ºF. Fully cooked smoked meats make have hints of pink from the smoking process – again read the label to understand whether you are using a raw or pre-cooked meat product.

When I start with a whole muscle cut of pork like our Farmhouse Pork Chops or Easy Grilled Pork Tenderloin I make sure to use a meat thermometer and cook fresh pork to an internal temperature of 145ºF. There is still a blush of pink at this point and the meat is juicy, tender and delicious!

Farming Has Changed

As we reflect on the past decade a LOT has changed. My smart phone has far more capabilities and has become a much bigger part of my life than just ten years ago. The same is true for most farmers. Technology has changed our lives and our farms.

Technology and new research is also changing how farmers work and how farms look. I have shared several articles about our family’s commitment to farming whether it’s raising pigs for 4-H or comparing large and small farms.

While advancements in farming methods, technology and economics have significantly transformed farming, one thing remains constant for farmers: their mission to produce safe, nutritious food in a responsible manner. To learn more about these goals and pig farmers from all over the United States check out PorkCares.org.

white plate with layers of sauerkraut, smoked sausage and potatoes next to fork

How to Cook Instant Pot Sausage and Sauerkraut with Beer

Browning sausage on saute setting in Instant Pot is optional. Some enjoy the flavor that browning brings out. Brown sausage in 2 tablespoons of oil if doing this step.
Drain most of the liquid from sauerkraut and place in the bottom of a 6 or 8 quart Instant Pot.
Add cubed potatoes, chunks of sausage and sprigs of Rosemary.
Pour one cup of beer evenly over the top of all ingredients.
Seal the pot and cook on high pressure for 9 minutes or stew for 30 minutes. When the timer beeps and cooking is done perform a quick release to remove all pressure.

Tips for Making Kielbasa in the Instant Pot

We enjoy Kielbasa or Smoked Sausage – I usually choose based on price at the grocery store
A bag of frozen green beans can be added between the sauerkraut and potatoes if desired
I prefer Yukon gold potatoes have a tender skin and do not require peeling
Potatoes can be substituted for cauliflower and/or beets – know that beets will likely turn the sauerkraut pink
Chicken broth can be substituted for beer
Fresh rosemary OR dill can be used, or fresh herb can be omitted
Sauerkraut does not have to be drained, but I’ve found that having too much liquid in the pot makes this recipe too soupy

Kielbasa cooked with sauerkraut and potatoes in a beer bath in the electric pressure cooker

Other Delicious & Easy Recipes with Sausage:

Printable Instant Pot Sauerkraut and Sausage Recipe