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Once you try cooking Italian sausages in your Instant Pot, you’ll never make them any other way! So moist and juicy and ready in under 20 minutes!
Baked Italian Sausage is my go-to easy dinner. Before the Instant Pot, I would always bake it in the oven (see my oven baked Italian sausage recipe and BBQ baked sausage). Once I got the Instant Pot, I can now cook Italian sausages in half the time of the oven method!
You can cook Italian sausages in the Instant Pot from fresh or frozen! So go ahead and stash that package of Italian sausage in a freezer – this way you’ll always have a meal on hand for those busy weeknights!
How To Cook Italian Sausage In The Instant Pot
Cooking Italian sausage in the Instant Pot is very simple. All you need is sausage and water!
Pour 1/2 cup of water in the Instant Pot and add sausage links in a single layer. Close the lid, turn the valve to a Sealing position, press the “Pressure Cook” or “Manual” button and set the time for 15 minutes. When it’s done cooking, quick release (QR) the steam. Perfectly cooked and tender Italian sausages are ready to be eaten!
If you want a more “browned” look, you can either saute the sausage in the Instant Pot on a “Saute” setting or put it in the oven under the broiler for a few minutes. I just eat it as is, as I’m lazy and don’t like any extra steps :)
What happens if you want to make more than one package of sausage at once? Yes, you can! You can put as much sausage in the Instant Pot as you can fit under the “Max Fill” line. The quantity of water remains the same (1/2 cup). Just be aware that when the sausages overlap, they stick together, and when you separate them, they have weird marks on them :) They taste just as good, but that’s something to be aware of if presentation is important. The way to get around the sticking issue is to separate the layers of sausages by sheets of foil.
How do you cook Italian sausages from frozen? Simply add 5 minutes to the cooking time (making a total cooking time 20 minutes). So if you have a package of frozen sausage in your freezer, you are less than 30 minutes away from a delicious hot meal!
What’s on the plate on the picture above with the sausages? Like what you see? The salad recipe is here: Tomato and Fresh Mozzarella Salad. And believe it or not, these roasted sweet potatoes were also made in the Instant Pot! Check out my recipe forInstant Pot roasted sweet potatoes. Enjoy!
If you liked Instant Pot Italian Sausages, you will also love these easy recipes:
Instant Pot Chili – so easy you won’t believe it! Just dump all ingredients in the Instant Pot and enjoy a hot bowl of epic chili in 20 minutes!
Instant Pot Corn On The Cob – the juiciest moistest corn ever, made in minutes! Once you try making corn in the Instant Pot, you’ll never make it any other way!
Instant Pot Salsa Chicken – this amazing recipe is using just 2 ingredients – chicken and salsa! So easy and yummy!
Instant Pot Pasta – say goodbye to watching a boiling pot of water on the stove! Instant Pot pasta is truly effortless!
Instant Pot Baked Apples – stuffed with cinnamon and raisins, these apples are mouthwatering!
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Instant Pot Italian Sausage
Instant Pot Italian sausage is ready in 15 minutes! The sausages are so tender and juicy, amazing! Once you try cooking Italian sausage in your Instant Pot, you'll never make it any other way!
Cook Time15 minutes mins
Total Time15 minutes mins
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Instructions
Pour water in the Instant Pot, then put sausages in the Instant Pot in a single layer.
Close the lid on the Instant Pot and turn the valve to Sealing position.
Press the "Pressure Cook" or "Manual" button and set the time for 15 minutes.
When the Instant Pot is done cooking, quick release (QR) the steam.
Remove the Italian sausages from the Instant Pot using tongs and serve.
Notes
If using frozen Italian sausage, the cooking time is 20 minutes.
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FAQs
Typically frozen sausages will take about 10-15 minutes to cook through in a frying pan, BBQ or grill but different thicknesses will vary the time. Whether you are BBQ, grilling or frying turn the sausages over half way through cooking to brown both sides of your sausages and ensure an even internal temperature.
Why not cook sausages from frozen? ›
Can you cook sausages from frozen? Yes you can cook most sausages from frozen, and this applies to most types of meat sausages and meat-free sausages. Always check the packaging or with the butcher, as they will give instructions on whether the sausages will need to be defrosted fully before cooking.
How do you know if Italian sausage is cooked enough? ›
Cooking Temperature
When you stick your sausage with a meat thermometer, it should read between 160 and 170 degrees Fahrenheit. When your thermometer reads this number, it means that the heat has killed any harmful bacteria. Just make sure the temperature remains between that range for at least 20 seconds.
Do you have to thaw frozen sausage before cooking? ›
Although you can cook frozen sausages with an increased cooking time of roughly fifty percent, thawed sausages are easier to cook. USDA food safety guidelines recommend cooking sausage until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
How long to cook an Italian sausage? ›
However, here is a quick guide for baking Italian sausages in the oven at different temperatures:
- At 350ºF: about 30 minutes.
- At 375ºF: 25-30 minutes.
- At 400ºF (as in recipe below): 20-25 minutes.
- At 425ºF: 15-20 minutes.
The verdict! There's nothing wrong with frozen food; in fact, properly freezing meat can help tenderise it. Frozen cuts can be just as tasty as their fresh versions and retain their nutritional value as long as the freezing and defrosting process has been carried correctly.
Is it safe to eat 2 year old frozen sausages? ›
Poisonous microbes like bacteria are put into sleep mode by freezing. In simpler terms, it's almost impossible for most frozen foods to ever become spoiled in a working freezer. So, from a food safety perspective, your two-year-old meat is good to go. Thaw it, cook it, and enjoy it!
Can you cook fresh sausages from frozen in an air fryer? ›
As a general guideline, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and cook the sausages for 12-15 minutes, flipping them halfway through for even cooking. Do I need to thaw the sausages before cooking them in the air fryer? No, you can cook frozen sausages directly in the air fryer without thawing them.
Is it okay for Italian sausage to be a little pink? ›
This can be due to the preservatives used, such as sodium nitrite, which can cause the meat to retain a pink color. The key indicator of doneness should always be the internal temperature, not the color. As long as the sausage has reached the appropriate safe temperature, it should be safe to eat.
Can you overcook Italian sausage? ›
The effect of Temperature
Above 155°F (68.3 °C): The Proteins will go on shrinking and shrivelling, eventually squeezing out that juice and fat meaning that it can no longer be held. Eventually the heat will just wring all that is good out of that sausage and it will either pool under the skin or leak away for good.
Trichinellosis, more commonly known as trichinosis, is a parasitic food-borne disease that is caused by eating raw or undercooked meats, particularly pork products infested with the larvae of a type of roundworm called Trichinella.
How do you know when fresh sausage is done? ›
Use a meat thermometer to make sure your sausage is between 160 and 165 °F (71 and 74 °C). If you don't have a meat thermometer, check that the sausage is firm and has clear, runny juices. Cut it open and make sure the inside is brown, not pink.
How long does fresh sausage meat take to cook? ›
To use: To bake, form the sausagemeat into balls, place on a lightly greased baking tray in a preheated oven at 190(C, gas mark 5 for 20-25 minutes.
How long to cook frozen sausage in the oven at 400 degrees? ›
The cooking time can vary depending on the type and size of the sausages. However, as a general guideline, it usually takes around 25-30 minutes to cook frozen sausages in the oven at 400°F (200°C).
How long to cook sausages in the pan? ›
To cook sausages by frying, heat 1 tbsp oil in a frying pan. Cook the sausages gently in the oil for 10-12 minutes, until thoroughly cooked, turning frequently. Sausages can also be baked in the oven (a good method to use if you're cooking something else in the oven). Preheat the oven to 190°C, gas mark 5.
How quickly should you cook sausages after defrosting? ›
Freezing and defrosting sausages
They should be defrosted in the fridge and only cooked after they are thoroughly defrosted. Sausages that have been defrosted in the fridge can be kept for up to two days in the refrigerator before cooking.
Is it better to freeze sausage cooked or uncooked? ›
Raw and cooked sausages can be frozen. Separate into portion sizes before freezing so that you can defrost exactly what you need.
