How Long To Cook Johnsonville Brats In Beer

beer brats

beer brats pin

Ever heard of beer brats? Beer boiled brats are by far the most delicious way to cook brats. Start by boiling your brats in beer and then finish them off with a sear on the grill, some ketchup & mustard, and relish too!

In this post, we are teaching you how to cook beer brats. We're also sharing some tips and tricks to getting perfect beer boiled brats every time.

If you've never had a beer brat, you've never truly experienced a good ol' fashioned Wisconsin brat! Growing up in Milwaukee, cooking brats in beer is just what we did. Not only does the beer infuse a delicious hoppy flavor, but it's so easy!

What is a brat?

First things first, what is a brat? A brat AKA "a bratwurst" is a German-style sausage that is typically made with ground pork.

Brats can also come made with other cuts of meat such as veil or chicken. They can even come as a blend of meats and other add-ins such as cheese, jalapeños, etc.

What is a Wisconsin beer brat?

A beer brat is when you boil uncooked brats in a couple of cans of beer to fully cook it on the stovetop. Oftentimes, they are finished off on the grill.

We truly believe beer brats are superior to any other kind of brat because they are so dang delicious.

What kind of brats are best for beer brats?

There are lots of bratwurst brands on the market, but we definitely have a favorite –>Johnsonville! They make so many different variations and they are based in Wisconsin. It just makes sense.

What kind of beer should I use?

When it comes to what kind of beer to use to boil your beer grats in, it's all about preference. We prefer using a light beer such as:

Coors Light
Michelob Ultra
Heineken

You can really use any kind of beer your heart desires. Heck, you could probably even make cider brats and boil your brats in cider!

Are beer brats alcoholic?

Beer brats actually don't have any alcohol in them because the alcohol is burned off during the boiling process. Thus, beer brats are non-alcoholic and kid-friendly.

How to Make Beer Brats

Cooking brats in beer is so easy. From start to finish, this recipe should take you around 10 minutes. You'll be using your stovetop and grill to finish them off.

Start by placing your uncooked brats on the bottom of a large pot. You can boil as many brats as you want. Then, pour on a few cans of beer on top of them. The goal here is to completely submerge your brats so that they boil evenly.

Turn burner to high and bring beer to a rolling boil. Then, lower the heat to low/medium and let your brats simmer for around 10-15 minutes, uncovered. Your time will vary depending on the thickness of your brat.

Heat grill to around 450ºF. Grill brats for around 5-8 minutes, turning every few minutes.

The goal here is to give your brats some char so that's why the temperature is set a little higher. Since you've already fully cooked the brats from boiling them in beer, you want to make sure you don't overcook them on the grill.

Other cook methods: if you don't have access to a grill, we suggest searing your brats on the stovetop. This will give them some extra texture!

Grill brats until they've reached an internal temperature of 145ºF, which is the FDA's recommendation for pork.

Now that the brats are cooked and ready to go, it's time to doctor them up! We suggest slightly toasting your buns on the grill. Otherwise, you can go bunless!

Topping Ideas

ketchup
mustard
coleslaw
spicy pickled peppers
relish
caramelized onions
sauerkraut
pickled onions

How to Cook Beer Brats FAQ

Serving Suggestions

Baked Potato Salad: This baked potato salad is loaded with cheddar cheese, bacon, chives, hard-boiled egg, and a dill pickle sauce! It's the perfect potato salad to serve at your next BBQ or party.

Black Bean Corn Salad: Looking for a simple cold salad that doubles as relish and triples as a dip? Make our black bean corn salad. It's made with fresh ingredients cilantro, jalapeño, cotija cheese, and lime juice.

Grilled Potatoes in Foil: These foil pack grilled potatoes are an easy side to add to any bbq. All you need to do to make these grilled potatoes in foil is toss them in olive oil, spices, and create a foil pack!

2 girls eating beer brats and drinking beers

6 uncooked brats (we prefer pork brats)
3 cans of light beer (we recommend Heineken, Coors Light, or Michelob Ultra)
6 hot dog buns

Optional Toppings

Ketchup
Mustard
Relish
Caramelized Onions

First, place uncooked brats on the bottom of a large pot. Then, pour in around 3 cans of of beer. You want to make sure that the brats are fully covered to ensure even cooking.
Turn heat to medium high heat and bring the beer to a rolling boil. Then, reduce the heat to low/medium and let simmer, uncovered, for around 10-15 minutes. If you are cooking thicker brats, cook them closer to 15 minutes.
As the brats simmer, the beer will begin to foam, this is good! Just make sure you watch your pot so that the beer does not boil over. About halfway through cooking, poke each of the brats to make sure they don't explode (you'll understand). You know your brats are done cooking when they have firmed up and are no longer pink inside.
Preheat grill to 450ºF. Grill brats for around 5-10 minutes, rotating every few minutes. Since the brats are already fully cooked from the beer boil, this is really just to add char so make sure not to overcook! Cook brats until they've reached 145ºF internally.
Serve brats on a toasted bun and with all of your favorite toppings!

Nutrition information is for brats and buns only.

Serving Size: 1 beer brat Calories: 398 Sugar: 4 Fat: 21 Carbohydrates: 36 Fiber: 1 Protein: 16

Category: Grill Method: Grill Cuisine: Midwest

Keywords: beer brats, beer brats recipe