Grilled Bratwurst
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It’s easy to make this German-style Grilled Bratwurst recipe at home for a simple meal, backyard bbq, or Oktoberfest celebration. Simply simmer the bratwurst in beer and sauerkraut, then toss them on the grill, for juicy, tender, flavorful beer brats every time!
Table of contents
Around our house, grilling brats is a year-round activity. We love to make grilled bratwurst during the summer and serve it to friends at a bbq. We also love to make them during the fall months while watching football.
When we’re looking for an easy meal to eat during the week this grilled bratwurst recipe is always a great option. It’s truly a versatile recipe, no matter the time of year, and so easy to make with only 3 ingredients!
The recipe starts by simmering the bratwurst in beer and sauerkraut on the stove. This fully cooks the sausages and gives them great flavor. The brats are finished on the grill to give them a wonderful sear on the outside. This gives the bratwurst the perfect texture, seared crisp on the outside, and juicy on the inside!
Serve them with noodles, rice, or mashed potatoes, or toss them in a bun. I like to serve this bratwurst recipe in pretzel buns for the perfect German-style meal!
Ingredients
- Bratwurst – for this recipe you’ll want uncooked brats. These German pork sausages can be found at the meat counter, or with the other sausages in the meat department at your local grocery store. Some packaged bratwurst come fully-cooked, you don’t want these bratwurst, you want uncooked brats for this recipe.
- Beer – I recommend a lager, pale ale, or wheat beer for this recipe, but feel free to use the beer of your choice. If you don’t want to cook the bratwurst in beer, you can use chicken broth instead. This will impart a different flavor in the brats as they cook, but will still give you more flavor than just simmering them in water.
- Sauerkraut – a traditional pairing with bratwurst, I cook the brats in the sauerkraut, then remove the kraut from the liquid and serve it on top of the bratwurst after they’re grilled. If you don’t like sauerkraut, you can use thinly sliced onions instead.
Instructions
I’ve included step by step photos below to make this recipe super easy to follow at home. For the full detailed recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Simmer the bratwurst. Add the bratwurst to a large pan with beer, water, and sauerkraut. Place the pan on the stove over medium-high heat and bring the liquid to a boil. Once boiling, cover the pan, reduce the heat to medium and cook the bratwurst for 15 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time.
- Grill the bratwurst. Preheat a grill over high heat. Use tongs to remove the bratwurst from the pan, shaking off as much of the sauerkraut as possible. Place the bratwurst on the grill and cook for 2-3 minutes per side. Remove the bratwurst from the grill and serve them immediately.
If you don’t have a grill, you can sear the brats in a hot cast iron skillet on the stove over high heat for 2-3 minutes per side.
Ways to serve it
If serving the bratwurst in a pretzel bun, hot dog buns, or hoagie rolls, toast the bread first, then spread mustard on the inside of the bun. This Lowensenf Bavarian Sweet Mustard from Germany is my favorite! Add the bratwurst to the bun, then use a slotted spoon to remove the sauerkraut from the liquid in the pan and add it on top of the bratwurst.
You can also serve this bratwurst recipe with the sauerkraut, but without a bun. Serve your favorite mustards and side dishes to go along with it. I love to serve grilled bratwurst with mashed potatoes, potato salad, or mac and cheese.
You can also make it part of this Oktoberfest board (pictured below). A fun spin on a charcuterie board, perfect for celebrating Oktoberfest at home, if you can’t make it to Germany!
More recipes on the grill
Try these other delicious and easy grilled dishes!
Grilled Bratwurst Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 uncooked bratwurst sausages
- 12 ounces beer, or chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sauerkraut
Instructions
- Add the bratwurst, beer, water, and sauerkraut to a pot on the stove over medium-high heat.
- Bring the liquid to a boil, then cover, reduce the heat to medium and cook the brats for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time.
- Preheat a grill over high heat.
- Use tongs to remove the bratwurst from the pan, shaking off as much of the sauerkraut as possible. Place the bratwurst on the grill and cook for 2-3 minutes per side. Remove the bratwurst from the grill and serve them immediately.
- Use a slotted spoon to remove the sauerkraut from the liquid in the pan and serve it with the bratwurst.
- To serve the bratwurst in buns, toast the buns first, spread mustard inside the toasted buns, then add the bratwurst and sauerkraut.
Notes
- For the beer, I recommend a lager, pale ale, or wheat beer for this recipe, but feel free to use the beer of your choice. If you don’t want to cook the bratwurst in beer, you can use chicken broth instead.
- If you don’t like sauerkraut, you can use thinly sliced onions instead, or simply omit the sauerkraut from the recipe.
- If you don’t have a grill, you can sear the brats in a hot cast iron skillet on the stove over high heat for 2-3 minutes per side.
Nutrition Facts
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