Instant Pot beer brats come together so quickly and easily right in your pressure cooker so you can have this barbecue favorite anytime! These flavorful sausages make the best sandwiches for any picnic.

Bratwursts are a favorite in my family.

These flavorful sausages make delicious dinners whether you serve them with potatoes and onions or on a bun as the main dish for your picnic dinner.

What’s the difference between bratwurst and sausage?

Bratwurst is a type of sausage.

The term sausage is a bit of a catch all and can refer to anything from breakfast sausage patties or links to andouille sausage.

Bratwurst is a German fresh link sausage spiced with nutmeg, ginger, caraway and sage.

They are often made from veal, beef or pork.

How to Make

Making beer brats in the Instant Pot couldn’t be easier!

To start, make sure the inner liner is in your Instant Pot and press the saute button on the pot to turn it on to saute mode.

Add the sausages to the Pot.

Cook the sausages, turning periodically so the brats get nice and brown on both sides.

Hit cancel to turn off the pot. Use tongs to transfer the bratwursts to a waiting plate.

Now it’s time to cook the onions.

Hit saute again to turn the pot back on saute mode.

Add the sliced onions to the pot and stir them with a sturdy wooden spoon.

Pour in the beer, stirring the onions as you go.

sure to really work the spoon against the bottom of the pot so you deglaze it with the beer.

Place the trivet in the pot on top of the onions and beer.

Cut a small slit or two into each of the brats.

Place the brats on top of the trivet. Secure the lid on the pot and make sure the valve is set to sealing.

Cook the brats for 5 minutes on manual high pressure.

Let the Pot release naturally for 8 minutes.

After 8 minutes, quick release any of the remaining pressure.

Remove the lid and serve on a roll for a sandwich.

Storing Leftovers

If you have any leftover bratwurst, make sure to put them in the fridge within 2 hours.

To keep them nice and fresh, store them in a sealed container in the fridge for 4 days.

How to Freeze

You can also store any leftover brats in the freezer for up to 3 months.

To freeze, let the brats cool to room temperature.

Then put any cooked brats on cooking sheet you’ve sprayed with nonstick spray. Leave a few inches of space between each one.

Let them freeze for 2 to 3 hours so they are partially frozen.

Then put the partially frozen bratwursts in a freezer bag, making sure to leave a couple inches of room between the brats and the seal of the bag.

Seal the bag and make sure to squeeze out any extra air.

When you are ready to reheat them, let them defrost and then heat on the stove top or in the oven until warm.

Tips and tricks

For best results, follow these tips and tricks.

Use any beer you like. We used Michelobe in this recipe, but use your favorite.
Make sure to slit the sides of the brats to prevent them from exploding when pressure cooked. Just a tiny slit, nothing too drastic.
Stir frequently when cooking the onions. Saute mode gets very hot and stirring a lot will prevent the onions from sticking and burning.

Other Bratwurst Recipes You Might Enjoy

These Instant Pot beer brats are a fast and delicious way to make bratwurst for your next picnic. Make this yummy bratwurst recipe for your next gathering and watch them disappear!

Looking for other bratwurst recipes? Try these:

If you’ve tried these INSTANT POT BEER BRATS, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!