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.
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!
Notes
While I smoked and seared these burgers, you can sear them over direct heat and cook them 4-5 minutes per side for a quick cooking process.