Grilling Brats

As the weather gets warmer, grilling brats becomes the perfect recipe for grilling up an easy dinner.

This recipe includes two methods for grilling brats; plain grilled brats and grilled beer brats.

Bratwurst

Bratwurst sausages, or brats for short, are delicious juicy German-style sausages. Grilling brats is a perfect summertime BBQ meat.

Brats can be cooked with several different methods, but grilling brats is my favorite! The grilling makes a wonderful slightly charred skin that's beautifully caramelized.

Each bite of grilled bratwurst is bursting with flavor and it's like a little explosion of juiciness in your mouth.

Brats are one of those foods that are perfect for making just for yourself or your family, but they are also perfect for grilling for a crowd.

Grill up a batch and put out your favorite toppings and you've got yourself a perfect main dish!

What type of brats to make

Both styles of brats, plain and beer, are equally delicious. When just grilling for my family, I tend to make plain brats. They are quick to make and don't involve using the stovetop.

When grilling for a crowd or when taking brats camping, I usually make beer brats. I like knowing that the brats are already fully cooked and I don't need to worry about serving undercooked meat.

For camping, I cook the brats in beer at home and then let them cool. I package them and either refrigerate or freeze the brats.

At camp, I pull out the brats and pop them on a campfire or a grill and cook until the brats are heated through and have that nice golden color.

Key ingredients

• Brats - you can find brats in just about any store or meat shop
• Beer - for making beer brats. Use a light-flavored beer like a PBR or Coors. You can also use whatever you have on hand. The heartier the beer flavor, the more prominent it will be in your brats.
• Buns - use a hoagie roll, a crusty sandwich roll, or make homemade hot dog buns.
• Condiments - pick your favorites - ketchup, mustard, onions, grilled peppers, sauerkraut

Step by step directions

Plain Brats

• Preheat grill on high for about 10 minutes
• Brush grates to remove any residue
• Place brats on grill leaving 1-2 inches between each brat
• Turn heat down to medium or medium-high
• Cook for 3-5 minutes until brat is beginning to brown and then turn brat
• Continue cooking rotating brats every 3-5 minutes until brats are nicely browned and internal temperature is 160°F

Beer Brats

• Begin cooking brats inside on the stovetop before finishing on the grill
• Pour a beer into a large saute pan
• Add brats and cook over medium heat until internal temperature is 160°F
• Be certain to flip brats so all sides are cooked
• Remove from beer and place on preheated grill
• Cook over medium to medium-high heat rotating brats every 3-4 minutes until a nice brown color develops on the outside of the brats

Grilling tips

• Do preheat your grill so the grates are nice and hot
• Scrape down your grates before grilling. If needed, rub an oil-soaked paper towel over the grates to help season the grill before cooking.
• You can leave the lid open or close it during cooking. Closing the lid will provide more heat and the brats will cook a bit quicker. However, you do need to keep a closer eye on the brats so they don't burn.
• Brats will begin to spew a bit of their juices from time to time and this may cause a flare-up on your grill. Just move the brats to another area of the grill until the flare-up is under control.
• Don't prick or flatten brats. You want all that juiciness to stay inside as much as possible.
• It's okay to rotate or flip the brats multiple times.
• Outside temperature and wind may affect the amount of time needed to cook the brats
• Use an instant digital thermometer to make certain brats are cooked through

Serving suggestions

Serve brats hot with your favorite bun and toppings.

• Ketchup and regular mustard
• Coarse stone ground mustard
• Chopped onions
• Pickle relish
• Sauteed peppers and onions
• Sauerkraut

Delicious sides to serve with brats

• Barbecue Beans
• Orzo Pasta Salad
• Deviled Eggs
• Tortellini Salad
• Cucumber Salad
• Tomato Salad
• Mediterranean Pasta Salad
• Fruit Salad

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop

Be sure to check out all my delicious grilling recipes.