Smoked Brats in Beer

Smoked Brats in Beer Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Bratwurst: The star of the dish, these uncooked brats will be transformed into juicy, flavour-packed sausages. You’ll need a package of raw brats for this recipe.
Beer: This will be used to make a beer bath for the brats, impart a light flavour to the sausages. You can use wheat beer or lager, or any kind you happen to have on hand.
White Onion: This humble ingredient will add a subtle sweetness and depth of flavor to the dish.
Unsalted Butter: We’ll smoke the butter in the smoker as well for added flavour and richness to the brats.
Mustard Powder: A pinch of this will add a tangy kick to the brats, complement the other flavours perfectly.
Chili Powder: This will add a hint of heat to the dish, making our smoked brats even more delicious.

How to Make Smoked Brats in a Beer Bath

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Smoke the brats: Preheat the smoker to 225 degrees F. Place the brats directly onto the grill grates and smoke for 30 minutes.
Make the sauce: Add butter, mustard powder, and chill powder to a saucepan and place it in the smoker. Flip the brats over and smoke for another 30 minutes.
Add onion and beer mixture: Reduce the smoker’s temperature to 180 degrees F. Slice the onions and add them to a tin. Pour in the beer and ¼ cup of the smoked butter.
Smoke with the mixture: Add the brats to the onion and beer mixture and place back into the smoker. Smoke for 2 hours, ensuring the brats reach 160 degrees F.
Toast buns and serve: Brush the buns with smoked butter and toast them for 10 minutes in the smoker. Place the brats in the toasted buns, drizzle with Dijon, and top with onions.

Substitutions and Variations

Beer Alternative: If you’re not a beer drinker, you can replace the beer with a gluten-free beef or vegetable broth for a similar depth of flavor.
Butter: If you’re dairy-free, you can use a dairy-free butter substitute or even olive oil instead of the unsalted butter.
Spices: Feel free to experiment with other spices such as garlic powder, paprika, or even a pinch of cayenne pepper for a bit of heat.
Optional Additions: If you like a bit of heat, feel free to add some hot sauce or extra chili powder to the beer bath.

Serving Suggestions

Appetizer: Smoked potato salad with bacon is a great starter to complement your brats on Traeger. The smoky flavor of the bacon pairs well with the brats, setting the tone for the main course.
Side Dish: A refreshing watermelon feta cucumber salad or a shaved Brussels sprout slaw with lemon apple cider vinaigrette would make a perfect side dish. These salads add a fresh and tangy contrast to the rich, smoky brats.
Drinks: A sparkling strawberry lemonade or a sweet and tangy watermelon Paloma cocktail would be the perfect refreshing accompaniment to your meal.
Dessert: If you’re still hungry after enjoying the smoked brats in beer, why not try a German dessert? Kaiserschmarrn is popular in Austria, as well as Germany, and this vegan kaiserschmarrn recipe is really good.

How to Store Brats Made On a Traeger 

Store: After enjoying your Traeger smoked brats, if you find yourself with leftovers, simply place them in an airtight container and pop them into the fridge. They’ll stay fresh and tasty for up to 3 days.
Freeze: Unfortunately, freezing Traeger brats isn’t recommended as it can affect the texture and flavor of the sausages.
Reheat: When you’re ready to enjoy your refrigerated brats again, you can either warm them up in the microwave or heat them in a hot oven until they’re thoroughly warmed through.