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Beer Brats simmered low and slow in the crockpot with sweet onions, brown sugar, and dark beer are the no fuss cookout main my family asks for all *summer long*. They are juicy, beer braised, and pile right onto a bun, perfect next to a scoop of our baked beans for a backyard feast.
A quick sear on the grill plus a low and slow braise in beer, brown sugar, and onions turn out the juiciest beer brats with almost no effort.
Beer Brats Quick Look
- 🕐 Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🍴 Cook Time: 6 hours
- ⏳ Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
- 🍽 Serving: 10 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 420kcal
- 🌶 Flavor Profile: Savory, beer braised, and a little sweet from the brown sugar and onions
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, on par with our oven baked pulled pork
Quick Answer
Sear the brats on a hot grill just until they get a char, about 10 minutes. Layer half the sliced onions and brown sugar in the bottom of a slow cooker, add the brats, then top with the rest of the onions and brown sugar. Lay sliced butter on top and pour in a dark beer. Slow cook on low for 5 to 6 hours, then serve the brats on buns with the onions and your favorite condiments.
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Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- A quick grill sear builds flavor. Charring the brats on the grill first adds smoky, caramelized flavor and color that you just cannot get from the slow cooker alone.
- The slow cooker keeps them juicy. Braising low and slow in liquid means the brats stay plump and juicy instead of drying out or splitting like they can on the grill.
- Dark beer is the braising magic. A dark beer adds deep, malty flavor that soaks into the brats and onions as they cook, giving that classic beer brat taste.
- Brown sugar and butter balance the bitterness. The brown sugar caramelizes with the onions and the butter adds richness, balancing the slight bitterness of the beer.
- The onions become a built in topping. Cooking the sliced onions right in the braise turns them soft, sweet, and jammy, the perfect pile on topping for each brat.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Feeds a crowd hands off. The slow cooker does the work and holds 10 brats warm, perfect for game day, tailgates, and summer cookouts alongside our baked beans.
- Juicy every time. No more split, dried out brats. The beer braise keeps them tender and full of flavor.
- Only 6 ingredients. Brats, onions, brown sugar, butter, beer, and buns are all it takes for a cookout favorite.
Key Ingredients
- Brats: Ten fresh bratwurst are the star. Use your favorite, like Johnsonville Originals. Cheddar or beer brats work great too.
- Dark beer: A 12 ounce dark beer braises the brats with deep, malty flavor. A lager, amber, or stout all work well.
- Onions: Two medium onions, sliced, cook down sweet and jammy and become the topping.
- Brown sugar and butter: Brown sugar caramelizes with the onions while sliced butter adds richness and balances the beer.
- Hot dog buns: Ten buns to pile the brats and onions onto. Toast them for extra texture.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
- Skip the grill. Sear the brats in a hot skillet with a little oil if you do not want to fire up the grill, then add to the slow cooker.
- Make it without beer. Use beef broth or apple cider plus a splash of apple cider vinegar in place of the beer for a non alcoholic version.
- Add peppers. Toss in sliced bell peppers with the onions for a brats and peppers spin.
- Switch the brats. Cheddar brats, beer brats, or Italian sausage all work in this braise.
- Top it your way. Finish with sauerkraut, spicy mustard, or melty cheese, like the cheese pull on our chili cheese fries.
How to Make Beer Brats
- Grill the brats over medium high heat just until you get a char and grill marks, about 10 minutes. You are not cooking them all the way through.
- Place half of the sliced onions in the bottom of the slow cooker and top with half of the brown sugar.
- Add the seared brats, then top with the remaining onions and brown sugar.
- Place the sliced butter on top and pour in the beer.
- Cover and slow cook for 5 to 6 hours on low or 3 to 4 hours on high.
- Serve the brats in hot dog buns, topped with the cooked onions and your favorite condiments.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Do not overcook on the grill. The grill is just for char and color, about 10 minutes. The slow cooker finishes cooking them through.
- Use a dark beer. A dark lager, amber, or stout gives the richest beer brat flavor. Lighter beers work but are milder.
- Slice the onions evenly. Medium, even slices cook down into soft, sweet onions that pile beautifully on the brats.
- Do not skip the brown sugar. It balances the beer and helps the onions caramelize into a jammy topping.
- Keep them warm for parties. Leave the brats in the beer and onions on the warm setting so they stay hot and juicy for serving.
- Toast the buns. A quick toast keeps the buns from going soggy under the juicy brats and onions.
- Save the braising onions. Spoon the cooked onions right over each brat, they are the best part.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
Beer brats are made for a cookout. Pile them on toasted buns with the sweet braised onions, then set out spicy mustard, sauerkraut, and relish. Serve with a big scoop of our baked beans and a basket of chili cheese fries for the ultimate summer spread.
For a tailgate or game day table, serve the brats alongside our smash burgers and our oven baked pulled pork sandwiches so guests can build their own plates. Keep the slow cooker on warm for grazing all afternoon.
Round out the backyard feast with classic sides like potato salad, coleslaw, and corn on the cob. Beer brats are filling on their own, so a couple of cookout sides are all you need to feed a hungry crowd.
Beer Brats FAQs
The best beer for beer brats is a dark beer like a lager, amber, or stout, which gives the richest malty flavor. A classic German style lager is traditional. Lighter beers work too but give a milder flavor, so pick a beer you enjoy drinking.
Searing the brats on the grill first is not required, but it adds great smoky char and color. If you skip it, the beer brats will still be juicy and delicious, just without the grilled flavor. You can also sear them in a hot skillet instead.
Yes, you can make beer brats without beer. Substitute beef broth, chicken broth, or apple cider plus a splash of apple cider vinegar for the beer. You will lose a little of the malty depth but still get juicy, flavorful brats.
Beer brats are delicious served on toasted buns with the braised onions, spicy mustard, and sauerkraut. They pair perfectly with cookout sides like baked beans, chili cheese fries, potato salad, coleslaw, and corn on the cob.
Yes, beer brats are great for making ahead and keeping warm. Once cooked, leave them in the beer and onions on the warm setting of the slow cooker for up to 2 hours, which makes them perfect for parties and tailgates.
Store leftover beer brats and onions in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in a skillet, microwave, or back in the slow cooker with a little of the braising liquid to keep them juicy. They also freeze well for up to 3 months.
Other Recommended Cookout Recipes
If these Beer Brats were the hit of your cookout, drop a star rating and let us know how they turned out. Photos of your loaded brats on Pinterest always make our day.
Fire up the grill and add our fall off the bone BBQ ribs to the spread, slow cooked and slathered in sauce for the ultimate backyard plate.
For an easy crowd pleasing main, our oven baked pulled pork sandwiches are tender, saucy, and built for feeding a hungry group.
Round out the cookout with our perfect smash burgers, crispy edged and juicy with that classic griddle crust.
For a fast cookout, make our bubba burgers in the air fryer, no thawing or flipping a hot skillet.
Serve these with our grilled Italian sausage sandwich.
Throwing a backyard party? Pile up our shrimp boil right on the table and let everyone dig in.
Planning a cookout? Our slow cooker ribs deliver backyard BBQ flavor straight from your kitchen.
Round out your cookout with our grilled pork chops, juicy and never dry.
Keep the beer garden theme going with our silky pub style beer cheese dip on the side.
Slow Cooker Beer Brats Recipe with Onions
Ingredients
- 10 Brats
- 2 medium onions medium sliced
- 4 tablespoons light brown sugar packed
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into 8 slices
- 12 ounces dark beer
- 10 hot dog buns
Instructions
- Grill the brats over medium-high heat, just until you get a char and grill marks on the outside. You are not cooking these all the way through, 10 minutes tops on the grill.10 Brats
- Place half of the sliced onions in the bottom of the slow cooker. Top with half of the brown sugar.2 medium onions, 4 tablespoons light brown sugar
- Add the seared brats into the cooker. Top with the remaining onions, then brown sugar.
- Place the sliced butter on top. Pour in the beer.4 tablespoons unsalted butter, 12 ounces dark beer
- Slow cook for 5-6 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high.
- Serve the brats in the hot dog buns and top with the onions and your favorite condiments.10 hot dog buns
Notes
- Make sure you use uncooked brats for the type of sausage in this recipe.
- You can double this recipe (use a larger slow cooker at least 8 quarts or two slow cookers).
- You can use your favorite beer, we find the dark beer to work best with these.
- Serve with your favorite side dish to make it a meal.
- You can top these with the onions and any of your other favorite condiments.
Nutrition
Love This Recipe?
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Yes, searing does add more flavor though
can you skip the sear process?
This Brat recipe is so melt in your mouth delicious!!! It will definitely be on our rotating menu!