With this super easy and totally tasty Instant Pot Sauerkraut & Sausage recipe, you can have something delicious on the table in no time! Follow me, Chef Jenn, as I show you how to make these dump-and-go Instant Pot Sauerkraut everyone will love!
Everyone is pressed for time these days, making staying on your keto diet a challenge. But, with this tasty keto Instant Pot dump-and-go recipe, you can get it set up and be eating in hardly any time.
And, this recipe is easily scaled to feed more people. I used one jar of sauerkraut and four bratwurst sausages, about a pound. This easily served four of us for dinner.
Ready to get started?
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What is Sauerkraut?
Sauerkraut is nature’s gift to keto. Not only is sauerkraut a nutritional powerhouse that’s loaded with all sorts of goodness, but it is totally keto.
Sauerkraut is thinly shredded cabbage that’s then fermented. The nutritional benefits of sauerkraut are amazing, and if you rinse it before eating, you can remove a lot of the nasty vinegar flavor without sacrificing the nutrition. And, if you’re wondering if cabbage is keto, check this post out.
How To Cook Keto Saurkraut & Sausage
Gather your ingredients:
Good bratwurst sausage – you want a good, meaty and not too fatty sausage for this recipe
Sauerkraut – by the can or by the jar, drain it and squeeze it to remove most of the liquid. I’ll even give it a quick rinse (and another squeeze) to remove much of the sourness. Believe me, there’s still plenty of flavor.
Onion – about 1/2 a yellow or white onion, sliced
Garlic – two or three cloves should do it
Bay leaf – I toss one in because it adds great flavor
Water – you need a cup of water to keep it all working
Salt and pepper – that’s it!
It all goes into the Instant Pot! Add the water first, then the drained and squeezed sauerkraut, then finally, the seasoning and sausage.
Oven Directions
No Instant Pot? No worries! This easy-peasy dish can also be made in the oven. Here’s how:
- Drain and squeeze your sauerkraut.
- Slice the onion and mince the garlic. Toss them with the saurkraut and add the salt, pepper, and bay leaf.
- Layer the sauerkraut on the bottom of an oven-safe casserole dish.
- Drizzle 1/2 cup of water over the top of the sauerkraut (or use Chicken Broth for extra flavor).
- Place the sausage on top, cover with foil, and bake at 350-F for about an hour.
- Enjoy!
Chef’s Tips
- Use a good quality bratwurst sausage that’s not too fatty. Read the ingredient label to watch for hidden starches or sugars.
- Change up the flavor by using Italian sausage or even smoked sausage.
- This Instant Pot Sauerkraut & Sausage recipe can easily be doubled for keto meal prep or to freeze for another meal.
- This dish is perfect for keto meal prepping. It is easy to make, makes about four servings, and heats easily for lunches or dinners.
What to Serve with Instant Pot Sauerkraut & Sausage
This isn’t the prettiest recipe I’ve ever made, but it sure has plenty of flavor. You can jazz up the look of your plate with a colorful veg like Swiss Chard with Garlic, or go simple with Zucchini Noodles.
Is This Keto Instant Pot Sauerkraut & Sausage Recipe Freezable?
Yes! This easy Instant Pot keto recipe will do just fine in the freezer.
To freeze, chill the cooked dish overnight in the fridge. Then, portion it into single-serve (or however servings you need) portions and place it in freezer-safe plastic bags or containers.
I prefer to use plastic bags (which I recycle when finished). This allows me to press out excess air, which we all know is bad when freezing.
Air can cause freezer burn on food, which is still safe to eat, but the flavor and appearance will be off a bit.
To reheat, simply thaw it overnight in the fridge, then heat it in a covered oven-safe dish or i the microwave until heated through.
Like This? Also Try:
- Italian Chicken Stew aka Chicken Cacciatore
- Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff
- Beefy Pot Roast Soup (with IP directions)
Ingredients. 
Everything into the IP! 
Makes four generous servings. 
Perfect for meal prepping!
Instant Pot Sauerkraut & Sausage
Ingredients
- 32 ounce jar sauerkraut
- 1 pound pork sausage
- 1/2 onion sliced
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Drain and rinse the sauerkraut. Give it a light squeeze to remove most of the water. You don’t want it bone dry. Mix the sauerkraut with the onion, garlic, salt and pepper.
- Put 1 cup of water in the bottom of the Instant Pot.
- Add the sauerkraut in a single layer on the bottom of the IP.
- Cut the sausage into chunks and place it on top of the sauerkraut.
- Seal the IP. Cook it on Pressure Cook high for 15 minutes.
- Natural release for 10 minutes, then manual release. Enjoy!
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed. Erythritol carbs (sugar substitutes) are not included in the carbohydrate counts as they have been shown not to impact blood sugar, and they have zero calories and zero carbs. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Always great to find new Keto recipes to make in the Instant Pot
Any excuse to have more sauerkraut for me! I don’t know why I’m addicted. Excited to make this.
This is awesome! One of my favorite meals made in the Instant pot. Yay!
It is a pretty easy and tasty dish! So glad you like it!
Trying to eat more fermented foods. This recipe is super helpful for that!
Made this for the family and it was a hit!
So glad you all liked it!
Thanks for taking the time to let me know! I’ll fix it – enjoy your meal!
Step 4 says cut the sauerkraut into chunks and place it on top of the sauerkraut. Obviously that’s a typo, and you cut the sausage into chunks. I’m preparing this now, it looks delicious!
Easy.
I added a few red potatoes.