Instant Pot Pork and Sauerkraut is one of the easiest recipes to make! With just a few simple ingredients, this recipe will deliver a pork roast that is cooked to tender perfection in a perfectly balanced sweet and tangy sauerkraut and apple mixture.
Serve this pressure cooker pork and sauerkraut with Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes and Instant Pot Steamed Green Beans for an easy family meal.
Instant Pot Pork and Sauerkraut
I have to say I am STILL amazed how much faster the Instant Pot can make classic recipes.
Take my family’s traditional Slow Cooker Pork and Sauerkraut, that takes hours to braise. With an electric pressure cooker, I can have the same Pork and Sauerkraut with the same delicious flavors in a fraction of the time.
And this is not just any recipe for pork and sauerkraut–this is the BEST recipe for Instant Pot Pork and Sauerkraut.
This pork roast is cooked with sauerkraut, which tenderizes the meat and gives it a tangy flavor. But I also add in apple juice and fresh apples to balance out the sourness of the sauerkraut. The pork is tender, flavorful, and absolutely incredible.
If you THINK you don’t like sauerkraut, this may be the recipe to change your mind. It adds dimension and a tangy bite to the pork, but thanks to the apple juice it is not overpowering at all. Even my picky kids enjoy this recipe!
Ingredients Needed
- Pork Roast: I love using a pork loin for this recipe. It is lean, flavorful and because of the sauerkraut and the Instant Pot, it gets perfectly tender. Feel free to use a pork shoulder or pork roast, you will just need to add 5 minutes of cook time.
- Sauerkraut: Fresh or canned sauerkraut can be used. Be sure to drain off the juices from sauerkraut, as that liquid is very salty and sour.
- Apple Juice: Just like my recipe for Instant Pot Pulled Pork, apple juice is the secret to this recipe. It balances out the sauerkraut and apples and pork are a perfect culinary pair.
- Apples: Fresh apples help enhance the apple flavor.
- Onions: Fresh onions add just the right balance to the apples, pork, and sauerkraut.
- Garlic: Totally optional and not traditional in pork and sauerkraut, but I love the flavor of garlic.
How to Make Instant Pot Pork and Sauerkraut
The process for making Instant Pot Pork and Sauerkraut is EASIER than the traditional method.
For my slow cooker pork and sauerkraut recipe, I season the pork and sear the pork and then cook in the slow cooker. For this instant pot version, skip the step of searing the meat. The pork loin absorbs all the flavors as it cooks and gets perfectly tender and flavorful better if NOT seared.
But you do need to cut the pork into 2-4 inch large chunks, whether using pork loin or pork butt. This will help the pork cook evenly and tenderize.
Once the meat is cut into chunks, this recipe is as easy as putting everything into the Instant pot and pressure cooking.
Just remember to let pressure release naturally after cook time has elapsed. If you do a quick pressure release, your meat may seize up and become tough.
Once the cooking time has elapsed and pressure is released, remove the pork from the Instant Pot. I prefer to shred the pork and then serve with the cooking juices, but you can serve the pork in the larger chunks if desired.
Instant Pot Pork and sauerkraut is a great served with the cooking juices over mashed potatoes or if you are lucky enough to have two pressure cookers, make Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes.
More Instant Pot Pork Recipes
- Instant Pot Pork Tacos–tangy, savory and spiced to perfection. This meat is great on tacos, in burritos, or fajitas.
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork–delicious, tangy, and fabulous for BBQ Pork Sandwiches.
- Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin–Pork Tenderloin is cooked with sweet potatoes for a complete, easy, and healthy meal.
- Instant Pot Pork Chops–made with a creamy mushroom sauce without canned soup.
Instant Pot Pork and Sauerkraut
Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds pork loin roast cut into 2-3 inch large chunks
- salt and pepper
- 16 ounces sauerkraut drained of extra liquid
- 1 cup apple juice or chicken stock
- 1 apple sliced
- 1 onion sliced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic optional
Instructions
- Cut pork roast into large 2-3 inch chunks. Liberally season pork loin with salt and pepper on all sides.
- Place pork pieces in the instant pot and pour in apple juice. Add apples, onions, and garlic to pressure cooker. Top with sauerkraut.
- Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. Hit Cook Time/Pressure Cook and use the +/- buttons to adjust to 15.
- Once cook time has elapsed allow pressure to release naturally, or for at least 15 minutes.
Notes
- Use chicken stock in place of apple juice if desired. If using stock, you may want to add 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar to balance the flavors.
- Garlic is optional. It is not traditional, but I love the added flavor.
- Feel free to use a pork shoulder or pork butt roast. You will need to cut the pork roast up into 2-3 inch chunks as well, but increase the cook time to 20 minutes.
I cooked this as directed, cutting a 3.8 pound pork loin roast into 4 pieces, following the rest of the recipe using a 6 qt instant pot. After 15 minutes pressure and 15 minutes natural release, the meat was very firm and had an internal temperature of 175 degrees. Should I decrease the natural release time or the overall time to get a more tender result?
Hi Kelly! It sounds like it was pretty close to the target temperature of 165 degrees, I would decrease cook time to 12 or 13 minutes, but DO NOT decrease natural pressure release time as that will cause for tough meat. Also keep in mind, Also, just like ovens, every instant pot can run a bit hotter or colder, so you may want to take note if you find more recipes being over cooked in stated cook time and adjust accordingly. I hope that helps!
Lots of compliments on this dish. I love pork and sauerkraut together. I was impressed with how tender the pork loin became – excellent taste. The only changes I made – I browned the meat chunks first, and used all chicken broth. Oh, and a larger can of sauerkraut, well drained.
I also, cooked potatoes first – and mashed them up while the meat and sauerkraut were cooking. Only dirtied one pot!
I am so glad you enjoyed Debbie!
Would it be possible to cook this in a crock pot? How would I need to alter recipe.
Hi Barbara! Here is my recipe for Slow Cooker Pork and Sauerkraut. I hope you love it!
I made this today for good luck for the new year. It was terrific! I did the water test and just went full speed ahead and delved into this recipe. I followed the step by step instructions that were given. Tweaked a few things here and there ( added diced potatoes to the kraut. Amazing meal.
I am so glad you enjoyed Jan! And welcome to the world of Instant Pot cooking 🙂
Delicious!!! This is the only way I’ll be making it from now on. Thanks for the great recipe! I took someone else’s suggestion from the comments and added peeled and cut potatoes on top of this recipe on the steamer basket. It made delicious and easy mashed potatoes! I also used honeycrisp apple cider instead of the juice, and I rinsed the sauerkraut before adding it. My family loved it! Thanks again and Happy New Year!! 🙂
I am so glad you enjoyed so much Melissa! I loved the idea of adding potatoes on top myself! Happy New Year!
Thank you for sharing your recipe. It is similar to my old way. I have a question about the time. I have a 5 pound pork loin. Is the total time to set 15 minutes on high pressure or 15 minutes per pound? I cut up into 2-3 inch chunks and added all the ingredients into the Instapot. This is my first year cooking the pork and sauerkraut in the instant pot verses cooking all day. I just am nervous about 15 minutes on high pressure being enough. Does it continue to cook as it releases steam naturally.
Hi Kathei! 15 minutes is all you will need! The cook time is based on the chunks of pork. If I were to leave my pork roast whole, it would need 20-25 minutes per pound (and I just don’t find that very tender or as flavorful). It will take a bit longer to come to pressure the more you add to the Instant Pot and longer to release pressure (which I do calculate as extra cook time) I hope you enjoy!
Would I adjust anything if I am using 32oz of sauerkraut instead of 16oz?
Hi Karly! I would add in a bit more fresh apple slices to help sweeten. Enjoy and happy New Years
Absolutely fantastic and so easy and fast. This is awesome. Dan W
I am so so glad you enjoyed Dan! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review 🙂
My wife family is from Poland, and they traditionally use country style ribs instead of pork loin. Typically I make it in a dutch oven where I brown the ribs first (sometimes with bacon) before adding the sauerkraut, onions and spiced applesauce.
Since this year I too received an instant pot, what recommendations could you give me? (Cooking times, ECT.).
Cheers!!!
Hi Dave! I would brown up the country style ribs using the saute function on the Instant Pot. Remove seared ribs, add in liquid and scrape up any browned bits on bottom of inner pot (very important!) Then add in your seared ribs, apples, and kraut. I would cook on high pressure for 45 minutes for country style ribs and let pressure release naturally. Enjoy and happy new years!
Hi! Last minute, I know. I have a 10 lbs pork shoulder. Cut into 2 inch sections. How long do I cook ?
Hi Trista! Happy New Year! I would cut into 2 inch sections for sure. Then I would cook for 20 minutes on high pressure. Keep in mind you will want to double or triple liquid and kraut. It will take quite a bit longer to come to pressure and release pressure since so full (to cook that much pork, I would assume you have at least an 8 quart instant pot).
Kristen, I hope you can answer this before tomorrow (New Year’s). I have a 5lb pork loin. How long should I cook it and how should I adjust the amount of the other ingredients-sauerkraut, apples, apple juice. Thanks!
Hi Bob! For a 5 pound pork loin, I would still cut the roast into 2-3 inch chunks, so cook time will remain the same. Just keep in mind that it will take longer for pressure to be reached and for pressure to release naturally. I would double the other ingredients. I hope you enjoy so much and Happy New Year!