Smoked Brats

Amazing Smoked Brats are the easiest smoker recipe to make for dinner. Tons of delicious smoked flavor, juicy, tender brats topped with your favorite toppings. Perfect for a backyard party or an easy dinner recipe.

Smoked bratwurst sausage is the perfect easy game-day meal or simple dinner to throw together. A lot of people say that they don’t like bratwurst before actually giving it a shot! Or maybe they’ve just had brats that weren’t cooked the right way. So if you’re on the fence about them you’ve gotta try this recipe.

There are probably a ton of different foods that you didn’t know were even better when made on the smoker. These smoked stuffed meatballs are crazy good and you can even make juicy burgers on the smoker. In fact I only make burgers on the smoker with our Beef Seasoning now. Learning how to smoke brats has been a game changer.

What are Bratwursts?

Bratwurst are a German sausage that are most often made from pork. Sometimes they contain veal or beef too.

Are brats good in the smoker?

Brats are perfect for smoking because the flavor of brats is typically very mild.

The thin casing takes on the smoky flavor and makes these brats just delicious. Once you make smoked brats, you’ll never make them any other way!

Why You’ll Love Smoked Brats

• There’s virtually no prep time to this tasty recipe. Just preheat the smoker and place the brats onto grill grates, and let them cook!
• It’s really easy to smoke an extra large batch. So make plenty for your next party or get together!
• They are a hearty sausage full of protein, so you can be sure that it’s a filling meal. Make for an easy “set and forget” dinner on a busy evening.
• There are so many flavors of brats. Grab original, philly and so much more to mix up the flavors.

Ingredients for smoked brats

• Bratwurst – Grab you favorite brand of bratwurst and get to cookin’! Any kind will do.
• Bratwurst buns – These fluffy buns are the perfect size for brat links. For extra tasty flavor, you can also butter the inside of each bun and toast them on the grill or stove top.
• Toppings – Use all of your favorite topping to add incredible flavor to these already amazing smoked brats. Here’s a few of our favorites:
  • Sauerkraut
  • Diced yellow onions
  • Ketchup
  • Mustard
  • Relish

Are kielbasa and bratwurst the same thing?

Though these two sausages are somewhat similar, they are not the same. Bratwurst are primarily made from pork and use different spices and seasonings. Kielbasa typically contains beef.

Salt, pepper, nutmeg, and ginger are the most common spices in brats. Whereas, kielbasa is seasoned with garlic and marjoram to give it it’s specific flavor. I wouldn’t try to pass off kielbasa as bratwurst, but you can use this method of smoking to smoke some kielbasa sausage! 

What are the best wood chips for smoking bratwurst?

There are a number of great wood chips you can use to smoke brats including applewood, hickory, pecan, cherry and mesquite.

How to Smoke Brats

1. Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees Fahrenheit and remove the bratwurst from the package.
2. Place the links onto the grates of the smoker and let smoker for an hour and a half. Rotate after 20 minutes of cooking. Once the internal temperature of each link reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit, you can remove them from the smoker.
3. Remove the links from the smoker and serve warm with your favorite toppings!

How to keep brats from bursting

To keep bratwursts from bursting open, cook them at a low temperature, just like we recommend in this recipe.

when are brats done smoking?

Your bratwurst internal temperature has to reach 160-165 degrees Fahrenheit to be considered safe to eat.

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What to Serve with Smoked Brats

Serve up this tasty recipe with any of your most favorite side dishes. Smoked baked beans are always delicious, as well as smoked jalapeño popper mac and cheese. If you want a side dish that isn’t french fries, then make these grilled foil packets with potatoes instead!

Smoked potato skins are also a good side dish, and so are smoked mushrooms with garlic butter.

Want a tasty dessert to follow a meal of smoked brats? Then make this yummy lemon blueberry crisp or smoked apple bread with icing.

How to Store Leftover Smoked Bratwurst

FRIDGE: Place leftovers into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

FREEZER: You can also freeze leftover brats! Wrap in plastic wrap or place into an airtight container and store for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw before reheating.

How to Reheat Leftover Brats

Reheat brats on the stove top, in the oven, or in the microwave until they reach a safe internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

Smoked brats are a game changer when it comes to easy dinners. This smoked brats recipe is a set and forget meal that is as easy as it comes!

More Smoker Recipes You’ll Love

• If you love mac and cheese, then you’re going to love Smoked Mac and Cheese! So creamy and so cheesy.
• BBQ Smoked Meatballs are a lovely appetizer and easy meal. Another set and forget recipe that everyone should know how to make!
• Change up the breakfast routine with Smoked Bacon Slices. So much flavor in one crispy bite of breakfast heaven!
• Desserts don’t have to be difficult. These Smoked Apples are so easy and always turn out mouthwateringly good!
• Make some Smoked Brisket Nachos with your leftover brisket.