Instant Pot Poor Man’s Casserole–smoked sausage, yukon gold potatoes, green peppers, onions and seasonings make an inexpensive but totally delicious meal! Make this fast in your Instant Pot!
Note: the SLOW COOKER instructions are listed in the recipe card below
Instant Pot Poor Man’s Casserole
This recipe that fed 4 very hungry people (or 6 smaller portions) cost me only just over 6 dollars! I shopped at Smith’s and noted the cost of the ingredient list below. Even though your grocery store might cost more/less depending on sales (among other reasons) this is still a recipe that will be pretty inexpensive. Besides not costing a lot it tasted amazing! We ate it until it was gone.
I love this recipe because it is a one pot meal! I love meals that have everything in one pot. I did serve this with a side of canned fruit cocktail (yes we like it in my family haha!).
Related: see all my One Pot Meals
Ingredients/Substitution ideas
This recipe only calls for a handful of ingredients! I didn’t use the cheese because I forgot but if you want to make it more rich then use cheese.
- Yukon gold potatoes (cost $1.04)–you can also use peeled Russet potatoes or red potatoes
- Onion (cost $0.45)–I used a yellow onion, white is fine
- Johnsonville jalapeno cheddar smoked sausage (cost $3.99)–or another type of smoked sausage of your choice
- Green bell pepper ($0.69)–or red, yellow or orange
- Olive oil (already had on hand)–or another type of oil like vegetable or canola oil
- Cajun seasoning (already had on hand)–or another type of seasoning you like that contains salt i.e. Old Bay, garlic salt, Greek seasoning blend
- Optional: shredded cheese of your choice ($2.99)–like cheddar, colby, monterey jack, pepperjack etc.
How to make in the Instant Pot
- Pour water into bottom of Instant Pot liner. This will bring the pot to pressure.
- Layer ingredients: In a large steamer basket* add ingredients in this order: potatoes, onion, sausage and peppers. Lower the steamer basket into your Instant Pot. I used the steamer basket for 2 reasons. The first is so the potatoes aren’t sitting in the water and get grainy. The second is I didn’t want to have to drain the water or thicken it for a sauce.
- Pressure cook: Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 2 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 5-10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid. Move the steamer basket out of the pot and set aside. Dump out the water and dry out the Instant Pot liner.
- Finish with seasoning: Add the contents from steamer basket into dry Instant Pot liner. Drizzle in the oil and the cajun seasoning and toss gently. If using cheese stir in the cheese.
- Serve: Scoop onto plates and enjoy!
What if I don’t have a steamer basket?
I used my silicone Steamer Basket*. This prevents the potatoes from getting grainy. However, if you don’t have a steamer basket you can pour 1 cup of chicken broth into the bottom of the pot (instead of water). Then layer the ingredients as stated in the recipe. Pressure cook for just 1 minute with a 5-10 minute natural pressure release. Drain the liquid and follow on with instruction number 4 of the recipe.
More One Pot Recipes…
Instant Pot Mexican Black Beans And Rice
Instant Pot Cheesy Sausage And Rice
Instant Pot Farmer’s Delight Casserole
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.
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Instant Pot Poor Man’s Casserole
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes (plus 5 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Description
Smoked sausage, yukon gold potatoes, green peppers, onions and seasonings make an inexpensive but totally delicious meal!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, washed and cut into cubes
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 1 (14 oz) package Johnsonville jalapeno cheddar smoked sausage (or another type of smoked sausage), sliced into quarter inch rounds
- 1 green bell pepper, cored and sliced into strips (or another color of green pepper)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning (or another type of seasoning you like that contains salt i.e. Old Bay, garlic salt, Greek seasoning blend)
- Optional: 2 cups of shredded cheese of your choice
Instructions
- Pour water into bottom of Instant Pot liner.
- In a large steamer basket* add ingredients in this order: potatoes, onion, sausage and peppers. Lower the steamer basket into your Instant Pot.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 2 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 5-10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid. Move the steamer basket out of the pot and set aside. Dump out the water and dry out the Instant Pot liner.
- Add the contents from steamer basket into dry Instant Pot liner. Drizzle in the oil and the cajun seasoning and toss gently. If using cheese stir in the cheese.
- Scoop onto plates and enjoy!
Notes
Slow Cooker Instructions: pour 1 cup of chicken broth into bottom of slow cooker. Add in the potatoes, onions, sausage, peppers. Stir. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours, or until potatoes are tender (all slow cookers cook differently). Use a slotted spoon to move meat and vegetables to a platter. Toss with the oil and Cajun seasoning (and cheese if using). Serve and enjoy.
- Category: Sausage
- Method: Instant Pot
*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.
Taste was good, but 2 minutes on high was way too much. Onions and peppers just sort of disintegrated and potatoes were mushy. And I only let it sit for 7 minutes before venting.
If I try this again I will use a Dutch oven and see how it goes.
★★★
Oh man! That’s crazy that 2 minutes was way too long. I would try a zero minute pressure cooking time maybe next time
I made a couple changes since we’re not fond of jalapeno. I used turkey kielbasa & Penzey’s pizza seasoning. I upped the seasoning since we didn’t have spice in the kielbasa. I sauteed the leftovers & topped with an egg for breakfast. Next time I make it will be specifically for breakfasts. Very tasty!
★★★★★
Breakfast is a great idea!
A suggestion if I may. When you state “Set the manual/pressure cook button”, would you be so kind and specify High, Medium, or Low “manual/pressure cook button”.
Yes I will but it is always high
This will be amazing with cabbage in it!!!
Can you also add cabbage? And if so, how long and in what order?
Yes that would be amazing. I would put it in the bottom with the onions.
How can you make this without a steamer basket?
if you don’t have a steamer basket you can pour 1 cup of chicken broth into the bottom of the pot (instead of water). Then layer the ingredients as stated in the recipe. Pressure cook for just 1 minute with a 5-10 minute natural pressure release. Drain the liquid and follow on with instruction number 4 of the recipe.
I would like to see someone make this with substitute of the potatoes with cauliflower to make it low carb. Since the sausage is precooked than I think you would only use a minute. I wonder how the mushy the cauliflower would get.
I would layer it with onions on bottom, sausage, cauliflower florets and then peppers and pressure cook for 1 minute. I bet it would be great!