Wisconsin Beer Brats. Simmered in beer and onion, grilled, and served slathered in sauerkraut and mustard. Perfect for game day or a summer cookout.
There are few thing that speak louder to me than grilling on game day or splurging on a bunch of appetizers at a tailgate.
I live in Green Bay, Wisconsin and we love our Packers. We also love any tradition that allows us to watch the Packers while consumer beer and something hot off the grill. Brats are also delicious for a summer cookout. That being said, I felt this was the perfect time to share my recipe for Wisconsin Beer Brats.
I even grilled these babies in the snow. Grilling is a year-round activity in these parts.
Brats are a staple at our house and we prepare them a few different ways, but this method is my all-time favorite. I simmer my brats in beer with thinly sliced onions and finish them on the grill. No fancy seasoning mixes needed. The brats can be returned to the beer and onion pot to keep warm, or they can be served right away.
Ingredeints
- Bratwurst - There are so many types of brats to make Wisconsin Beer Brats. Pick your favorite. I typically choose original or cheese.
- white onion - yellow onion works well too.
- light beer - I typically use something like Miller Lite
- 10 brat buns - hot dog buns work too, but brat buns tend to be a little sturdier and do not fall apart as easily.
- Assorted toppings of choice: sauerkraut, mustard, ketchup, pickles
Instructions
- Place brats and onions into a pot. Pour beer over the brats and onion.
- Turn meat to medium-high. Bring to a light simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
- Heat grill to medium-high heat. Remove brats from beer and reduce heat to medium to allow onions to continue to cook. Place on grill and cook 3-4 minutes then flip to cook the other side.
- Remove brats from grill and serve with onion and desire toppings. If they need to be kept warm for a period of time place them into the beer and onion pot to keep warm until ready to serve.
Topping Options
So what does a person put on a Wisconsin Beer Brat? Well, there are purists who like them plain or with a few onions.
There are some that insist on mustard only, and then there are some that insist on mustard and sauerkraut only.....and maybe onions too. Ketchup and pickles get the side-eye from some people, but it is actually pretty common to see ketchup on a brat. I always have a bit of a laugh because some people are very strong about the brat topping opinions.
What do I like on mine? I will, happily, eat any of the above, but my topping of choice are beer simmer onion, grainy mustard, and lots of sauerkraut.
Leftover Brat Ideas!
I like to use leftover Wisconsin Beer Brats to make a delicious brat chowder, Brats Bites, or Beer and Brat Mac and Cheese.
Another great way to use leftover brats, if you actually have leftovers, is the chop them and scramble them in eggs. Brats 'n' eggs is out go to breakfast when we are at our cottage in Door County the morning after a cookout.
Looking for More Football Recipes?
Slow Cooker Creamy Mac and Cheese with Bacon
Baked Chicken Taquitos from Kylee Cooks
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Wisconsin Beer Brats
Ingredients
- 10 Bratwurst
- 1 white onion, peeled and sliced
- 48 oz light beer (4 cans)
- 10 brat buns
- Assorted toppings of choice: sauerkraut, mustard, ketchup, pickles
Instructions
- Place brats and onions into a pot. Pour beer over the brats and onion.
- Turn meat to medium-high. Bring to a light simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
- Heat grill to medium-high heat. Remove brats from beer and reduce heat to medium to allow onions to continue to cook. Place on grill and cook 3-4 minutes then flip to cook the other side.
- Remove brats from grill and serve with onion and desire toppings. If they need to be kept warm for a period of time place them into the beer and onion pot to keep warm until ready to serve.
These look so good! And I LOVE the idea of using the leftovers in scrambled eggs!
We would never have leftovers, I'll have to make extra and hide them to use them in scrambled eggs!
These are perfect, especially with the deep freeze we're having when grilling is not such a great option.
Love brats for football watching!
There's nothing like a Wisconsin Brat! I love your recipe and definitely will be adding this our menu
Yum! This looks like something my whole family woudl enjoy!
Can you believe I've never had brats? It must not be a California thing. These look delicious and I can't wait to try your recipe. Great photos btw.
Thank you! I hope you get to try them!
I love how brown you got those sausages...it adds so much flavor!!!
I love the idea of simmering brats in beer and onions. Yum!
I love how simple these are to make, but they still pack so much flavor! I'm looking forward to game day!
perfect game day food! i'll bet simmering them in beer and onions makes them taste like perfection!
I've made this several times both for the family and for company. Everyone loves it. This will go into my regulation rotation.
Wow I love these! I bet my boys will love it too. I must make them this tomorrow. Looks so delicious and flavorful.
Mmm this reminds me of the brats we get outside the arena downtown Toronto after a concert or game!!! Now I have a recipe to make them myself, thanks!
Onion makes everything better, isn't it? I love it. And these beer brats would be perfect for my lunch!
Classic football food! Such an easy way to serve them too!
Oh wow I'm dying to try this! I grill all year-round too, neither snow nor rain can stop me. Grilling food always brings out the best flavors. And cooking it in beer and onion beforehand sounds absolutely scrumptious!
Ideal food for game nights indeed. Grilled food is certainly the best and I cannot wait to do that come monsoon next month in India. Currently the weather is too hot. I loved the idea of using the leftovers by the way.
I am so exciting about this grilling season. I've got a few incredible recipes that I am soooooo ready to try (including this now), so it is promising to be a fabulous season!
Yum. I think the only issue with the recipes like this is that you need to make a lot of servings because they tend to be extremely popular and end very quickly LOL I can't wait to try these brats!
Looks delicious and perfect for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. I love that you used leftovers in another recipe, that's versatility.
I have never had a Wisconsin brat but I love this way of cooking them in beer and onions! I am sure I can do this with the sausages we have here in Italy too!
YUM! I love brats and have never made them in beer before. I can't wait to try this recipe this summer for a cookout!
We make brats about once a week during the summer, and I love how quick, easy and delicious this recipe is! The brats are so flavorful and always a crowd-pleaser. Thanks for sharing!
Omg, these sausages look divine! What a great recipe, perfect for a picnic which we are planning on going this coming Sunday. Thank you so much for sharing this delicious and easy to make recipe. Delicious!
These beer brats look amazing! I wish I could use these for watching football, but we moved to a different country where we watch rugby now. That will do!
Love the idea of using leftovers. The sausage, beer and onion sounds yummy. A best recipe for weekends! Thanks for sharing!
We grill year round here in Texas too. These will be perfect for game days as I can keep them hot in the beer and onion mixture.
Just looking at those pictures, makes me want to have brats right now. They look yummy.
Are brat buns different from hot dog buns? This is such an interesting recipe and a brand new cooking concept for me.
They are different. Hot bog buns can be used in place, but the brat bun is breadier and heartier than a hot dog bun. I find the hot dog buns get a little too soggy, but they will still work.
I love such easy recipes...With simple ingredients, this is a great dish to serve any day.