Bacon-Wrapped Beer Brats

Everything is better with bacon, and these Bacon-Wrapped Beer Brats are no exception. Imagine big, meaty sausage and the salty-smoky flavor of bacon all wrapped together into one tasty package – that’s what these are all about!

It doesn’t take much to satisfy a bunch of meat lovers, and with this easy beer bratwurst recipe, you can feed a few or a crowd in no time. Plus, they’re in-your-face delicious, and everyone can pile them with toppings just how they like them.

With all that bacon love going on, serving beer-soaked brats wrapped in strips of thick-cut bacon and topped with all the fixings brings a rapid hush to a room of hungry carnivores and a simple nod of glowing satisfaction from the chef. I’ve tested this one on hungry mountain bikers, and it works.

Harness the power of bacon.

Bratwurst is a specific kind of sausage. They’re German sausages, typically made from pork, although you can find some made with beef or veal. The sausage filling is finely chopped and seasoned with caraway, garlic, and other spices. Every brand of bratwurst is different – use your favorites when cooking brats in beer.

• Bacon – Good quality thick-cut bacon.
• Lager – Just one bottle.
• Worcestershire sauce
• Dry mustard powder – A little goes a long way!
• Garlic Salt – Salt, not powder.
• Bratwurst – Use your favorites!
• Mayonnaise
• Whole grain mustard
• Dijon mustard
• Rolls – Sausage size, split and toasted.

• Sauerkraut – Brats and sauerkraut go hand-in-hand!
• Swiss cheese
• Pickles

Making the best bratwurst is easy; here’s how:

Preheat your oven to 450-F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.

Cook the bacon on an oven-safe rack over the baking sheet for about 15 minutes. You want them cooked but not too crispy – they have to wrap around the sausage.

Remove the bacon from the oven and set it aside. Drain the fat from the baking sheet and replace the foil or parchment paper. Reduce the heat to 350ᴼF.

Whisk the beer, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, and garlic salt in a large pot.

Poke the brats a few times with a fork, add them to the pot, and bring them to a boil. Reduce and simmer for 15 minutes.

Remove the beer-boiled brats from the liquid and let them cool.

Wrap a strip of bacon around each bratwurst sausage once they’re cool enough to handle, securing it with a toothpick.

Place the bacon-wrapped bratwurst on the baking sheet and pop them back in the oven, flipping once halfway through until the bacon is fully cooked.

Make a delicious mayo-mustard mixture that will pair great with these bacon beer brats by combining the mayo with the whole grain mustard and Dijon in a small bowl. Refrigerate until you are ready to serve.

Toast some buns and serve your brats with plenty of cheese, pickles, sauerkraut, and a big dollop of the mayo-mustard sauce. Enjoy!

• Fry your bacon in a nonstick pan (instead of the oven) for 2 or 3 minutes but not until fully cooked.
• Use light beer or your favorite beer. There are no rules in this brats recipe.
• Finishing the bratwurst in the oven ensures the bacon crisps up, adding loads of texture to these bacon-wrapped sausages.
• Make it hot! Use sriracha or any hot sauce in the mayo sauce to light these babies on fire!
• Use vegetable or chicken broth instead of beer. The results will be quite similar but NOT the same.

Anything goes with these tasty sausages, but some of my favorite sides include:

• Smoked Pulled Pork & Beans
• Skillet Corn
• Grilled Jalapeno Popper Fries

Leftovers – if you have any – can be kept in the fridge. Package the bratwurst separately from the buns so that the buns don’t get soggy. You can also freeze any leftover buns or cooked bratwurst.

Your brats should cook in the beer in about 15 minutes. Or to an internal temperature of 160F.

No. Most of the alcohol in the beer will cook out, and the flavorful liquid is left behind, which keeps the bratwurst juicy and delicious. These are safe for kids to eat.

I’d discard the cooking liquid. If you keep it for another purpose (soup, perhaps?), make sure to refrigerate it.

Want more bacon inspiration? Yeah, I thought so. Try some of my favorites!!!

• Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Chicken
• Perfect Bacon Wrapped Smoked Meatloaf Recipe
• BBQ Glazed Smoked Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
• Bacon-Wrapped BBQ Fatty Recipe

If you’ve tried my Bacon Wrapped Beer Brats Recipe or any other recipe on GirlCarnivore.com please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know where you found it in the comments below. I get inspired by your feedback and comments! You can also FOLLOW ME on Instagram @girlcarnivore as well as on Twitter and Facebook.