Instant Pot Sauerkraut is SO easy to make in a fraction of the time of traditional from-scratch versions. Just a handful of ingredients (including bacon and caraway seeds) and a half hour are all you need to make this hearty side dish recipe.
While I'm Italian, we never did the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. Technically we feasted on one fish as an appetizer, our all-time favorite baked clam dip, but we stopped there.
No baccalà for us.
Since each year we would get together with our close family friends for dinner, we'd each make a tried and true family recipe for the main dish. This meant most years we ate a combination of baked ziti with meatballs right alongside kielbasa, pierogies, and sauerkraut.
Looking back the two cuisines weren't quite matchy matchy, but when comfort food tastes that good, who wouldn't want to enjoy them both? I certainly wouldn't want to be the person who had to pick between them.
There's a major difference between the sauerkraut I grew up eating and this Instant Pot Sauerkraut, and that's the cooking vessel. What typically is made over the course of hours on the stove top to let the flavors meld just right (definitely worth it!) can come together with just ten minutes of pressure cooking time in the Instant Pot.
No need to keep an eye on it, add more liquid at intervals if needed, etc. Just lock the lid, set the time, and listen for the beeps.
Despite that huge difference, the ingredients are just about the same! I included "easy" in the recipe title for this Instant Pot sauerkraut not only for how quickly it comes together, but for the main ingredient: cabbage.
This recipe calls for two 14.5-ounce cans of shredded sauerkraut, meaning you can simply open the lids and pour them into the Instant Pot. While I do enjoy preparing recipes from scratch/close to scratch, I also value convenience. Since the three ingredients of the canned sauerkraut are basic (just cabbage, water, and salt), I happily use them in here.
Plus with my less than ideal knife skills, who knows how much extra time it would add to the recipe for me to finely slice a whole head of cabbage?!
Bacon, onion, and caraway seeds add a great flavor to this Instant Pot sauerkraut, and the smell alone brings back so many memories.
My mom has reported that she's been able to buy sauerkraut that already includes caraway seeds, though I haven't found any in the stores around me. If you can find it - great! Feel free to use it here (and omit the caraway seeds added separately).
If not, I recommend adding ¾ teaspoon of caraway seeds to this recipe, which is just under 30 ounces of sauerkraut. I've bumped it up to 1 teaspoon before which was still delicious, but maybe just a tad strong if you're not a full-fledged lover of that flavor.
One thing to note on the broth. The generally accepted guidance around pressure cooking in the 6-quart Instant Pot is that you should add at least one cup of liquid, though I've heard the argument made that it can be less.
Since bagged or canned sauerkraut has a pretty good amount of brine in it, I went the extra step and drained and measured the liquid to see how much was going to be added from the sauerkraut directly.
Each 14.5-ounce can of sauerkraut yielded about one-quarter cup of liquid. Times that by two and one-half cup of liquid would be coming from there. To be on the safe side, I then added one-half cup of broth to everything to ward off any stress-inducing Instant Pot "burn" messages.
After a quick cook time and a short natural-then-quick pressure release, a delicious and not-mushy-whatsoever Instant Pot sauerkraut awaits! There will be a little extra cooking liquid, but it shouldn't be too excessive. I like to store it with the leftover portions.
Recipe Notes
- Be sure not to skip the deglazing step in the instruction #3 in the recipe card below. Getting the browned bits off of the bottom of the Instant Pot before pressure cooking prevents the bottom of the pot from overheating, which could trigger a warning message.
- This recipe was tested and made in a 6-quart Instant Pot (affiliate link). If preparing this Instant Pot sauerkraut in an 8-quart Instant Pot, I would add another ⅓- to ½-cup of broth to account for the larger size.
Easy Instant Pot Sauerkraut
Ingredients
- 3 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 small onion, chopped
- ½ cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 2 14.5-oz cans shredded sauerkraut
- ¾ teaspoon caraway seeds
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Press the "Saute" button on the Instant Pot to turn it on. Add chopped bacon to the Instant Pot and cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- After 4 minutes, add chopped onion. Cook for another 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the bacon has browned and the onions are turning golden.
- While still on the Saute setting, pour in the broth and scrape up all of the browned bits from the bottom of the Instant Pot with a wooden spoon. They should come up fairly easily. Press the "Keep Warm/Cancel" button to shut off the Saute function.
- Next add both cans of shredded sauerkraut (including the liquid), caraway seeds, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Close and lock lid, ensuring the pressure release valve is set to "sealing". Press the "Manual" button. Using the "+" or "-" button, adjust the time to 10 minutes of cook time.
- Once the cook time is over, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, and then carefully release the rest of the pressure. Sauerkraut will stay in the fridge for several days.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as an estimate. As it can vary due to many factors (brands used, quantities, etc.), we cannot guarantee its accuracy.
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Lhiannon says
It looks delicious, I will try it. Just got an instant pot and I am so glad how much faster the cooking is. Perfect for all kind of vegetables.
Alyssa says
I agree - the Instant Pot is a big game-changer! I hope you enjoy. 🙂
kristine says
Time saver and doesn't stink up house! Have made it couple times - it's perfect! Thank you for sharing!
Alyssa says
You're very welcome, Kristine! So glad you like it. 🙂
Emily says
My German mother always made sauerkraut with unpeeled, chopped apple in addition to the onions and bacon. All sauteed together before adding the kraut.
Alyssa says
Apple sounds like a delicious addition!
Charlene Greene says
Me too. This is similar to my recipe except no apple. I also drain and rinse the sauerkraut. If I don’t have apple I use a tablespoon or two of brown sugar.
Linda V says
I just made this for the second time. Love how the kraut tastes like it’s been long slow cooked! This time I buried a couple of sausages in the kraut. I also put the trivet on top of the kraut and put a steamer basket of smallish potatoes on top. I followed the cooking/natural release times per recipe. When finished, I removed the potatoes and mashed them to serve with the sauerkraut and sausage. What an easy delicious meal!
Alyssa says
So glad you like it, Linda! What a great idea to add the sausages and the potatoes. I'll be trying it out that way the next time I make this kraut...sounds delicious! 🙂
Duski says
Hi.
I've made sauerkraut for more than 50 years. Today was the first time in an Instant Pot. I followed your recipe except for onions cuz I dont eat onions. Everything seemed to go well until I opened the lid. The lid and the sides of the pot are deeply stained...lopls like acid scarred the finish. I've only used the instant pot not even 10 times. Tried lightly scrubbing with SOS pad but looks like the stains are permanent. I'm sad. Any suggestions? Thanks
Alyssa says
Hi Duski, I'm sorry you're dealing with that headache. I've never experienced anything like that in Instant Pot cooking. There definitely has been caked on residue that requires a good soaking/scrubbing to remove, but nothing that persists after that and a spin in the dishwasher. Here is the official cleaning page from Instant Pot, if it's helpful: https://instantpot.com/care-cleaning-pressure-multicooker/ Perhaps adding vinegar into the equation would help remove the stains?
Homer says
Hi Duski
My All Time Favorite for situations that sound similar to yours is Original Oven Cleaner. Being a single male that don't like cooking much,,, yes!!! I definitely burn things, lol.
Good Luck
Kuba says
Just made that dish but with garlic added in a skillet. I have a new Instant pot and will try your recipe and maybe add my garlic
Alyssa says
Sounds great, Kuba! Please let me know how it goes if you give it a try. Enjoy your new Instant Pot. 🙂
Miranda says
Wow this looks so delicious! I've never made this recipe before but I think I'll try it out tonight!
Alyssa says
Hope you enjoyed if you gave it a shot!
Deb says
Alyssa, my hubby recently asked me to find an IP sauerkraut recipe and I'm tickled to find yours! Could you possibly post instructions for making it with raw cabbage rather than canned? I tried it the long way (on the pantry shelf) once before and we didn't care for the flavor at all. The DH loves the IP and wants to be able to make some himself! Thanks so much!
Alyssa says
Hi Deb! Sorry for the delay in my reply. I have to admit I'm not very familiar with a tried and true homemade sauerkraut method using raw cabbage in the Instant Pot. Thinking about it, with the addition of some liquid, the pressure cooking should be able to tenderize thin strips of cabbage in a short amount of time. Maybe with some extra broth or with a bit of vinegar? While not technically fermented, that could provide an amount of tang without the days on the shelf. A "cheater's version" if you will. 🙂 Now I'm curious...I'll do some experimenting!
Kathi Brill says
If it wasn't almost 4 am I would be making this. Yummy thank you for sharing. I am going to add in a bit of brown sugar and an apple. And lock the doors and eat all of it. I am way to excited for words.
Alyssa says
Those sound like delicious additions, Kathi! 🙂 I hope you enjoy!
Allynne says
Wow Alyssa what a timesaver. Your sauerkraut looks delicious!