• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
    • Contact Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Chickens and Farm Animals
  • Gardening
  • Recipes
  • Podcast
    • Guest Application

Beyond The Chicken Coop logo

menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Chickens and Farm Animals
  • Gardening
  • About
    • Contact Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Podcast
    • Guest Application
×

Home » Grilling » Grilling Brats

Published: Apr 28, 2022 · Modified: May 9, 2022 by Kathy · This post may contain affiliate links

Grilling Brats

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Jump to Recipe
Five grilled sausages on a plate.

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.

Grilled bratwurst in hoagie rolls.
Table of Contents
Bratwurst
What type of brats to make
Key ingredients
Step by step directions
Grilling tips
Serving suggestions
Frequently asked questions
Delicious sides to serve with brats
Grilled 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

A pile of uncooked bratwurst on a wooden board.
  • 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
Brats on a gas grill.
Sausages cooked on one side.

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
Sausages in a pan with beer.
Cooked beer brats on a gas grill.

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
A sausage covered with peppers and onions.
A sausage with sauerkraut.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to boil brats before grilling them?

You can boil brats before grilling if you'd prefer. You can boil in beer, water or broth.
Boiling ensures that the brats are fully cooked prior to placing them on the grill.

What do I do with leftover brats?

Allow brats to cool and then place them in an airtight container and refrigerate. Brats can be reheated in the microwave or on the grill.
Leftover brats should be used within 3-4 days.

Delicious sides to serve with brats

  • Barbecue Beans
  • Orzo Pasta Salad
  • Deviled Eggs
  • Tortellini Salad
  • Cucumber Salad
  • Tomato Salad
A plate full of cooked bratwurst sausages.

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.

  • A jar partially filled with a barbecue sauce.
    Peach BBQ Sauce
  • Salmon fillet topped with gremolata on a plate with rice.
    Grilled Sockeye Salmon
  • Grilled chicken thighs on a white plate.
    Italian Dressing Chicken
  • Grilled lemon chicken breast on a plate with baby potatoes and a green salad.
    What to Serve with BBQ Chicken
Grilled bratwurst in hoagie rolls.

Grilled Brats

Kathy
Two methods for grilling brats on a gas grill
5 from 13 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 5 people
Calories 220 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Instant Read Thermometer
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
  

  • 5 Bratwurst Sausages
  • 1 can Beer (for beer brats)

Condiments

  • 5 Buns
  • Ketchup
  • Mustard
  • Sauteed Peppers and Onions
  • Sauerkraut

Instructions
 

Grilled Brats

  • Preheat grill on high for about 10 minutes
    5 Bratwurst Sausages
  • 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 brats
  • 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 panAdd brats and cook over medium heat until internal temperature is 160°F
    1 can Beer
  • 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
  • Serve brats hot with a bun and your choice of condiments

Notes

  • 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 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 a 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
Nutritional information is estimated at one brat cooked plain on the grill. Estimates will vary depending on your bratwurst. 

Nutritional Disclaimer:

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bratCalories: 220kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 9gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 558mgPotassium: 230mgVitamin A: 4IUCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg
Keyword grilled beer brats, grilled brats
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @BeyondTheChickenCoop or tag #beyondthechickencoop!

More Grilling

  • A grilled chicken sandwich on a ciabatta roll.
    Pesto Chicken Sandwich
  • A jar filled with blackberry BBQ sauce.
    Blackberry Barbecue Sauce
  • Skewered shrimp on a plate.
    Honey Lime Shrimp
  • Flatbread rounds on a brown paper bag.
    Grilled Flatbread
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. David @ Spiced says

    April 29, 2022 at 4:51 am

    5 stars
    Hello, summer! This post is making me want to go fire up the grill right now! We had a huge party a couple of years ago, and one of my friends taught us how to make proper beer brats. They were a huge hit! I'm thinking this needs to go on the menu again very soon!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 29, 2022 at 5:16 am

      Brats are always a fun meat to grill at an outdoor bbq!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Five grilled sausages on a plate.
The author holding a chicken.

I'm Kathy, a busy working mom who loves to cook from scratch, grow a garden, and raise farm animals. Take a look around and find all my recipes, gardening tips, and country living antics.

More about me →

Popular Recipes

  • A single muffin topped with a crumbly topping on a plate.
    Oatmeal Banana Muffins
  • Stacks of crispy golden fish on a white plate with a blue rim.
    Beer Battered Fish
  • Crispy fish fillets topped with lemon wedges.
    Pan Fried Walleye
  • A plate with baked pasta with cheese and tomatoes.
    Chicken Pasta Bake

Chicken Dinners

  • Strips of chicken, peppers and onions in a baked casserole.
    Chicken Fajita Casserole
  • Crispy chicken thighs on a white plate.
    Cast Iron Chicken Thighs
  • A chicken thigh with a sauce on a plate with rice and peas.
    Apricot Chicken
  • A plate filled with chicken legs covered in barbecue sauce.
    Baked BBQ Chicken Legs
  • Grilled chicken thighs on a white plate.
    Italian Dressing Chicken
  • A golden chicken thigh on a white plate with roasted potatoes and green beans.
    Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

Featured In...

Beyond the Chicken Coop recipes have been featured in many different sites.

Footer

Five grilled sausages on a plate.

↑ back to top

Beyond the Chicken Coop recipes have been featured in many different sites.

About

  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 Beyond the Chicken Coop LLC ®