This Baked Bratwurst Recipe tastes just as moist and juicy as the ones off the grill without the fuss! Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a great option when you’re craving some brats and you don’t want to bother with the grill!
Nothing screams summer more than bratwurst because that’s when I normally cook them on the grill. I recently discovered that brats are just as moist, juicy, and tasty when baked in the oven. Suddenly, instead of being a one season dish, these delicious sausages became something that I could serve and enjoy even with a foot of snow outside!
What is bratwurst?
Bratwurst or “brats” is a fresh link German sausage, typically made with a blend of finely chopped veal and pork. It is one of the best-known national foods from Germany. Introduced in the Middle Ages, bratwurst recipes vary widely by region and even by household. The most popular way to eat Bratwurst is on a white roll with sauerkraut and mustard.
The oldest recipe for bratwurst goes back nearly 600 years and was discovered in Thuringia, Germany.
Fun Fact: 600 years ago, medieval town markets had consumer protection committees to enforce the quality of produce. In 1432, Thuringian sausage makers could be fined 24 pfennigs, an amount equivalent to a day’s work at the time, if they used impure, spoiled meat to make sausages.
Why bake bratwurst?
- Enjoy bratwurst all year long – serve them for your next Super Bowl party even with a foot on snow outside!
- Easy and fuss free – no grill, no cleaning – line the baking tray with aluminum foil then throw it away.
- Ridiculously quick – great for busy weeknights!
- Plumper and juicier than grilled brats – the oven does not dry out the brats as much as the grill
- Gorgeous char even in the oven – you can’t duplicate that smoky, charcoal flavor in the oven, but you can still get a lovely, crispy char on the outside!
- Multi-task other sides – you can use the oven for other things while baking the brats – roast some veggies or throw in some bread to toast. Some home cooks also cook hotdogs or other sausages at the same time.
Ingredients for Oven Baked Brats
Both store-bought and freshly made uncooked bratwurst works for this recipe. I typically use Johnsonville brats because it is readily available at my local grocery store.
For large gatherings you can buy bratwurst in bulk from Costco which sells a terrific version under its Kirkland brand. Specialty supermarkets like Wholefoods carry gourmet organic bratwurst with special savory herbs which are particularly delicious.
A small amount of oil is used for browning and to stop the brats from sticking to the foil. I use vegetable oil but any type of oil will do.
How to cook Bratwurst in the oven
Preheat oven to 400°F. Oven rack should be 6 inches from the broiler.
Place the brats on a baking sheet. Cover a large baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Brush some oil on the aluminum foil so that the brats do not stick while baking. Place the bratwurst on the baking sheet in a single layer, so that they are spread out evenly and do not touch each other.
You can also use a baking dish or a casserole dish. As the bratwurst browns in the oven, it will leave a some burned juice residue at the bottom of the pan or dish. An easy way to expedite clean-up is to line the baking pan or dish with some foil.
Bake/Broil the brats. Transfer the baking tray with the bratwurst into the upper rack of the oven. Bake for 10-minutes, then flip them over. Bake for another 5 minutes. Brush the bratwurst with oil.
Turn on the broiler and brown each side – about 2 minutes each or as needed. You may need to position the bratwurst against each other or against the side of the baking sheet in order to get even browning.
The bratwurst is done when they are browned to taste and the internal link temperature registers 160°F.
How long to cook brats in the oven
You need to bake brats for about 20-30 minutes in the oven. Bake for 10-minutes, then flip them over. Bake for another 5 minutes. Brush the bratwurst with oil.
Turn on the broiler and brown each side – about 2 minutes each or as needed. You may need to position the bratwurst against each other or against the side of the baking sheet in order to get even browning.
The bratwurst is done when they are browned to taste and the internal link temperature registers 160°F. Cooking times can vary depending on the thickness of the brats.
What is the best way to brown brats in the oven?
The best way to brown brats is to broil them for 2 minutes on each side, after baking the raw brats for about 15 minutes in the oven. If you place the rack in the center position and just bake the brats, only the areas which are in contact with the sheet an metal or foil against the sheet pan will brown. The brats will then have stripes of brown instead of being browned all over.
While baking uncooked fresh brats it is very important to use a little cooking spray or oil on the rimmed sheet pan or foil so that the brats do not stick.
The bratwurst links also need to have plenty of space between each other and enough foil should be used to cover the entire sheet pan including the rim. The cooking time will vary depending on the size and thickness of the brats.
What type of pan is best for baking bratwurst?
Bratwurst can be baked in almost any type of oven proof pan. It is important to note though that cooking times may vary and need to be modified depending on the type of pan. A cast iron skillet for example might need less time and more attention than a baking sheet as it tends to heat up very quickly and retain more heat. Examples of pans that can be used to bake bratwurst include:
- baking sheet
- casserole dish
- oven proof baking dish
- dutch oven
- cast iron skillet
- oven-proof skillet
Tips on making this Baked Bratwurst Recipe
- Use the best quality bratwurst you can find.
- For even browning, broil the bratwurst and baste with oil as needed.
- Overbaking will dry out the bratwurst – they are done when an instant read thermometer inserted into the center registers 160°F
- Easily turn this dish into a sheet pan dinner by baking some red peppers, sweet potatoes, Brussel sprouts tossed with a little olive oil, salt, and black pepper at the same time! Note: The baking time will vary depending on the time needed for each vegetable to cook.
What to serve with this Baked Bratwurst Recipe?
Bratwurst is traditionally served on a hoagie roll, with some sauerkraut and a smear of whole grain mustard. Brats are also particularly delicious with sour cream and German potato salad. I like serving brats with a little relish as the sweetness tends to brighten the flavors of the tangy sauerkraut and salty bratwurst.
You can also serve these tasty sausages with a variety of sides like classic Potato Salad, roasted bell peppers, green beans, roasted small red potatoes, cucumber salad, potato pancakes, creamy broccoli cheese soup, onion rings and Brussel sprouts. Don’t forget to include a bottle of beer!
For larger gatherings, especially with kids, hot dogs are often also served when brats are on the menu and many hosts will also serve the brats on hot dog buns.
How long does this bratwurst last in the fridge?
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), cooked sausages can last for about 4 days in the fridge. To keep them fresh, store cooled bratwurst in an airtight container.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, for best quality frozen sausages like bratwurst can be frozen for up to 2 months. For proper storage make sure the bratwurst is stored in a freezer safe container. To thaw, leave in the refrigerator overnight.
How many calories are in baked bratwurst?
Each serving of this bratwurst oven recipe has about 260 calories, 14g of protein, 21g of fat and 2g of carbohydrates. This Baked Bratwurst Recipe yields approximately 5 servings.
The nutrition information has been calculated using an online recipe nutrition calculator and is intended for informational purposes only. Please use it as a general guideline. If the nutrition information is important to you, you should independently verify it using your preferred tool.
Bratwurst FAQs
The best way to cook uncooked brats indoors is to simmer them in a broth then pan fry them. This method is not only the quickest way to cook the brats, but you can also add more gourmet flavor by cooking them in flavored liquids like beer, apple cider or ginger ale. The flavor in the liquid can be further amplified by the addition of herbs like rosemary and fresh thyme. This method is an easy dinner idea and has the added benefit of easy clean up. See my post on How to Pan Fry Bratwurst for more ideas.
Pan Fry: For the best results, pan fry bratwurst slowly over a medium-low heat to ensure that it is cooked completely. A fail proof approach is to cover the pan and poach the bratwurst first in some liquid like water, beer, or apple cider for about 20 minutes on medium heat or lower. If using beer, the best choice of beer is your favorite brand and flavor since the whole brat will be infused with this flavor. See my Beer Bratwurst recipe for more details.
Once the internal temperature reaches 145°F, fry the juicy brats with a little oil on medium-high heat, flipping often until the outside is perfectly crisp and charred. Higher temperatures help the bratwurst to sear and turn a golden brown color. The bratwurst is completely cooked when the internal link temperature reads 160°F.
Oven/Broiler: Preheat oven to 400°F. Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Grease the baking sheet so that the brats do not stick while cooking. Place the bratwurst on the baking sheet so that they are spread out evenly and do not touch each other. Transfer into the preheated oven.
Bake for 10 minutes, then flip them over. Bake for another 5 minutes.
Turn on the broiler and broil. Turn the brats using tongs – broiling each side for about 2 minutes each until suitably browned. Baste the bratwurst with oil as needed. The bratwurst is done when they are browned to taste and the internal temperature registers 160°F.
It takes about 20-30 minutes to cook a typical store-bought bratwurst (like Johnsons) at 350°F. Flip the bratwurst as needed to ensure even browning.
To check whether the bratwurst is done, insert a food thermometer into the center of the bratwurst. If the temperature is 160°F, the bratwurst is safely cooked per the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA).
You should not poke holes in the uncooked fresh bratwurst during the cooking process as this will cause the juices to leak leading to the loss of much of its legendary flavor.
According to the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA). ground meat products like Bratwurst should be cooked to 160°F.
You can easily add more flavor to bratwurst by marinating the bratwurst in liquids like your favorite beer, apple cider or chicken broth.
A popular savory bratwurst recipe is Beer Brats where the bratwurst is simmered in a large pot containing beer, sauerkraut, and mustard. After about 20 minutes, the brats are pan fried at a higher temperature until they are nicely browned.
Instead of beer, you can also use other ingredients like chicken broth, hard apple cider and ginger ale.
Bratwurst is a great option for keto diets because each serving has 14g and 21g of fat. It’s always a good idea to check the nutrition label as some manufacturers may add ingredients like sugar.
Finally, if you make this recipe
I’d love to hear how it went – please leave a comment and rate this recipe. Above all, I love hearing from all of you and will do my best to answer every comment!
Baked Bratwurst Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 bratwurst uncooked
- oil for brushing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Oven rack should be in the center position
- Place the brats on a baking sheet. Cover a large baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Brush some oil on the aluminum foil so that the brats do not stick while baking. Place the bratwurst on the baking sheet in a single layer, so that they are spread out evenly and do not touch each other.
- Bake the brats. Transfer the baking tray with the bratwurst into the upper rack of the oven. Bake for10-minutes, then flip them over. Bake for another 5 minutes. Turn on the broiler and brown each side – about 2 minutes each or as needed. You may need to position the bratwurst against each other or against the side of the baking sheet in order to get even browning. Baste the bratwurst with oil if needed.The bratwurst is done when they are browned to taste and the internal link temperature registers 160°F.
Notes
- Use the best quality bratwurst you can find.
- For even browning, broil the bratwurst and baste with oil as needed.
- Overbaking will dry out the bratwurst – they are done when an instant read thermometer inserted into the center registers 160°F
- Easily turn this dish into a sheet pan dinner by baking some red peppers, sweet potatoes, Brussel sprouts tossed with a little olive oil, salt, and black pepper at the same time! Note: The baking time will vary depending on the time needed for each vegetable to cook.