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Sizzling sausages on a charcoal grill with colorful grilled vegetables

Beer-Braised BBQ Bratwurst

These juicy beer-braised bratwursts are grilled to perfection and topped with sweet caramelized onions. Simmering the brats in lager beer and butter creates an incredibly flavorful base before they hit the grill. Serve in buns with mustard for a crowd-pleasing BBQ classic.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 8 bratwurst sausages
  • 2 yellow onions thinly sliced
  • 12 oz lager beer 1 can
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
  • 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
  • 8 hot dog buns
  • mustard for serving, to taste

Method
 

  1. Melt butter and olive oil over medium heat in a cast-iron skillet or grill-safe pan. Add the sliced onions and cook for 5–7 minutes until softened.
  2. Pour the beer over the onions and add brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cook for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are caramelized and liquid has mostly reduced.
  3. Preheat your grill to medium heat. Grill the bratwurst for 15–20 minutes, turning occasionally, until they have nice grill marks and reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
  4. Place each bratwurst in a bun, top generously with the beer-soaked caramelized onions, and serve immediately with mustard.

Notes

Do not pierce the sausage casing before cooking — it releases fat and dries out the interior. Cook to an internal temperature of 160°F. Leftover brats can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated on the grill or in a skillet.