Whether you’re an avid pork and sauerkraut fan or you’re eager to try it for the first time, making instant pot pork and sauerkraut is a worthy recipe to take on. Not only is pork and sauerkraut together delicious, it also can be made easily in an instant pot. It’s the perfect dinner to whip up for supper on a night when you don’t feel like cooking. In this post, we’ll be getting you all the information you need to make this dish come together, while also answering some of the most frequently asked questions related to making instant pot pork and sauerkraut.

Table of Contents
- How to Cook Pork and Sauerkraut in Instant Pot
- How Long to Cook Pork and Sauerkraut in Instant Pot?
- Other Meals You can Do With Pork Cuts and Sauerkraut
- Pork and Sauerkraut with Other Ingredients
- Instant Pot Pork and Sauerkraut: Simple and Delicious!
- FAQs

Instant Pot Pork and Sauerkraut Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins
Ingredients
- 4 lbs pork butt roast
- 24 ounces of sauerkraut (can be canned or bagged)
- salt and pepper
- ½ cup of chicken broth or chicken bouillon dissolved in half a cup of water
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 apple (peeled and cut into 1-inch bite-sized pieces)
- 1 onion, coarsely chopped
- a pat of butter (optional)
Instructions
- Set your instant pot to “Saute” mode. Drizzle a little oil in the bottom and wait for it to heat.
- As your instant pot is heating the oil, prepare your pork roast by seasoning it liberally with salt and pepper.
- Once the oil is hot, gently place your pork roast into the oil and sear it on both sides. It may take about 5 minutes for your pork roast to develop some color, so try not to disturb it too much during this process.
- Once your pork roast has developed some color, remove the roast and allow it to sit on a plate.
- Pour your chicken broth in to “deglaze” the pan. To do this, simply allow your chicken broth to cook as you take a wooden spoon or spatula to gently scrape any browned bits off of the bottom of the instant pot from having cooked your roast. This adds more flavor to your sauce. Also add your pat of butter, if using, to your chicken broth during this step.
- Once your pot has been deglazed, press “Cancel” on your instant pot and gently place your pork roast back into the pot. Dump your sauerkraut and onions on top of the roast, followed by your apples and finally, the brown sugar.
- Affix the lid to your instant pot and turn the valve to “Seal” position. Cook your pork roast on high pressure for about 1 hour or 15 minutes per pound before performing a natural release on the pressure.
- After you’ve naturally released the pressure on your instant pot, your delicious pork and sauerkraut is ready to enjoy!
- Cook Time: 1 hr 20 mins
- Category: dinner
Keywords: Instant Pot pork saurkraut
How to Cook Pork and Sauerkraut in Instant Pot
Cooking pork and sauerkraut couldn’t be easier with the help of the Instant Pot.
Read on for details about how to make this amazingly succulent dish using only a few simple ingredients in a fraction of the time it would take to cook in the slow cooker or over the stove.
You’ll be glad you did!
How Do You Cook Pork and Sauerkraut in Instant Pot?
Ingredients
- 4 lbs pork butt roast
- 24 ounces of sauerkraut (can be canned or bagged)
- salt and pepper
- ½ cup of chicken broth or Better Than Bouillon dissolved in half a cup of water
- a pat of butter (optional)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 apple, peeled and cut into 1-inch bite-sized pieces
- 1 onion, coarsely chopped
Directions
How to Make Pork and Sauerkraut in Instant Pot
Set your Instant Pot
Set your instant pot to “Saute” mode. Drizzle a little oil in the bottom and wait for it to heat.
Prepare pork
As your instant pot is heating the oil, prepare your pork roast by seasoning it liberally with salt and pepper.
Sear meat
Once the oil is hot, gently place your pork roast into the oil and sear it on both sides. It may take about 5 minutes for your pork roast to develop some color, so try not to disturb it too much during this process.
Set aside
Once your pork roast has developed some color, remove the roast and allow it to sit on a plate.
Deglaze
Pour your chicken broth in to “deglaze” the pan. To do this, simply allow your chicken broth to cook as you take a wooden spoon or spatula to gently scrape any browned bits off of the bottom of the instant pot from having cooked your roast. This adds more flavor to your sauce. Also add your pat of butter, if using, to your chicken broth during this step.
Add ingredients
Once your pot has been deglazed, press “Cancel” on your instant pot and gently place your pork roast back into the pot. Dump your sauerkraut and onions on top of the roast, followed by your apples and finally, the brown sugar.
Cook
Affix the lid to your instant pot and turn the valve to “Seal” position. Cook your pork roast on high pressure for about 1 hour or 15 minutes per pound before performing a natural release on the pressure.
Enjoy!
After you’ve naturally released the pressure on your instant pot, your delicious pork and sauerkraut is ready to enjoy!
How Long to Cook Pork and Sauerkraut in Instant Pot?
How long you choose to cook pork and sauerkraut in instant pot will depend on the thickness of your meat.
Generally speaking, it will take about 15 minutes per pound for a pork butt roast.

Other Meals You can Do With Pork Cuts and Sauerkraut
How to Cook Pork Chops and Sauerkraut in Instant Pot?
Yet another take on this beloved classic is to use pork chops instead of pork butt roast in your instant pot.
This will take relatively less time to cook because pork chops are thinner than the whole roast. Therefore, this is an inexpensive, quick, and easy way to make pork and sauerkraut.
Simply follow the same steps mentioned above with your pork chops, making sure to NOT skip the searing process. Pressure cook for about 15-20 minutes before performing natural pressure release and enjoying this simple meal.
How Do You Cook Sauerkraut and Pork Steak Instant Pot Recipes
To make sauerkraut and pork steak, follow the aforementioned guidelines for making pork chops and sauerkraut. But this time, cook your pork steaks for about 18 minutes instead of 15 minutes.
For the remaining steps, follow the guidelines mentioned in the full recipe above.
How to Cook Pork Loin and Sauerkraut in Instant Pot?
How Long to Cook Pork Loin and Sauerkraut in Instant Pot?
Pork loin can be cooked the same way you cook pork butt roast
However, you should allot about 20 minutes per pound instead of 15 minutes per pound when cooking using this method.

How to Cook a Pork Roast and Sauerkraut in the Instant Pot
How to Cook a Pork Shoulder and Sauerkraut in an Instant Pot
Believe it or not, both pork shoulder and pork butt comes from the shoulder of the pig. Therefore, procedures for cooking these items are nearly identical when it comes to pork and sauerkraut.
Refer to the steps above for detailed instructions.
Speaking of differentiating pork cuts, have a read of our post: Ham Hock vs Pork Hock.
Frozen Pork and Sauerkraut in Instant Pot
When cooking frozen pork loin or butt and sauerkraut, try doing 30 minutes per pound on high in an instant pot for best results.
Pork and Sauerkraut with Other Ingredients
Instant Pot Pork and Sauerkraut and Potatoes
Instant Pot Pork and Sauerkraut No Apples
Not all pork and sauerkraut recipes call for apples and brown sugar. You can nix apples and brown sugar by making delicious pork and sauerkraut using potatoes instead.
There are plenty of amazing recipes out there that detail how to do this. So go ahead, get creative with flavors!
Instant Pot Pork and Sauerkraut Brown Sugar
Instant Pot Pork and Sauerkraut With Apples
Brown sugar and diced apples, along with a little onion and broth add scrumptious flavor to pork and sauerkraut that just might surprise you!
Instant Pot Pork and Sauerkraut: Simple and Delicious!
Instant pot pork and sauerkraut is just as easy as it is delicious. Use pork shoulder, butt, or pork loin to recreate this magical meal for you and your family.
There are so many recipes you can make with your Instant Pot! Another great family meal you can whip up any time of the week is Instant Pot Chili.
Hope you’ve found this post helpful!
Here are some pork or sausage recipes on my blog:
Learn about the Instant Pot or pressure cooking in these posts:
FAQs
What Is the Best Pork Cut For Sauerkraut?
There isn’t one “best” cut per se, it just depends on the amount of time you’re willing to spend on it and what you’re looking for. Generally speaking, for a pork roast, you’ll want to look at purchasing a shoulder cut, butt cut, or a pork loin. However, you can also use pork chops or pork steaks to enjoy your pork and sauerkraut in a fraction of the amount of time.
How Long is Sauerkraut and Pork Good For?
If stored in the fridge, sauerkraut and pork will remain at best quality for about 3-4 days. Frozen, it is kept at best quality for about two to three months.