Instant Pot Brats (Best Easy Bratwurst Recipe!) (2024)

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If you've been wondering how to cook brats in an instant pot, look no further! You've come across the juiciest, flavorful, and moist Instant pot brats with beer recipes. What's even better is these make the ideal low carb bratwurst recipes or keto bratwurst recipes too.

Instant Pot Brats (Best Easy Bratwurst Recipe!) (1)

Brats Instant Pot

Finding recipes for busy weeknights can sometimes be a struggle, especially when you're following a low carb diet or keto diet AND want to use your beloved Instant Pot! Even if you aren't looking for keto bratwurst recipes, this will become a new family go-to recipe regardless.

Bratwurst in beer (and butter!) has quickly become one of our absolute favoritedinners and keto bratwurst recipes we enjoy regularly. While these have always turned out well in a crock-pot, cooking them in an Instant Pot instead takes these gems to a whole different level.

Instant Pot Brats (Best Easy Bratwurst Recipe!) (2)

Adding a side of sugar-free sauerkraut or cooked cabbage makes this the perfect low carb bratwurst meal! Or I guess you can skip the kraut if you're on a beer and sausage diet 😉

We seriously couldn't believe how juicy and tender the bratwurst turned out with this recipe, we'll never go back to brats cooked in a slow cooker or oven again.

The kids also love this recipe too! When cooking bratwurst in a crock-pot all day, the sausages seem to get a little too infused with beer flavor for their liking. The IP solved this problem since it quickly infuses the bratwurst with both the beer AND the butter. That being said, if you LOVE beer, by all means, soak brats in beer overnight.

Ingredients for Instant Pot Brats With Beer

Instant Pot Brats (Best Easy Bratwurst Recipe!) (3)

On to the ingredient list for your new favorite electric pressure cooker bratwurst recipe! 😉

Here's what you need:

2 T butter
7 Costco size Johnsonville brats(these taste the best IMO). You, of course, can buy smaller packages from your grocery store
1 light beer- Michelob Ultra (any favorite beer of yours works, but this only has 2.6 Carbs for those looking for keto bratwurst recipes.)

NOTE: You can also cook brats without beer by either substituting a chicken broth, beef broth or alcohol-free beer.

How to Cook Instant Pot Bratwurst

Instant Pot Brats (Best Easy Bratwurst Recipe!) (4)

Turn your Instant Pot to sauté and melt the butter

Saute brats 2-3 mins each side until lightly browned.

Instant Pot Frozen Brats?

If you have frozen bratwurst and are wondering if you can cook them in your pressure cooker, you'll be happy to know it works just as well! You need to modify the recipe slightly since it doesn't really work to brown the brats in butter when they're frozen.

To cook instant pot frozen brats you'll want to skip the saute step. You won't want to miss out on the butter, so I'd melt that in the microwave and drizzle over the top or just add little pats of butter on the top of each frozen bratwurst.

Proceed with the recipe by pressuring cooking the bratwurst in the beer on a basket for 7 minutes. After the 10 minute slow release you'll want to broil the instant pot frozen brats in the oven for 2-3 minutes to get that "just grilled" appearance.

Instant Pot Brats Cooker Time

Regarding the instant pot brats cooking time, I've made this recipe many times and in my pressure cooker, the perfectly done cooking time is 6 minutes. Other recipes I've found online for beer brats in a pressure cooker say less time than this and others say even longer. If you have other types of similar size uncooked sausage, I'd also recommend this for your instant pot sausage cooking time for other types of uncooked sausages too!

I highly suggest you use 6 minutes as your starting time since you don't want to undercook your bratwurst OR overcook them. And then you can simply adjust your instant pot brats cooking time going forward with your own pressure cooker. But in my opinion, 6 minutes seems to be the perfect instant pot brats cooker time for the juiciest, moist and flavorful Johnsonville brats recipes.

Please post your comments below! If you have other pressure cooker bratwurst recipes that you love, please also share them with us 🙂

I hope you enjoy these amazing low carb instant pot brats!

Other Recipes You'll Love

Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup
Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
Baby Back Ribs in Oven
Baked Swedish Meatballs
Instant Pot Mississippi Roast
Pork Rib Rub

Easy Instant Pot Brats With Beer

Yield: 5 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 6 minutes

Total Time: 11 minutes

An easy Instant Pot brats recipe for the best ever bratwurst recipe simmered in butter and beer, yet made in your pressure cooker! This is both keto, low carb and sugar free

Ingredients

2 T butter
5-7 bratwurst, uncooked (regular size, not large deli size)
1 bottle of beer, mild flavor

Instructions

Turn on the Instant Pot and set to Saute High.
Brown the bratwurst lightly in the butter on both sides, about 2-3 minutes each. You might need to brown these in two batches, depending on how many brats you're cooking and the size of your pressure cooker.
Remove all of the brats from the Instant Pot and set asie on a. plate.
Place a rack on the bottom, set all of your bratwurst on top of the rack.
Carefully pour the beer over the bratwurst.
Set your instant pot to Manual or Pressure Cook (depending on your model) and cook for 6 minutes. Once done, do a Natural Release for 10 minutes and then release any remaining pressure. Enjoy!

Notes

This recipe was written using standard sized raw bratwurst like Johnsonville or Costco size, these are not the jumbo raw brats some meat counters carry. The Johnsonville packages carry 5 bratwurst, the Costco carries 7 brats per package.

Long handled rubber tip tongs work very well to turn the brats and remove them from the Instant Pot.

Chicken broth, apple juice, or water can be used instead of beer but beer will give the brats the best flavor.

Feel free to add vegetables to the pot! Onions, sliced cabbage, or sauerkraut are all great options.

If you have the jumbo meat counter brats we suggest pressure cooking them for 8 minutes before doing a Natural Release of 10 minutes (this is a best guess on time and has not been tested). If the jumbo brats aren't cooked through, pop the Instant pot lid back on to pressure cook for 1 more minute and then do a quick release of the remaining pressure.

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Nutrition Information

Yield 5Serving Size 1
Amount Per ServingCalories 468Total Fat 39gSaturated Fat 15gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 22gCholesterol 100mgSodium 1046mgCarbohydrates 1gNet Carbohydrates 1gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 17g

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FAQs

What makes brats taste better? ›

It can be flavored with garlic and marjoram. The more garlic the better. KNOCKWORST is a shorter, stockier German sausage made with beef, or beef and pork.

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What is the best way to cook raw bratwurst? ›

Bring to a low boil. Add brats to the pan, cover with a lid and cook over a low swimmer for 10-12 minutes. Preheat a frying pan or grill to medium to medium-high heat. Add cooked brats to frying pan or grill and cook for a few minutes a side until brown & caramelized all over.

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Why do people boil brats before cooking? ›

You do that to get the center of the sausage completely cooked. You want to do this for both food safety reasons (ground meats can have pathogens distributed throughout the meat and must be heated through) and also so you don't serve them to your guests while they are still raw in the middle.

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How do you keep brats juicy? ›

Tip # 1 Do Not Prick the Sausage Casing

It may seem like a good idea, but pricking the casing of the brat results in a dry and overcooked meat. Let the juices stay inside and mingle.

Get More Info Here ›

How to add flavor to bratwurst? ›

The best way to do this is precooking the brats in a broth of beer and water. Get a pot and add in beer and water in equal amounts (you can throw in other seasonings, like onions or garlic). Simmer the brat in this mix for 15 minutes to cook the sausage and add more flavor to it.

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Why you shouldn't boil brats? ›

Sindelar said parboiling speeds up the unfolding process and can result in a mushy meat texture, the development of rubbery casings and separate the casing from the sausage. So, there you have it. It's settled science.

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Should you poke holes in brats before cooking? ›

DON'T POKE HOLES IN YOUR BRATS: If you do, you will watch all that delicious flavor pour onto the bottom of your grill and sizzle away. DON'T BOIL YOUR BRATS: If you do, successfully make delicious brat flavored water and that is about all. Stick to these professional grilling techniques.

How is bratwurst traditionally cooked? ›

These sausages are meant to be fried and should never be boiled. Boiling the uncooked bratwurst will boil out the spices and destroy the flavor. Oven cooking (as with pellet "barbecues" which are actually ovens) is acceptable but yields a dryer sausage. Start with a cool grill and use medium-low flame.

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Can brats be a little pink? ›

However you choose to cook bratwurst, be sure the sausages are cooked all the way through. They should register 160 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, or you can cut into one with the tip of a paring knife and check that the meat is no longer raw and dark-pink; it should be moist and juicy and very light pink.

Is it bad to boil brats yes or no? ›

Parboiling speeds up the process that can create a mushy meat texture, develop rubbery casings and separate the casing from the sausage. Proteins unfold slower in the medium-low heat of a grill. That environment creates more opportunities for the meat proteins to properly bind with the fats, seasonings and the casing.

Why you shouldn't boil brats before grilling? ›

During the unfolding process, proteins bind with fats, salt, pepper and seasonings to create texture and flavor. Parboiling speeds up the process that can create a mushy meat texture, develop rubbery casings and separate the casing from the sausage. Proteins unfold slower in the medium-low heat of a grill.

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Should you pierce brats before grilling? ›

Brats split when the casings cook first, then the fat is rendered, the juices flow inside the casings, and the bratwurst expands. Pop. That's why some folks prick the casings to allow juices to drip out, preventing splitting. The problem is, of course, the juices and the flavor are lost anyway.

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Should you season brats before cooking? ›

Remember that you'll only want to roll your brats in your seasoning of choice if you're planning to toss them on the grill. If you're braising, simply add your rub of choice to the beer/broth mixture instead. Some recipes will call for vegetable oil, but this step isn't necessary when you're using a Traeger.

How do you fancy up brats? ›

Basic Beer Brats with Peppers and Onions

Grill brats directly on the grill for a slight char and toast buns according to instructions in the video. Ass cheeses or seasonings to the bun as you see fit. Place brat in bun, top with peppers and onions, and drizzle with Honey Dijon Barbecue 'N Brat Sauce.

What do you season brats with? ›

When seasoning your brat, lightly roll the sausages in our signature Traeger Rub (or any of your favorite rubs) prior to putting them on the grill. Our Traeger Rub is ideal for brats, because it will give you a slight hint of chili pepper and garlic while also adding an herby oregano and basil profile to your brats.

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Should I add seasoning to brats? ›

The best seasonings for brats include a combination of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and a touch of cayenne for some heat.

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What to add to bratwurst? ›

A succulent beer brat shouldn't stand alone. Pair this juicy sausage with classic toppings like sauerkraut, homemade mustard, and of course, the beer-soaked sliced onions. Reach for sides like German potato salad or sweet corn if you're feeding a crowd.