19 Hearty Bratwurst Recipes

Updated: Apr. 11, 2023

There's so much more you can do with brats besides throwing them on the grill. Use 'em in soup, nachos and even Bloody Marys.

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German Brat Seafood Boil

Grilled bratwurst and onion add a smoky flavor to corn, potatoes and fish for a hearty meal that’s always a hit with my family. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

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Creamy Bratwurst Stew

A rich sauce coats this hearty combination of potatoes, carrots and bratwurst chunks. I adapted a baked stew recipe that appeared in a newspaper. This is so comforting on cold winter evenings. —Susan Holmes, Germantown, Wisconsin
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BBQ Brats

In Wisconsin, brats are a food group! We are always looking for new ways to cook them. This recipe is easy and a hit at any tailgate party or cookout, any time of year. —Jessica Abnet, DePere, Wisconsin
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Midwest Mary

In the Midwest, Bloody Marys garnished with meats, cheeses and veggies are works of art. My beverage has skewers of bratwurst, cheese curds and dill pickles. —Kathryn Conrad, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Beer and Brats Nachos

Head to the Midwest for the big game with a platter of these crunchy snacks enlivened with a beer-laced cheese sauce. —Kelly Boe, Whiteland, Indiana
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Oktoberfest Brats with Mustard Sauce

I come from a town with a big German heritage, and each year we have a huge celebration for Oktoberfest. This recipe packs in all the traditional German flavors my whole family loves. —Deborah Pennington, Decatur, Alabama
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Bratwurst Soup

I came up with this recipe one day when I had some leftover bratwurst. It has been a favorite of my husband's ever since and is requested whenever the guys are hanging out. —Anna Miller, Churdan, Iowa
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Oktoberfest Strudels

My husband, being born and raised in Wisconsin, loves bratwurst sausages. So I tweaked this strudel recipe to include some of his favorite filling ingredients and it was an instant hit. Serve with extra mustard for dipping. —Cleo Gonske, Redding, California
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Beer Brat Chili

My husband and I love this chili because it smells so good as it simmers in the slow cooker all day. I can't think of a better way to use up leftover brats. He can't think of a better way to eat them! —Katrina Krumm, Apple Valley, Minnesota
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Bratwurst Hash

Looking for something homey that’s stick-to-your-ribs good? This satisfying, delicious recipe is for you. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Sausage and Pepper Sandwiches

Pick a dark, malty lager for simmering the sausages. Grill ’em, split ’em and load ’em on toasted buns with garlicky peppers and onions. —Jeanne Horn, Duluth, Minnesota
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Slow-Cooked Reuben Brats

Sauerkraut gives these beer-simmered brats a big flavor boost, but it’s the special chili sauce and melted cheese that put them over the top. Top your favorite burger with some of the chili sauce; you won't be sorry. —Alana Simmons, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
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Touchdown Brat Sliders

It's game time when these mini sausage sliders make an appearance. Two things my husband loves—beer and brats—get stepped up a notch with crunchy flavored chips. —Kirsten Shabaz, Lakeville, Minnesota
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Barbecue Brats & Peppers

We live in brat country, and this barbecue-style recipe feeds a crowd. The sauce gives it a welcome change from the same old grilled bratwurst. — Maria Zrucky, Kronenwetter, Wisconsin
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Bratwurst and Chicken Kabobs

I made these lively chicken kabobs as a thank-you gift while visiting my relatives in Norway They loved eating them almost as much as I loved cooking for them! If you prefer less heat in the chutney, you can use honey in place of pepper jelly. Also, any variety of vegetables will work with these. —Anna Davis, Springfield, Missouri
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Brat & Bacon Appetizer Pizza

Chopped bratwurst and maple bacon are a fabulous way to start a pizza. I jazz up this treat even more with apricot preserves and honey mustard. The snack-sized slices win over even the toughest critics. —Colleen Vrooman, Waukesha, Wisconsin
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Bratwurst Supper

After trying a few bratwurst recipes, I've found this meal-in-one is ideal for camping since it grills to perfection in a heavy-duty foil bag. Loaded with chunks of bratwurst, red potatoes, mushrooms and carrots, it's easy to season with onion soup mix and a little soy sauce. —Janice Meyer, Medford, Wisconsin
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Triple-Sausage Breakfast Bake

This over-the-top breakfast has great flavors—smoky, sweet and spicy. It's a really meaty meal. —Thomas Faglon, Somerset, New Jersey
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Slow-Cooker Milk-Can Supper

Here’s a slow-cooked version of a campfire classic. Pioneers and cowboys would cook this meal over a milk can on an open fire, letting the flavors and textures blend together. —Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado