Bacon Wrapped Bratwurst

Name: Bacon Wrapped Beer Brats
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 6 smoked beef bratwursts ((fully cooked brats)); 6 strips bacon; 4 small sweet onions; 2 Tablespoons salted butter; 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar, packed; 1/2 cup beer; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

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Take your bratwurst game up a level when you make these Beer Brats wrapped in bacon and smothered with onions!

THE BEST BEER BRATS AROUND

These super easy Beer Brats (a.k.a. bratwursts) are just what your hungry belly needs! Between being simmered in beer and wrapped in smoky and salty bacon slices, these Bacon Wrapped Brats are exploding with flavor. Whether you’re hosting a BBQ or just want something easy and delicious for dinner tonight, these brats will definitely hit the spot.

A few Bacon Wrapped Beer Brats on buns with french fries.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’S):

Why are they called Beer Brats?

Beer brats, also known as beer bratwurst, are simply bratwurst sausages that have been cooked with beer. The name “beer brats” comes from the cooking method. You can even buy some bratwurst that are already infused with beer.

What kind of beer do you use for brats?

I would suggest sticking to a beer that you actually enjoy drinking and enjoy the taste of. Pilsners, lagers, IPA’s and stouts would all work well with these brats. You could even use a non-alcoholic beer if you prefer.

What if I don’t like beer?

My family does not drink beer (we just don’t like it) and I really don’t get a strong taste of beer in this recipe and there really isn’t much in it. It really does all blend together pretty seamlessly. But if you want, you could certainly use a low sodium beef broth.

Do I have to use brats or can I use a different sausage?

You can trade the smoked brats out for different smoked sausage varieties (you want it to be a cooked sausage.) Just pay attention to the size difference because other sized sausages may need more or less time to cook.

How do you keep the bacon from unwrapping?

To ensure the bacon sticks to the sausage without unwrapping, we begin by placing the brats, seam side down, in a cold pan.

Can I grill these beer brats?

You could. You just have to be really careful with bacon as it likes to drip fat and fan cause flare ups. My suggestion would be to put a cast iron pan on the grill and make these just like the directions – that way you can cook these a bit more safely but also getting that smoky grilled flavor. It will be important that you keep control of the temperature as much as possible.

What to serve with beer brats?

These brats can be served as is, or in a hot dog bun like I showed in the picture with a little spicy brown mustard on top! When it comes to serving beer brats, there are plenty of delicious side dish options to consider. Here are a few ideas:
– French Fries
– onion rings
– Potato Salad
– Macaroni Salad
– Baked Beans
– White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
– you could even add some Chow Chow on top (my personal favorite!)

How to store leftover Bacon Wrapped Beer Brats?

Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 3 days or keep them longer by freezing for up to 3 months.

A couple Bacon Wrapped Beer Brats on hot dog buns.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

smoked beef bratwursts– I like using smoked beef brats (not a paid affiliate link) since they’re already cooked. But, you can use raw, uncooked ones if you want to. Just make sure they’re fully cooked and safe to eat before removing them from the pan. You could even make Bacon Wrapped Brat Bites for an appetizer!
bacon – I don’t recommend using thick cut slices for this because they may not cook as evenly as regular cut bacon will
small sweet onions– it may seem like a lot of onions, but they cook down so much. Plus, they provide so much flavor, you’ll want to keep piling them on.
salted butter – you can use margarine if you don’t have butter.
light brown sugar– you can swap this out for honey or white sugar. And if you don’t want the onions to be sweet, you can leave this out entirely.
beer– if you really don’t want to use a dark beer, you can swap it out for beef broth.
salt, pepper, garlic powder – this is the combination of seasoning we like but feel free to use your favorite. I think cajun seasoning would work well here too.

Bacon, beef bratwursts, sweet onions, butter, light brown sugar, beer, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.

HOW TO MAKE BACON WRAPPED BEER BRATS

Wrap each bratwurst with a single piece of bacon. Do your best to cover the entire brat (if necessary, you can trim the bacon to fit) Place all the wrapped brats into a large, cold skillet making sure they are seam side down (this helps the bacon to stick better to the brat.) Begin to heat the skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the brats (uncovered) for 15-20 minutes until golden brown on all sides and the bacon is fully cooked.

collage of two photos: bacon wrapped brats stacked on a plate; cooked brats in a skillet.

Place the brats on a plate and set aside. Reserve 2 Tablespoons of the bacon fat in the pan and discard the rest. Next, add in the onions, butter, brown sugar, beer, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to the skillet. Stir to combine.

collage of two photos: cooked bratwurst on a white plate; onions, beer and butter in the skillet.

Cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is cooked out and the onions are super soft and browned (about 10-15 minutes.) Add the bacon wrapped brats back to the skillet and roll them around in the onions.