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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
Do you need to defrost sausages before cooking? No, you dont! Though, I would roast the sausage rather than pan frying. Start the sausage in a cold oven on a pan, then heat to 375 degrees.
Should you cook sausages from frozen? ›
Most types of sausage can be cooked in a pan, oven or on the grill from frozen. The cooking time will depend on which method is used, but it will usually take a minimum of 15 minutes. It is important to ensure the core temperature of the sausages has reached 70°C and stayed at that temperature for two minutes.
Can you cook an Italian sausage from frozen? ›
Yes, you can cook frozen Italian sausage without thawing it first. It will take a bit longer to cook through compared to thawed sausage, but it is perfectly safe to do so. Make sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Do frozen sausages taste different? ›
A couple of those vacuum sealed bags went into the frIdge, the rest went into the freezer and over the course of the following week, all have been consumed. What I did notice was there was a distinct drop in flavor profile between the ones that went into the fridge vs those that went into the freezer.
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.
Can you cook sausages from frozen in a slow cooker? ›
Slow-cooker: Frozen sausages can be cooked in a slow cooker. To cook in a slow-cooked, leave them cooking thoroughly for an hour.
Is it better to freeze sausage raw or cooked? ›
Raw and cooked sausages can be frozen. Separate into portion sizes before freezing so that you can defrost exactly what you need.
How to separate frozen sausages without defrosting? ›
Run them under cold water, not hot (you don't want to start cooking them). Just hold the frozen mass under the water such that one of them separates, then the other.
Is it safe to cook frozen sausage links? ›
Using this method, you will get perfectly browned sausage, and you can start from frozen—Yup, right out of your freezer into your pan. Any sausage works and if you have a well-seasoned cast-iron pan use it, but any old pan would work.
Why is my frozen Italian sausage turning brown? ›
Information. Color changes can occur in frozen foods but the foods remain safe to eat. The bright red color of meat as purchased usually turns dark or pale brown depending on its variety. This may be due to lack of oxygen, freezer burn or abnormally long storage.
The microwave is the fastest but you could burn the sausages using it. The bowl of lukewarm water is the most awkward method to use but there's no chance of burning the sausages when cooking them.
How long do you have to cook Italian sausage? ›
It only takes 8-10 minutes to grill Italian sausage with the grill preheated to 450 degrees F.
Should frozen sausage be thawed before cooking? ›
Can you cook sausages from frozen? A: If they are bought as frozen sausages then they are designed to be cooked from frozen. Simply follow the instructions on the packet. As long as the middle of the sausage reaches 70°C for at least 2 minutes then they are safe to eat.
Is 2 year old frozen sausage still good? ›
Once frozen it doesn't matter if the date expires because foods kept frozen continuously are safe indefinitely.
How do you defrost sausage meat quickly? ›
Begin by microwaving for 2-3 minutes or until you can separate them with a fork. Once they are separated, continue to defrost in 2-minute intervals, checking and turning them as needed. Keep this process going until they are fully thawed, and then proceed to cook the sausages immediately.
Can I cook ground sausage from frozen? ›
Raw or cooked meat, poultry or casseroles can be cooked or reheated from the frozen state. However, it will take approximately one and a half times as long to cook. For example, if fresh meat takes one hour to cook, the same meat cooked frozen would take 1 1/2 hours.
Is it safe to cook frozen breakfast sausage? ›
Instructions: Cook from frozen at 375°F for 8 minutes. Ideal For: Small batches and sausage that's crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Instructions: Cook from frozen on a paper towel at 50% power for 1-2 minutes. For poultry varieties, Chef Kate recommends wetting the paper towel.
How do you separate frozen sausages without defrosting them? ›
Run them under cold water, not hot (you don't want to start cooking them). Just hold the frozen mass under the water such that one of them separates, then the other.
