It’s bratwurst time!
How to make Brats in the slow cooker
I’ve been at it again, messing around with my slow cooker.
You all know how much I like to use the Crockpot in wintertime for those hot, savory soups and stews. But it’s also really handy in the summer, because it lets you cook a hot meal without heating up the whole kitchen.
This time it’s bratwurst, those plump little German sausages.
There are two good ways to cook a bratwurst: you can grill it, or you can stew it in beer. And the beer version can hardly be easier than these Crockpot Beer Brats: you give the brats a quick browning, pop them in the crock with the beer and other ingredients, then just let them simmer away for the rest of the day. When dinner comes, you serve ‘em up on buns, with sauerkraut. Very German, ja?
So now, at your next backyard gathering, you don’t have to slave over a hot grill to cook the perfect brat. Instead, you can just dish them up out of your slow cooker, and give yourself plenty of time to enjoy your friends’ company.
Make sure to check out this recipe and many more I have created for BettyCrocker.com
The Best Crockpot Beer Brats
- Brown brats and place in slow cooker.
- Top brats with onion slices, garlic, salt, pepper and butter.
- Pour in beer and cook on High for 4 hours or low for 7-8 hours.
- Enjoy with your favorite brat toppings!
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Crockpot Beer Brats
Ingredients
- 3 bottles 12 oz beer
- 10 brats
- 1-2 sweet onions sliced
- 3-4 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 4 Tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Brown brats and place in slow cooker.
- Top brats with onion slices, garlic, salt, pepper and butter.
- Pour in beer and cook on High for 4 hours or low for 7-8 hours.
- Enjoy with your favorite brat toppings!
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Nutrition Information:
Nutrition Disclaimer
Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Sak says
I made the crockpot beer brats, but they exploded open.
How do you keep them from exploding?
Plus the brats seemed soggy and mushy inside.
Corey says
Oh no! I am so sorry that happened. Did you cook it on high or low? Make small slits in them next time to help them vent.
Sak says
I cooked the brats on high.
thanks for the tip of putting small slits in them first.
amber says
What kind of beer should I use?
Corey says
Whatever you have on hand Amber 🙂
Kathleen says
Hi Lauren. I found this recipe and really want to try it, HOWEVER,…….I found it when I was on your Week 15 Meal plan and tried to get Saturdays recipe for SPAGHETTI SQUASH CHOW MEIN AND WHEN I CLICKED ON IT, IT KEPT
TAKING ME TO THE Crockpot Beer Brats. I so want the squash recipe!!!!!!!! Please help as it is not on your recipe Index. Thanks so much.
Susan says
I’ve made this a few times for get togethers and they are a hit. I used Costco Brats cooked in leftover Pabst from a party. Last time I added chicken broth as well. Because I was making such a large quantity, I slow-cooked in my roaster oven. The flavor was great. Thanks for an easy, wonderful recipe!
Melissa says
Would that work in a regular oven on low? What temp would you recommend and for how long?
Linda says
omg! These are our favorite brats ever! I made them for a baby reveal party and tripled the recipe! So easy and delicious! I cooked them on high in the crock pot and didnt have any problems with them! Everyone raved about them! Id give then 10 stars if I could! Thx for a great time-saving recipe! Definitely keeping this one!
Corey says
Awwww.. thanks Linda 🙂 I’ll take 10 stars any day!
Dottie Deines says
Do you brown them in a skillet or on a grill, or does it matter?
Corey says
Either will work Dottie 🙂
Monica says
Is there an alternative to using beer? I’m cooking for a family gathering with kids!!
Corey says
You could just use a broth instead 🙂
Melissa says
Can you cook on the stove instead of a crock pot? If so, how long?
Janel Hyberger says
Can I put them in slow cooker for a few hrs. Then onto the grill ?
pete says
The brats turned out very mushy, I would not recommend it. However the flavor was great.
Corey says
Did you make sure to brown the brats first Pete?
Teresa Fechter says
Why do we add butter to the crock pot?
Joshua Whalen says
I have a large crock pot/ roaster, it actually uses the Fahrenheit degrees, and I don’t know how to differentiate that with medium heat, any help would be greatly appreciated.
Yarnjunky says
Turned out great, everyone enjoyed it. I added green pepper slices to the recipe.
barbara says
Great recipe. Followed exactly except for adding a tablespoon of calabrian chile paste for an awesome kick! Thanks so much.
Shelley says
Corey, I love this recipe so much. It’s my 4th time making it. I use Budweiser beer and this time I added some fresh jalapenos. My husband loves this recipe! Kudos to you!
Shelley
Corey says
I love the fresh jalapeno addition! Yummy! So happy you love the recipe Shelly 🙂