- August 17, 2023
- Grilling
Grilled Brat Burgers Recipe
If you love grilled brats then you will adore the smoky goodness of these grilled brat burgers. Check out this savory twist on traditional bratwurst! Start by crafting patties from packaged brats then infusing them with that irresistible smokiness and searing them on the grill for the perfect burger recipe.
Why This Recipe Works:
Slow Cooked Perfection: This grilled brat burgers recipe takes your favorite bratwurst and turns it into patty form to be slowly grilled to juicy perfection! The smoker ensures that all of the moisture stays inside the patty so you have the most flavorful burger experience possible. These burgers have all of the flavors you love about grilled bratwurst, without the casing and with all the best brat burger toppings you can imagine!
Smoky Flavor: The other beautiful thing about these smoked brat burgers is the smoky flavor infusion that they get from the smoker or grill. This adds a layer of extra flavor that is so good! I like to spritz mine with beer while they are cooking, too. You technically don’t have to do this, but you will notice a nice flavor when you do!
Supplies Needed:
- Grill or Smoker
- Meat Thermometer
- Spray Bottle (optional for spritzing with beer)
Ingredients:
- Bratwurst: A 5 pack of bratwurst will make 4 burgers!
- Pretzel Buns: These brat burgers are amazing with pretzel buns, but you can also use your favorite burger buns!
- Beer: This is totally optional, but I like to spritz the brat burgers with beer every 15 minutes or so for added flavor and moisture.
- Toppings: Top your burgers off with all of your favorite toppings! I paired them with some caramelized onions made in butter and beer cheese sauce!
How To Make A Brat Burger Patty:
- Preheat: First, preheat the grill to 225 F and set it for two-zone cooking.
- Remove the Casings: Remove the bratwurst from the package. Use a pairing knife to slice open the casings of each bratwurst and discard.
- Form into Patties: Make 4 burger patties from the 5 total bratwurst (divide the 5th brat into 4 equal pieces to add to the other patties). It’s easiest to roll each one into a ball and then lightly pat it to form a burger.
Smoked Brat Burgers On The Grill:
- Grill: Place each burger patty onto indirect heat on the smoker. Smoke for 30-40 minutes or until the burgers reach 165 F internally. Optional- spritz the outside of the burgers with beer every 15 minutes if desired for added flavor. If you prefer to sear the burgers at the end, move them to direct heat and sear for 2-3 minutes per side if desired. Alternatively, you can skip the indirect heat method and grill your burgers on direct heat for a quick cooking method. Simply cook them 4-5 minutes on each side on direct heat!
- Prepare Toppings: While the brat burgers are smoking, cook the onions down in the butter on low heat to caramelize them. Once cooked, remove them from the heat and set aside.
- Toast Buns: Toast the pretzel buns and assemble the brat burgers with the caramelized onions, beer cheese sauce, and any other desired toppings!
What To Pair With Brat Burgers:
Toppings:
One of the best parts about this grilled brat burger recipe is the delicious burger toppings that can go along with it! I highly recommend topping it off with some caramelized onions and beer cheese sauce, but you can also go with smoked onions or raw onions and some grainy mustard or horse radish sauce! Anything that you would normally put on your grilled brats would go great on these grilled brat burgers.
Sides:
Let’s be honest, sides are also a very important part of the burger-eating experience. So definitely pair your burgers with all of your favorite sides. Or try pairing them with some of my own personal favorites:
- Low Carb Jicama Fries
- Smoked Corn on the Cob
- Homemade Portillos Chopped Salad
- Smoked Potatoes
- Grinder Salad
Frequently Asked Questions
If you don’t have a grill or smoker or you don’t want to cook them this way, then you can definitely make them on the stovetop! Use a heavy-bottomed pan and sear them for 4-5 minutes on each side on medium-high heat or until they reach 165 F.
Yes, the bratwurst is made of ground pork and spices and then encased to create the sausages. So you can technically use ground pork instead and season it up with some classic bratwurst spices like dry sage, dry mustard, paprika, coriander, salt, and pepper!
To store, place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Simply reheat in the microwave until heated through!
More Recipes To Try:
Grilled Brat Burgers Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 pack Bratwurst 5 brats will make 4 burgers
- 4 Pretzel Buns
- 1 cup Beer optional
Toppings
- 1 large Yellow Onion sliced thin
- 2 tbsp. Butter
- 1 batch Beer Cheese
- Brown or Dijon Mustard
- Horseradish Sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the grill to 225 F. and set it for two zone cooking.
- Remove the bratwurst from the package. Use a pairing knife to slice open the casings of each bratwurst and discard.
- Make 4 burger patties from the 5 total bratwurst (divide the 5th brat into 4 equal pieces to add to the other patties). It's easiest to roll each one into a ball and then lightly pat it out to form a burger.
- Place each burger patty onto indirect heat on the smoker. Smoke for 30-40 minutes or until the burgers reach 165 F. internally. Optional- spritz the outside of the burgers with beer every 15 minutes if desired for added flavor. If you prefer to sear the burgers at the end, move them to direct heat and sear for 2-3 minutes per side if desired.
- While the brat burgers are smoking, cook the onions down in the butter on low heat to caramelize them. Once cooked, remove from the heat and set aside.
- Toast the pretzel buns and assemble the brat burgers with the caramelized onions, beer cheese sauce, and any other desired toppings!