Wisconsin Beer Brats Recipes

BEER-BRAISED BRATWURST & ONIONS

Steps:

• In a large (12-inch) cast iron skillet or nonstick pan with a tight-fitting lid, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the bratwurst and sear until nicely browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Using tongs, transfer the sausage to a plate; set aside. Add the onions and salt to the skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are softened and golden brown, about 5 minutes (do not burn; reduce the heat if necessary).
• Place the bratwurst back in the pan on top of the onions, add the beer, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover with the lid, and simmer for 10 minutes (at this point the sausages will be partially cooked through). Remove the cover, increase the heat to medium, and continue cooking until the bratwurst are cooked through and the beer is reduced by about three quarters, 10 to 12 minutes more. Serve the bratwurst and onions on rolls with mustard and sauerkraut, if desired.
• Note: I use Johnsonville Original Brats; avoid any brats already flavored with beer, as the finished dish will taste too bitter. Also be sure to purchase fresh (not cooked) sausages.
• Note: Lager is a family of beers that includes bright lagers, amber lagers, dark lagers, Oktoberfests, and pilsners. I use Sam Adams Oktoberfest, but Budweiser, Bud Light, Coors Light, and Miller Lite are all good options. No need to use anything fancy!
• Note: The nutritional information does not include the optional serving ingredients.

WISCONSIN BEER BRATS

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large, grill-safe straight-sided skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium. Add onions and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft and golden in places, about 20 minutes. Stir in caraway seeds, bay leaf, mustard, and brown sugar; cook 30 seconds. Add bratwursts and beer. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, turning bratwursts occasionally, 20 minutes.
• Preheat grill for direct-heat cooking (medium-high on a gas grill). Transfer bratwursts to a plate. Drain onion mixture in a fine-mesh sieve; discard liquid. Return mixture to skillet with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Place on one side of grill and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in sauerkraut; cook 1 minute more.
• Meanwhile, place bratwursts on grill and cook, turning a few times, until blistered in places, about 5 minutes. Place rolls on grill, cut-sides down, until lightly toasted and charred in places, about 1 minute.
• Serve bratwursts in rolls, topped with sauerkraut mixture and more mustard.

ON WISCONSIN BEER BRATS

Steps:

• In a slow cooker, combine the bratwurst links, butter, beer, onions, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, garlic and brown sugar. Cover and set to High. Cook for 4 hours, stirring once per hour. Add sauerkraut and continue cooking for another hour.
• Serve bratwurst on buns with onions and top with your favorite condiments.

WISCONSIN BRATWURST

Steps:

• Prick bratwurst with fork to prevent them from exploding as they cook. Place in a large stock pot with the onions, butter, and beer. Place pot over medium heat, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Preheat grill for medium-high heat.
• Lightly oil grate. Cook bratwurst on preheated grill for 10 to 14 minutes, turning occasionally to brown evenly. Serve hot off the grill with onions on hoagie rolls.

WISCONSIN BEEF AND CHEDDAR BRATS WITH BEER-BRAISED ONIONS

Steps:

• Set up grill for direct cooking over high heat. Oil grill grate when ready to start cooking.
• Place a large skillet on a grill or side burner and add butter. When butter has melted, add onions. Cook until softened, about 10 minutes. Add beer and cover; cook an additional 10 minutes.
• Remove cover from skillet and let simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes.
• Turn the heat on the grill down to medium. Place brats on oiled grill grates and cook 4 to 5 minutes per side
• Serve brats hot on toasted rolls smothered with onions and topped with mustard.
• INDOOR: In a large skillet over medium heat melt butter add brats and brown 10 minutes, turning them occasionally as they brown. Remove the brats and set aside. Add the onions and cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently until softened. Pour in the beer and scrape up any brown bits in the bottom of the pan. Return the brats to the pan and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes or until beer has all but evaporated.

WISCONSIN BEER BRATS POTATO SKINS

Steps:

• Toppings: Beer cheese spread, sliced grilled bratwurst and brown mustard
• How to Make Classic Potato Skins:
• Pierce 4 large russet potatoes with a fork. Bake directly on the oven rack at 350 degrees until tender, about 1 hour. Let cool, then quarter lengthwise and scoop out the flesh, leaving a 1/4-inch shell. Brush both sides with melted butter and season with salt and pepper. Bake, skin-side up, at 450 degrees until crisp, about 15 minutes. Add your favorite team toppings. (For cheesy skins, flip the baked shells over before topping, sprinkle with 1 cup grated cheddar cheese and bake an extra 5 minutes.)

BEER BRATS

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat. When hot, lightly oil grate.
• Combine the beer and onions in a large pot; bring to a boil. Submerge the bratwurst in the beer; add the red pepper flakes, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to medium and cook another 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the bratwurst from the beer mixture; reduce heat to low, and continue cooking the onions.
• Cook the bratwurst on the preheated grill, turning once, 5 to 10 minutes. Serve with the beer mixture as a topping or side.

WISCONSIN SLOW COOKER BRATS

Steps:

• Place bratwurst, beer, onion, and ketchup in a slow cooker. Pour water over mixture until everything is covered. Set slow cooker to HIGH and cook for 4 hours.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil grate.
• Grill bratwurst on preheated grill until they are browned, about 5 minutes.

BEER WISCONSIN BRATWURST

Steps:

• Melt butter in a Dutch oven saute onions till tender 5 minutes.
• Add sugar, caraway seeds, and pepper stir in and place brats on top, cover the brats with beer drink the remaining. Bring to a boil and reduce to simmer until brats are cooked. Remove brats and add kraut and stir.
• Place brats on medium high grill and cook brats until golden brown and return to beer/kraut mixture until ready to serve. Serve brats on fresh baked brat buns with sauerkraut & onions, fresh grated horseradish, ketchup, and/or mustard.