Name: Kielbasa and Cabbage in the Instant Pot
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 4 min
Total time: 9 min
Ingredients: 1 head of cabbage (cored and chopped); 1 13.5 oz kielbasa (or smoked, polish sausage (more than 13.5 is ok!)); .5 cup salted butter (sliced); 1 cup chicken broth; salt (to taste); pepper (to taste)

Jump to Recipe 51 comments

4.95 from 38 votes

Kielbasa and Cabbage in the Instant Pot: A quick and easy sausage and cabbage recipe that only takes 4 minutes in the pressure cooker.

I truly didn’t think that cooking kielbasa and cabbage could get any easier, but the Instant Pot made me a believer with this recipe as well.

If you love cooking with the Instant Pot, then you’ll also love our favorite Instant Pot Pot Roast recipe and the Cheeseburger Macaroni that our kids adore.

Quick Kielbasa and Cabbage Recipe

When I set out to make this recipe, I knew I wanted to keep it as simple as it could be, and hoped that the few flavors I did use, would result in a TON of flavor… and I was RIGHT! We also add kielbasa to this slow cooker sausage casserole, and it has so much flavor!

Now, although it’s also quick to make sausage and cabbage on the stovetop, using the Instant Pot not only made it faster, but I believe it trapped in flavors that I don’t get when cooking on an open stovetop.

How to Make Kielbasa and Cabbage

You can find the full recipe and printable recipe card at the bottom of this post, but I’d love to walk you through with steps/photos for extra tips too!

Cabbage

Wash and chop up a head of cabbage, discarding the core. If you aren’t sure how to core a cabbage, I found a great how-to core a cabbage video tutorial for you that will help, even if you don’t have the type of cabbage I’m using in this post.
Although, I did core mine a little different than they did. It just depends on what tickles your fancy.

Chop up your cabbage into bitesize pieces and set aside.

Sliced Head of Cabbage to use in kielbasa and cabbage recipe in the instant pot — Head of cabbage to chop

Chicken Broth

You can use regular store-bought chicken broth, homemade chicken broth or even make this instant chicken broth base that I’ve started using… because my mom did.

That woman is a queen of cooking, so I always love to take notes in her kitchen!

Chicken broth powder mixed with water for kielbasa and cabbage — Chicken Broth

Kielbasa (Smoked Sausage)

Now for this recipe, I like to switch things up for the kielbasa at times, and grab a fun new smoked sausage if it’s on sale or a new flavor!

I normally use kielbasa (hence the reason this is the recipe for kielbasa and cabbage) but when I bought the ingredients to take the photos this time, I couldn’t resist the andouille smoked sausage.

Andouille tends to have a spicy kick to it, so if you have young eaters or those who aren’t fans of some “kick” then you’ll want to stick to kielbasa, polish sausage or regular smoked sausage.

Andouille Sausage to use in this kielbasa cabbage instant pot recipe — I chose to use andouille sausage instead of kielbasa when taking photos this time and it was GREAT too!

Chop your kielbasa in to small, bite-size pieces and set aside!

Chopped smoked sausage - kielbasa — Chop your kielbasa (or smoked sausage)

Butter

In the Instant Pot, pot… pour your chicken broth and add a stick of sliced butter.

Next, pour your cabbage in to the pot, making sure to leave enough room for the sausage and enough room for the lid to screw on.

If you have a really large cabbage, it could result in too much cabbage for the pot, so eyeing it is best.

Chopped cabbage in instant pot — Place chopped cabbage in Instant Pot

Layer on the kielbasa, again, making sure there’s enough room for the lid to screw on. Ideally, you don’t want to stuff the pot so full that the food is touching the lid. So filling the pot to about the level I have here below will work!

TIP: Placing the kielbasa or smoked sausage on top is KEY! During the cooking process, the juices from the meat drip down in to the cabbage for ultimate flavor!

Chopped kielbasa and cabbage in the Instant pot to cook — Place chopped kielbasa in the pressure cooker

How Long to Cook Kielbasa and Cabbage in the Instant Pot

You ready for the hard part? Place the lid on, turn the nozzle to seal, pressure cook on high, and turn the timer to 4 minutes.
(Four minutes gives the cabbage a nice texture of cooked, but not soggy! However, if you prefer a super soft cabbage, you may want to do another minute.)

Not hard at all, right?

When the timer goes off, you want to “quick-release” the pressure, but turning the nozzle to “vent”! NOTE: This can burn your hand, so take precaution and use a dish towel or my all-time favorite heat resistant gloves for this!

Do NOT remove the lid of the Instant Pot until the float valve goes down!

Once you take the lid off, soak in the smells of dinnertime!

Cooked kielbasa and cabbage in the pressure cooker — Cooked kielbasa and cabbage

Salt and Pepper (Optional)

The kielbasa will have salt in it, so you may not need as much salt as you’d normally want, so salt and pepper to taste!

We use this Himalayan salt (it’s our all-time favorite now because it’s fine grain and lasts for a really long time) and regular ground black pepper for this recipe.

Salt and Pepper for smoked sausage and cabbage recipe — Salt and Pepper

Sprinkle salt and pepper on to cabbage and kielbasa — Sprinkle in salt and pepper, to taste

Mix together the kielbasa, cabbage, and spices and it’s ready to serve/eat!

Kielbasa and Cabbage in the Instant Pot — Kielbasa and Cabbage, ready to eat!

What do you Serve with Kielbasa and Cabbage?

Side Dishes for Kielbasa and Cabbage

How to Store Leftover Kielbasa and Cabbage

This kielbasa and cabbage recipe does do pretty well, leftover. Know that the cabbage may get a little softer after reheating, but that’s why I also like having a crisper cabbage… to allow for leftovers!

Kielbasa and Cabbage in a white bowl, on a fork — Perfect leftover too!

Recipe