My family tree has roots in Wisconsin. Brats are in my blood.
*I grew up here in Ohio, but I was born in the University of Wisconsin Hospital.
I love brats, especially with peppers and onions. Now, I know this is sacrilegious, but the Sheboygan "beer bath" technique…it has some issues. Don't get me wrong, it turns out great brats. But the onions are just there to flavor the beer bath; they are not worth serving with the bratwurst.
That's why I use the technique in this recipe. I cook the brats in a sealed pan, on a bed of onions and peppers, with only the slightest amount of beer added. The peppers and onions are cooked to perfection in the fat that escaped the brats. I love these peppers and onions; they are the star of the show, almost better than the brats themselves.
The brats are cooked in the steam from the pan, then crisped up on the exterior over the heat of the grill. This avoids the huge flare-ups that come from direct grilling sausages. Sure, there will be flare-ups, but the brats are already cooked through; just move them off the heat until the flare-up dies down.
Just don't tell my Wisconsin relatives that I've gone rogue, OK?
Recipe: Pan Grilled Bratwurst with Onions and Peppers
Adapted From: Cooks Illustrated Grilled Sausages with Peppers and Onions [CooksIllustrated.com, subscription required]
Cook time: 30 minutes
Equipment:
- Grill safe pan - 12 inch round or 9x13 rectangle
- Aluminum foil
Ingredients:
- 2 medium onions, sliced ¼" thick
- 3 bell peppers, sliced ¼" thick
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 5 bratwurst (one package Johnsonville brats)
- ¼ cup beer (dispose of the rest...as you see fit)
- 5 bratwurst buns
- Spicy brown mustard (optional…but not in my opinion)
Directions:
1. Prepare the pan: Toss the onions, peppers, salt, and pepper in the grill pan. Drizzle with the oil and toss again to coat, then spread into an even layer across the bottom of the pan. Put the brats on top of the peppers and onions, then pour the beer over everything. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and crimp the edges shut.
2. Prepare the grill: Set the grill up for cooking on direct medium heat. For my Weber Summit, I preheat the grill for 15 minutes with all burners on high, scrape the grates clean with my grill brush, then turn all the burners down to medium.
3. Steam the brat pan: Put the sealed pan on the grill over direct medium heat. Cook with the lid closed for 20 minutes.
4. Grill the brats, brown the peppers and onions: Remove the foil from the pan, and leave the pan over medium heat. Move the brats from the pan to the grill, also over direct medium heat. Grill the brats for 2 minutes a side, or until browned, then remove from the grill directly into the waiting buns. Watch out for flare-ups while the brats are over direct heat, and move them around as necessary. While grilling the brats, keep cooking the onions and peppers in the pan, stirring occasionally. The peppers and onions are done when they are tender, and most of the liquid is cooked away, about 10 minutes after the foil was removed.
5. Serve: Pass the brats in the buns, with the onions, peppers, and brown spicy mustard on the side.
Variations:
*Frozen Brats: If I forget to take the brats out of the freezer, that's OK, this recipe can cover for me. Increase the beer to ½ cup, and in step 3, increase the covered cooking time to 25 minutes. (I double-check the brats to make sure they are at least 160*F internal when I start with frozen.)
*Change up the sausage: Brats are my favorite, but this technique works with any uncooked sausage. Italian sausage, peppers and onions is another killer combination.
Notes:
*If you have a local meat market that makes their own brats, great! I'm partial to Johnsonville brats, myself. It must be my Wisconsin heritage.
*I'm a traditionalist - top the brats with peppers, onions, and brown spicy mustard. Anything else would be...uncivilized.
*A trick for feeding the kids - I cut the brats in half before putting them in a bun, to stretch the 5 brats in a package out to 10 full buns. Ben can rip through three or four brats on his own; this trick leaves brats for the rest of us to get a bite in edgewise.
*This technique is great when cooking for a crowd; it doubles or triples easily. All you need is a larger pan; a 13x19 pan can hold a party pack of 12 brats easily.
What do you think? Questions? Other ideas? Leave them in the comments section below.
Related Posts:
Grilled Sausages
Grilled Peppers and Onions
Pan Grilled Bratwurst and Sauerkraut
Adapted from:
Cooks Illustrated Magazine: Grilled Sausages with Peppers and Onions
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Melissa D says
This is a great recipe-comes out perfect every time and is so easy. I had never really,add brats before I tried this recipe over a year ago and I am hooked! Thanks! Love your blog post too 🙂
Suzanne says
Excellent! Very simple and delicious.
Dave L. says
Great recipe! I made this for my SO and she loved it. Although not my usual "thing" I enjoyed this very much. You continue to be my go to guy for delicious recipes and proven techniques.
I see that the Browns won today. I'm not a Browns fan but I'm always happy to see the Ravens lose.
Kd says
I was always taught to douse everything in 5-6 cans of beer and then boil it. This method is SO much better! Thank you! It was delicious!!
Mike V says
You're welcome!
Tonya says
Great...thanks so much! I am really looking forward to this meal!
Mike V @ DadCooksDinner says
It will work on the stovetop in a covered pan; I cook it that way from time to time.
I've never tried it in a slow cooker - I don't think it's hot enough.
Tonya says
Just wondering if you think this would come out the same way if done on the stove top or crock pot? We live in an apartment complex and they have some crazy grudge against grills so we can't have one. Unfortunately....but I would love to try this out this weekend if you think it can be done justice indoors.
Mike V @ DadCooksDinner says
You're welcome - I'm glad it got a rave review!
janNmn says
Made this last night. We loved it. Husband said, "you can do this again." Thanks for a great recipe.
Mike V @ DadCooksDinner says
Enjoy!
bev says
Sounds yummy!!! I am going to try this!!
Mike V @ DadCooksDinner says
Thank you!
moneyballbingo says
Holy Moly, maybe the best dinner I've ever grilled. 2 thumbs up!