Oven Braised Beer Brats at Home

Make me choose between hot dog or brat and I’ll go for the brat every.single.time.

Mustard (hold the ketchup), extra onion and pickled jalapenos please and thank you.

With Memorial Day weekend fast approaching, I was thinking you may be planning and strategizing your party menu. Normally you might toss brats on the grill grates and cook them low and slow until the skins split and juices sputter. That’s how I like it. But this year, why not try the beer braised brat method?

Cooking the brats in your oven does free up quite a lot of space on the grill. Which is so nice. It gives me (or Pat) a chance to get the burgers, dogs, corn on the cob… whatever it may be, out of the way. After the brats have braised in beer, onions and garlic; they take a speedy trip to the grill for that satisfying grilled flavor and color.

Preheat your oven to 400℉ (or 200℃).

In one of those disposable aluminum pans; 2 sliced yellow onions, 4 cloves minced fresh garlic and top with 2 tablespoons butter.

Add the brats. Everyone at the table is cheddar brat fans so that is what I’m using here. But use what you like!

Pour four 12-ounce bottles (room temperature) over the brats and onions. Or enough beer so the brats have something to sink into.

I use tongs to nestle the brats into the liquid. As the onions cook and reduce the brats will sink further into the beer. YUM!

Tightly cover with foil and place on a rimmed sheet pan. Slide the pan into your preheated oven for 30 minutes.

Once the first 30 are up, uncover and flip, continuing to bake (uncovered) for 30 more minutes.

Ta-da! Fully cooked and in desperate need of some grill time.

Grill The Brats:

At this point I will grill the brats on the outdoor (400℉ or 200℃) grill for only a few minutes a side, only to get the skin crisped and some much needed color on them. Afterwards, you can place the grilled brats back into the beer to keep warm while serving.

Top the brats with the beer-soaked onions, mustard, ketchup, sauerkraut… whatever your heart desires.

I’m pretty firm with what I like on my brats. What you see here ^ is my norm. But sometimes I go the caramelized peppers and onion route.

Sides Served With Brats:

• baked beans – old-school homestyle, sweet and spicy, spicy jalapeño or 5-ingredient barbecue beans!
• pasta salad – familiar macaroni, italian bowtie pasta or greek orzo salad is a great place to start!
• grain-free salads – bacon pea salad, confetti picnic salad, broccoli crunch salad, cucumber salad or fruit salad.
• potato salad – Try familiar, ranch,dill pickle or grilled potato salad!
• coleslaw – This familiar one is our go-to!
• potato chips
• corn on the cob or grilled veggies

Enjoy! And if you give this Oven Braised Beer Brats recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!