Grilled Beer Brats - Make perfectly grilled Wisconsin beer brats every time with this easy grilling recipe. We'll show you how long to grill brats after boiling them in beer to make them super juicy and flavorful.
Juicy, beer-boiled brats are a game day staple around the country, but especially in Wisconsin and the Midwest, where I grew up. You can find them all over the Midwest served at bars, game day cookouts and tailgates, backyard barbecues and family get-togethers. Anywhere you have them, they make a delicious meal.
Grilled beer brats are delicious on a bun with mustard. They are also so good topped with sauerkraut, or grilled onions and peppers. And they go great with a side of baked beans, or potato salad, or homemade coleslaw. Be sure to check out our favorite BBQ side dish recipes.
Another Midwestern grilling favorite is Italian Sausage and Peppers. Similar to bratwurst, Italian sausages are another game day staple.
And If you have any leftovers, turn them into a delicious Leftover Brat Pasta.
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Grilled Wisconsin Beer Brats Recipe
Notes on Ingredients
- fresh bratwurst - We use Johnsonville Brats. Super flavorful, fresh brats, made in the United States, in the Midwest. Your local butcher shop may also sell house made bratwurst made using their own pork brats recipe.
May substitute hot or mild Italian sausages or hot dogs as another great option for this recipe. - beer - We think the best beer is a light beer because of its mild flavor and price. No need to use an expensive IPA. Think college campus tailgates and boil them in the same kind of beer the college kids are drinking right out of the keg! Just make sure to use your favorite beer. The beer will impart extra flavor into the meat that will truly get your taste buds salivating.
May substitute water, or non-alcoholic beer or cider. - hot dog buns - Regular old soft hot dog buns will do. Save the hard Kaiser rolls for Italian sausages.
What Are Bratwurst?
Bratwurst are a type of sausage originating from Germany. There are over 40 different types of bratwurst in Germany made of fresh sausage that is made from a variety of meats. In the United States, the term "brats" is almost synonymous with Johnsonville Brats which are made solely from pork with a natural brat casing.
Different varieties of bratwurst common the Midwest are Cheddar Brats, Jalapeno Brats.
Different regional varieties found in Germany include: classic German bratwurst, Kulmbacher bratwurst, Würzburg, bierwurst, Nürnberger rostbratwurst, Coburger bratwurst, Thüringer rostbratwurst, Fränkische bratwurst, Nordhessische bratwurst, and Rote wurst.
Learn more about German regional varieties of bratwurst in this article by Greyson Ferguson on TastingTable.com: 10 Regional Varieties Of German Bratwurst, Explained.
Equipment
- large pot or cast iron skillet - Choose a pot large enough for the beer to cover.
- gas grill or charcoal grill - We use a propane grill. A charcoal grill will give a more charred flavor.
- instant-read thermometer - Use a meat thermometer to make sure the meat reaches an internal temperature of at least 145°F.
We recommend using a fast & accurate instant read thermometer like this Thermapen One. It's the one we rely on every day here at Seanna's Kitchen.
How to Make It
Make perfect bratwurst every time with this easy grilling recipe.
Preheat Grill
Boil Brats. First things first, place raw bratwurst in a large pot and pour in two cans of beer or enough beer to cover them. Bring them to a boil over medium-high heat in the beer bath.
Note: For extra flavor, add some sliced onions to the beer bath.
Once they begin to boil, lower temperature to medium-low heat and slow boil them for 10-15 minutes or until the internal temperature of the brats reaches 145°F.
Note: Insert the meat thermometer in the end of the brat so as not to break the skin.
Transfer them from the pot and to a plate so that you can take them out to the grill.
Grill Brats. Place brats one by one onto the grill grate of a preheated grill.
Grill them on a hot grill for 5 minutes on each side until they are slightly charred and have some nice grill marks on the skin. The charring gives the brat more delicious flavor.
Once they have a nice sear, move them to the top rack of the grill away from the direct heat or remove them from the grill, put them on a plate, and cover them with foil to keep them warm until you're ready to eat.
Serve. Serve these delicious brats with a bun and your favorite toppings and sides.
Pro Tips
Don't Break The Skin. The key to juicy bratwurst is not to break the skin while grilling. It's a good idea to turn bratwurst carefully. Be careful not to break the skin on the brat or the delicious juices will run out. That first bite of brat that breaks the skin is the juiciest bite. You don't want to miss it!
Note: For best results, check the internal temperature of the brat, insert the meat thermometer in the end of the brat so as not to break the skin.
Recipe FAQS
Boiling brats in beer will ensure that they are cooked through before grilling so that they don't burn and dry out on the grill. This will make them more flavorful and juicy. The boiling time will vary, but the general rule of thumb is that they will be fully cooked with 10 minutes of boiling.
Perfect brats are easy to make. The best way is to grill them by following the easy recipe instructions above. Bratwurst can also be baked in the oven, pan fried, heated in a slow cooker, instant pot, or air fryer. The best method is the one that works for you.
Boiled brats are essentially already cooked by the boiling process. So all you need to do is to grill them until they are slightly charred and have grill marks. Grill them for 5 minutes on each side. The cooking time will vary depending on the temperature of the grill.
Best Brat Toppings
- mustard - yellow mustard or brown mustard
- ketchup
- sauerkraut - with sautéed sweet onions
- grilled onions and peppers
- pickled relish
What To Serve With Brats
- baked beans
- potato salad
- German potato salad
- mac n cheese
- macaroni salad
- fresh watermelon
- potato chips (of course!)
Freezing And Storage
There is hardly a case where there are any leftover brats to be had. But if you do have a couple leftover, store in an airtight container and pop them into the freezer. Thaw them out later and fry them up with some eggs, or make a fabulous creamy bratwurst pasta with them. So so delish.
There you have it. Making this juicy & flavorful grilled beer brats recipe is easy as that! We hope you enjoy our super simple, super tasty easy grilling recipe. Try it and let us know how you like it. We'd love to hear from you!
xo ~ Seanna
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📖 Recipe
How Long To Grill Brats After Boiling (Grilled Beer Brats Recipe)
Equipment
- large pot or cast iron skillet
- gas grill or charcoal grill
Ingredients
- 5 links bratwurst
- 2 cans beer
- 5 buns hot dog buns
Instructions
Preheat Grill
- Boil Brats. Place raw brats in a large pot and pour in two cans of beer or enough beer to cover them. Bring them to a boil over medium-high heat in the beer bath. Once they begin to boil, lower temperature to medium-low heat and slow boil bratwurst for 10-15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F. Note: Insert the meat thermometer in the end of the brat so as not to break the skin. Transfer them from the pot and to a plate so that you can take them out to the grill.5 links bratwurst, 2 cans beer
- Grill Brats. Place brats one by one onto the grill grates of a preheated grill. Grill them for 5 minutes on each side until they are slightly charred and have some nice grill marks on the skin. The charring gives the brat more delicious flavor.Once they have a nice char, move them to indirect heat on the top rack, or the cool side of the grill or remove them from the grill and cover them with foil to keep them warm until you're ready to eat.
- Serve. Serve them on a bun with your favorite toppings and sides.5 buns hot dog buns
Video
Notes
Ingredient Notes
- bratwurst - We use Johnsonville Brats. Super flavorful, made in the Midwest.
May substitute hot or mild Italian sausages for this recipe, but they taste very different. - beer - We use light beer for its mild flavor and price. No need to use an expensive IPA. Think college campus tailgates and boil the brats in the same kind of beer the kids are drinking right out of the keg!
May substitute water, or non-alcoholic beer or cider. - hot dog buns - Regular old soft hot dog buns will do. Save the hard Kaiser rolls for Italian sausages.
Nutrition
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Russ B
Great summer grilling option!
Seanna Borrows
Nothin better for game day cookouts and tailgates!