Beer-steamed Instant Pot brats come out tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. Ready in under 20 minutes, they’re ideal for busy weeknights. If you prefer not to use beer, alternate liquids are suggested below.
What Makes This Recipe So Good
- Juicy, smoky bratwurst is irresistible, but grilling isn’t always convenient. The Instant Pot delivers perfectly cooked brats quickly with minimal effort.
- Sautéing the brats first creates a crisp, flavorful casing; then steaming them in a bath of light beer keeps them tender and adds depth of flavor.
Key Ingredients
Bratwurst – This recipe was developed with regular-sized bratwursts (standard package size). Cook time may vary for jumbo brats, so adjust if needed.
Beer – Steaming in beer infuses savory flavor. If you’d rather not use beer, substitute beef broth, chicken broth, or water. Use the same liquid amount to avoid Instant Pot burn warnings.
Chef’s Tips
- Instant Pots vary by model. Watch the brats the first couple of times and adjust times as needed for your appliance.
- For extra flavor, add diced onions or some sauerkraut to the liquid under the trivet before pressure cooking. You can also marinate the brats in the beer for an hour before cooking.
More Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Love
- Instant Pot Chicken Paprikash
- Boiled Peanuts in the Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup
- Perfect Instant Pot Bacon
- Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage
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Instant Pot Brats
Cheryl Malik
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Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 5 bratwursts 1 package, regular size
- 1 cup light beer or beef broth
Equipment
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Instant Pot
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Instant Pot trivet
Instructions
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Set Instant Pot to Sauté on High and add the butter. When the butter is hot and bubbly, add the bratwursts and brown on one side for about 2–3 minutes, then turn and brown the other side for another 2–3 minutes.
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Remove the brats, place the trivet in the pot, and arrange the brats on the trivet. Pour the beer or beef broth into the pot so liquid reaches the bottom but does not cover the brats.
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Secure the lid and set the valve to sealing. Pressure cook on High (Manual) for 6 minutes; timing begins after pressure builds. When cooking finishes, allow a 10-minute Natural Release, then carefully Quick Release any remaining pressure. Serve as desired.
Notes
- Recipe testing used regular-sized brats. Jumbo brats may require longer cook time.
- Do not cut or poke holes in the bratwurst before cooking; it’s unnecessary.
- Use thawed brats. If starting with frozen brats, pressure cook them first for 6 minutes, then remove the liquid and sauté them in butter to brown the casings.
Nutrition Information
| Calories: 274 kcal
| Protein: 9 g
| Fat: 24 g
| Saturated Fat: 9 g
| Carbs: 3 g
| Sodium: 600 mg
Totals are approximate and depend on portion sizes. Nutrition reflects the listed ingredients and excludes optional items; actual values may vary by brand.