Perfectly crispy charred on the outside and juicy good on the inside, this simple and delicious Grilled Bratwurst recipe is going to blow your mind! So full of smokey chargrilled flavor, this classic sausage is served on a soft yummy hotdog bun and then topped with your favorite German mustard and tangy sauerkraut.
What Is Bratwurst?
Otherwise known as brats, the word bratwurst is derived from Old High German in which the word brat means finely chopped meat and the word wurst means sausage. Basically, brats are a type of German sausage typically made from pork, but you can find beef and veal varieties too.
It’s one of those classics that has been around for a very long time. In fact, bratwurst dates back to 1313 in the city of Nuremberg, which is still known today as the capital of grilling sausage production.
Grilled bratwurst is most commonly served either as is with a delicious German Potato Salad or how we are serving them in this recipe on a hotdog bun topped with mustard and sauerkraut.
Why You’ll Love This Grilled Bratwurst Recipe
- Bursting With Flavor. Brats are a delicious variety of sausage full of spices and nicely seasoned that when grilled take on the most beautiful savory smokey flavor.
- Quick And Easy. Grilling brats is super simple! There is no prep involved and you can have a yummy meal ready in just 20 minutes!
- Crowd Pleaser. Bratwurst is perfect for your next BBQ! Even the kids will enjoy these yummy looking sausage hotdogs. And the adults will love topping the juicy mouthwatering brats with a tasty mustard and zesty fermented sauerkraut.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Bratwurst – You want uncooked brats for this recipe. You can buy them in any grocery store. You can also find more upscale fancier varieties of bratwurst at most butcher shops.
- Hot dog buns – I like to use the ones you find in the bakery section of the supermarket, but any hotdog bun will do. Pretzel buns are another good choice too.
- German mustard – Ideally, German mustard is the best choice for the full experience. Yet, any type of mustard will work like stone-ground, dijon, or even yellow.
- Sauerkraut – Your preferred brand of store-bought or homemade sauerkraut is perfect.
How To Grill Bratwurst
- Preheat your grill. Oil the grates of your grill and then bring the temperature to 350°F so it gets nice and hot.
- Grill the bratwurst. Place the brats on the grill and cook for 15-18 minutes while turning them from time to time so that cook evenly on all sides. When the grilled bratwurst is done, it should have reached an internal temperature of 150°F-155°F.
- Grill the buns. Just a few minutes before the grilled brats are done, place the buns, cut side down on the grill, and warm them for about 30 seconds.
- Build the brats. Remove the sausages and buns from the grill. Then place a grilled bratwurst in a bun and top with your favorite mustard, sauerkraut or your favorite condiments.
Can I Bake The Bratwurst?
Yes, you can. I highly recommend grilling, but if you don’t own a grill you can still make super tasty brats. Just bake them at 425°F for about 20 minutes in a roasting pan fitted with a rack and flip them halfway through cooking for even browning. Using the rack in the roasting pan allows some fat to drip from them as they bake.
Do I Need To Remove The Sausage Casing Before Grilling?
No, you want to leave the casing on and intact. This helps the brats to both hold their shape and not dry out while being grilled. The bratwurst cooks up much juicer if the casing is not cut or pieced at all.
Expert Tips
- Oil the sausage. Very lightly oil your brats with some olive oil or vegetable oil before placing them on the grill. Doing this will help to keep them from sticking to the grill, but even better yet, it will create an even more crispy delicious out crust on the sausages.
- Temp your sausage. To ensure that the grilled brats are fully cooked, you will want to use an instant-read digital meat thermometer to make sure that the internal temperature reaches at least 150℉.
- Lower the heat to avoid overcooking. If the brats are crispy and charred enough but not quite cooked through you want to lower the heat on your grill or move them to a cooler side to finish cooking them. This way they get fully cooked but don’t get burnt.
Leftovers
You can store leftover grilled bratwurst in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months!
Other Summer Recipes To Try
- Chicken Ranch Burgers
- Easy Grilled Chicken Breast
- Mini Corn Dogs
- Blue Cheese Burgers with Crispy Fried Onion
- Greek Lamb Burgers
- Watermelon Feta Salad
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Grilled Bratwurst
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 bratwursts
- 6 hot dog buns split
- 6 tablespoons German mustard
- 1 cup sauerkraut
Instructions
- Preheat your grill. Oil the grates of your grill and then bring the temperature to 350°F so it gets nice and hot.
- Grill the bratwurst. Place the brats on the grill and cook for 15-18 minutes while turning them from time to time so that cook evenly on all sides. When the grilled bratwurst is done, it should have reached an internal temperature of 150°F-155°F.
- Grill the buns. Just a few minutes before the grilled brats are done, place the buns, cut side down on the grill, and warm them for about 30 seconds.
- Build the brats. Remove the sausages and buns from the grill. Then place a grilled bratwurst in a bun and top with your favorite mustard and sauerkraut.
Recipe Notes
- Oil the sausage. Very lightly oil your brats with some olive oil or vegetable oil before placing them on the grill. Doing this will help to keep them from sticking to the grill, but even better yet, it will create an even more crispy delicious out crust on the sausages.
- Temp your sausage. To ensure that the grilled brats are fully cooked, you will want to use an instant-read digital meat thermometer to make sure that the internal temperature reaches at least 150℉.
- Lower the heat to avoid overcooking. If the brats are crispy and charred enough but not quite cooked through you want to lower the heat on your grill or move them to a cooler side to finish cooking them. This way they get fully cooked but don’t get burnt.
- You can store leftover grilled bratwurst in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months!
We made this last evening. DELICIOUS!! Thank you so much for this recipe!