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.
- Serve pork with juices over noodles or mashed potatoes if desired.
Equipment Needed
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.
My husband I love this recipe. The apples and juice really help balance the acidity of the sauerkraut and along with the onions and garlic, create a good depth of flavor. Let’s just say we liked it enough that 2 weeks later I am already making it again. It is so easy to prep and tastes great. Thanks, Kristen, for a real winner!
I love hearing how much you enjoyed Trish! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
what if I have 3.5 pouand of frozen pork. can I put it in while frozen without cutting into chuncks?
Absolutely Mark! I would cook a frozen whole pork loin for 30 minutes per pound. So in your case, that would be 105 minutes.