Instant Pot Janet’s Appalachian Casserole–an easy and delicious Italian sausage, cabbage and a rice one pot meal.
This recipe can be made in the Instant Pot or Crockpot. Both instructions are listed in the recipe card.

Instant Pot Janet’s Appalachian Casserole
This recipe got 5 stars from Greg, Reagan and Skyler! They all individually told me how much they loved it. It has lots of flavor thanks to the Italian sausage and seasonings. It’s an easy one pot meal that makes about six servings.
If you’re a fan of cooked cabbage you’re going to love this. You use an entire head of cabbage (it shrinks down so much). The texture of the cabbage with the rice is a perfect combo. It reminded me of cabbage rolls a bit but waaaay easier.
This recipe is adapted from Janet’s Crock Pot Cabbage Casserole.
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Ground Italian sausage
- Onion
- Beef broth–or chicken broth
- Converted rice–or long grain white rice
- Diced tomatoes–petite, crushed or stewed tomatoes
- Tomato paste
- Garlic powder
- Italian seasoning–or make your own
- Smoked paprika
- Black pepper
- Ground turmeric
- Cabbage–I used green cabbage
- Red bell pepper–or green bell pepper
Steps
Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the sausage and break it up. Add in the onions. Brown sausage for about 5 minutes. If there is excess grease, drain it off.

Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot.

Sprinkle the rice in on top, don’t stir.

Dump in the tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, pepper, turmeric.

Finally add in the cabbage and red pepper on top. Don’t stir.

Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 3 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 5 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove lid.

Stir well. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy!

Notes/Tips
- Serve with a side of garlic toast.
- I used my 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in an 8 quart pot. Halve the recipe in a 3 quart pot.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- This recipe is gluten free and dairy free.
- Don’t confuse converted rice (or sometimes it is called parboiled rice) with pre-cooked or minute rice. Parboiled rice has been processed in its husk by soaking, steaming, and drying. As a result, all the nutrients from the husk are absorbed into the grain before it’s removed. The starch content alters in the process, making cooked parboiled rice less sticky than regular white rice. The rice kernels aren’t clumpy and glued together instead they are more separated. I found a bag of parboiled rice at Walmart next to the normal long grain white rice. Sometimes I buy it at Winco in the bulk section. I have also found it in the orange box (Ben’s brand) next to other rices.
- Other recipes you can make with turmeric are Instant Pot Pollo Loco Mexican Chicken and Instant Pot Yellow Chicken Curry And Jasmine Rice.

More Instant Pot Recipes with Cabbage…
Instant Pot Cabbage Roll Casserole
A super easy and fast way to have the flavors of cabbage rolls for dinner tonight.
Instant Pot St. Patty’s Day Corned Beef and Cabbage
Tender sliced corned beef served with cabbage, red potatoes and carrots. Only 6 ingredients are needed to create this delicious one pot meal.
Instant Pot Amish Cabbage and Potato Casserole
Seasoned ground beef with cabbage, potatoes and a creamy sauce.
Instant Pot Cajun Chicken, Sausage and Cabbage
Bites of chicken and smoked sausage with potatoes, onions and cabbage flavored with cajun seasoning.
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.


Instant Pot Janet’s Appalachian Casserole
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes (plus 5 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
An easy and delicious Italian sausage, cabbage and a rice one pot meal.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 cup beef broth
- 3/4 cup uncooked converted rice (or long grain white rice)
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 small head of cabbage, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, cored and diced
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the sausage and break it up. Add in the onions. Brown sausage for about 5 minutes. If there is excess grease, drain it off.
- Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot.
- Sprinkle the rice in on top, don’t stir. Dump the tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, pepper, turmeric, cabbage and red pepper on top. Don’t stir.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 3 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 5 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove lid.
- Stir well. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy!
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- In a pan over medium high heat brown the sausage and onions. Drain excess grease. Transfer meat to slow cooker.
- Add in all the ingredients (use 2 cups of broth instead of 1 cup). Stir well.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
- Stir well. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy!
- Category: Sausage
- Method: Instant Pot
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*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Can riced cauliflower be substituted in any of your recipes?
Hey Laura, the thing with riced cauliflower is that it doesn’t do well when pressure cooked. It cooks so quickly and so the pressure cooker doesn’t really work with it. You can take the ideas from my recipes and make them on the stove with cauliflower rice.
Can I use basmati rice in this recipe?
yep for sure
Good flavor. I cut the cabbage as advised by the previous reviewer. May add some extra broth next time since it took longer than usual to come to pressure and it was slightly burned once cooked.
★★★★★
Good tips!
I made this tonight with turkey Italian sausage and a yellow pepper, as that is what I had in house. Super delicious. I cut each quarter of the cabbage in six pieces as I was worried it would be too overcooked, it was okay at the time noted in the recipe. This is a keeper!
★★★★★
Thanks for the tips and the 5 stars!
Great recipe, very tasty! I used mild italian sausage and green peppers instead of red (saved a trip to the store!) and it turned out perfectly. Thanks so much for a great recipe!
★★★★★
Yum! Sounds perfect to me!
Thank you.
Looking for diabetic friendly instant pot recipes.
Here are my low carb recipes: https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/recipes/?fwp_dietary_restrictions=low-carb
I love you, Karen! You just answered my husband’s question about what’s for supper tomorrow night. Sweeeeeet! I didn’t even have to think about it. Will be back with stars, this looks so yummy & EZ.
I think you’ll love it!
We DID love it! It was amazing. I think the turmeric put it over the top. Was oh so delicious. Thanks for another winner.
★★★★★
yesssssssssssssss
Why do you ask us if we want instant pot recipes when we say no slow cooker and then only post instant pot recipes?
this website literally says “365 days of pressure and slow cooker”….
Slow cooker instructions are included just below the instant pot instructions.
the slow cooker instructions are listed in the recipe card underneath the instant pot instructions
I appreciate when you include both the slow cooker and the ip versions very much. Sometimes I just don’t feel like using the ip and prefer the slow cooker or vice versa. So thank you.
★★★★★
you’re welcome! 🙂
thinking of making this with smoked sausage
yes! I love that idea!
Do you have a recipe for pinto beans cooked in the instant pot?
I have this recipe: https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/instant-pot-appalachian-soup-beans/
and this one: https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/instant-pot-homemade-pork-and-beans/