For some people, cooking is a creative way to wind down after a busy day. However, others may feel cooking is a chore — something else they have to do when they’re already tired from juggling multiple responsibilities. Regardless of which camp you fall into, pressure cookers are for you!
When you use a pressure cooker, you can make incredible food in an efficient, easy way. They speed up the cooking process while enhancing flavor, making them a great way to cook meat, vegetables, stews, soups, one-pot meals, desserts and more. Keep reading for seven of the best pressure cooker meals to try.
How to Use a Pressure Cooker
Although each pressure cooker is different, they’re not difficult to use. Your pressure cooker will come with clear instructions and safety features so you can learn to use it quickly. The basics of using a pressure cooker include:
- Understanding what foods to cook inside
- Adding the right amount of liquid
- Properly sealing the pressure cooker
- Choosing the right pressure setting
- Keeping the regulator valve clear
After you’ve cooked your ingredients, follow the directions to release the pressure. Then, you can open up the pot and enjoy your delicious meal. To clean your pressure cooker, wash the inner pot and the lid with warm water and dish soap.
What to Make in a Pressure Cooker
You may have heard stories about pressure cookers exploding. However, modern pressure cookers have many safety features, so you can use them with confidence. The main thing is to avoid cooking foods like flour that could block the pressure valve.
Many foods cook well in a pressure cooker, including:
- Beans: black beans, navy beans, lentils
- Meat: beef, pork, venison, chicken
- Vegetables: potatoes, artichokes, squash
You can make one-pot meals, stews, Italian wedding soup and even desserts in a pressure cooker. If you’re worried about safety, just remember to check the product instructions. Your pressure cooker will give clear warnings about anything that shouldn’t be cooked inside.
How Long Should I Cook Sausage in a Pressure Cooker?
When you’re cooking with sausage, there are different cook times depending on whether the sausage is already cooked or not. If your sausage is already cooked, you can brown it in your pressure cooker for better flavor. If it’s uncooked, make sure you give it enough time to cook before adding other ingredients.
Easy Pressure Cooker Recipes With Sausage
Here are seven pressure pot recipes to get you started!
Pasta With Sausage
What could be better than traditional pasta? Perfect for families, this meal caters to all ages and uses sausage as a quick and flavorful protein. Choose your favorite kind of Italian sausage and watch the flavors blend into a truly delicious dish during the quick cooking time.
To make this meal, first slice and saute the sausages with onions in your pressure cooker. Next, add peppers, pasta sauce, water and any additional seasonings. Press the pasta down into the sauce and pour more pasta sauce on top. It should take about 20 minutes for the pressure cooker to reach high pressure and only a couple of minutes for the pasta to cook.
Mac and Cheese With Sausage
Need another classic family favorite? Try this delicious pressure cooker mac and cheese with sausage. You’ll be amazed at how well the flavors complement each other. It’s comfort food with protein, something the whole family will love.
First, saute the sliced sausage in your pressure cooker. Then, add the water, macaroni and seasonings. Seal the pot and cook on manual pressure for three minutes. Remove the lid, turn the cooker to saute again and stir in the milk and cheese. Add the sausage and serve.
Sausage With Mashed Potatoes
Love one-pot meals? This pressure cooker recipe cooks potatoes and sausages simultaneously using a steamer basket and long-legged trivet. Enjoy a delicious meal in only about 10 minutes. Your family will love this meal, and you can easily add broccoli or green beans on the side.
To make this recipe, sear your sausages on the saute setting. Stir in the onions and water. Add the trivet and the steamer basket on top with the potatoes. Seal the pot and cook on high for eight minutes. Take the potatoes out and mash them. Add cornflour to the sausage mixture and saute for a few minutes until it thickens. Serve the sausages and sauce on top of the potatoes!
Sausage, Beans and Rice
This fun pressure cooker meal makes a delicious concoction of beans, rice and sausage. You can use either dried or canned beans, depending on your preference. To round out the edges, serve with rice and asparagus or another green vegetable. With very little prep time, this recipe is an easy and nutritious way to feed your family on a busy evening.
First, wash the beans and soak them for at least four hours if they’re dried. Saute onions and garlic, then add peppers, tomato paste and seasonings and let the flavors blend. Pour in the beans, 6 cups of broth and sliced sausage. Cook on high until the pressure builds, then on medium for about 35 minutes.
Sausage, Potato and Cabbage Stew
This recipe is for a slow cooker, but can easily be adapted to a pressure cooker for the same delicious flavors in much less time. Make sure you use at least a cup of broth, and don’t overfill the pot. With a little practice, you’ll be able to convert all your meals and enjoy them faster!
To make this dish, saute sausage slices and onions in the pressure cooker. Add potatoes, cabbage, broth and seasonings. Let the pot come up to pressure, then cook for five minutes. If you cut your potatoes in cubes, only steam them for three minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Pressure Cooker Sausage Jambalaya
Making this Cajun American dish is easy with a pressure cooker! Enjoy the delicious mix of spicy flavors with sausage, vegetables and rice.
In your pressure cooker, saute the sausage until cooked, then add onions, pepper, garlic and celery. Add brown rice, chicken broth, tomatoes and seasonings. Seal the pot and cook for 17 minutes on high pressure. Serve with scallions on top!
Potato Soup With Sausage
If you’re craving soup, try this delicious potato soup with sausage recipe. It’s sure to make your taste buds happy and warm you from the inside out on a cold or rainy day. If you prefer thin soup, you can use additional broth after the meal is done. For thick soup, mash some of the potatoes with your ladle and forgo the extra broth.
Saute the sausage of your choice in your pressure cooker. Add onion, garlic and celery, and saute. Add chopped potatoes, chicken stock and seasonings. Set the pot to high and cook for eight minutes. Then, let the pressure release naturally for about 10 minutes. Stir in sour cream and serve with shredded cheese and scallions.
Find Premio Sausage Near You With Our Store Locator
At Premio Foods, we’ve been making high-quality sausage for over 40 years. We offer a wide variety of meats and seasonings so you can try different recipes and enjoy many different flavors. Try our Chorizo sausages, Italian sausages, breakfast sausages and more!
To find Premio sausage near you, use our online store locator. Then, follow these pressure cooker recipes to make delicious meals the whole family will love. Once you start cooking with Premio sausage, these fast and easy meals will quickly become part of your weekly routine.