Emilie Meyer
Bratwurst is a great alternative to the usual cookout foods of burgers and hot dogs. It's easy to cook bratwurst in a crock pot, and it's a good option for busy days. You can cook the bratwurst with vegetables like onions, potatoes, and peppers, and add flavour with beer, butter, garlic, mustard, and caraway seeds. The bratwurst should be cooked until it's tender, and it can be served on a bun with the vegetables, or plated as a meal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cook time | 6-8 hours on low heat or 2 hours on high heat |
| Ingredients | Bratwurst, onions, garlic, butter, salt, pepper, beer, mustard, caraway seeds |
| Sides | Buns, pretzel bites, mustard, beer cheese, napa cabbage slaw, sauerkraut, tortellini pasta salad, baked beans, potato chips, raw veggies and dip, fruit, mac and cheese |
| Storage | Refrigerate leftovers for 3-4 days or freeze for 2-3 months |
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What You'll Learn
Sear brats before crock pot cooking
Searing brats before crockpot cooking is a great way to enhance their flavour and lock in their juices. This extra step can be done the evening before, allowing you to simply turn on the slow cooker in the morning.
To sear brats, heat a tablespoon of butter or oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the brats and sear for around 3 minutes on each side, or around 6 minutes in total, until they are browned but not fully cooked. You can also add grill marks by using a grill pan. Remove the seared brats and set them aside on a plate.
After searing, you can add sliced onions to the skillet and cook until they are translucent and browned. Then, add garlic and stir until fragrant. This will add extra flavour to your dish.
Finally, add the seared brats, onions, and garlic to your slow cooker, along with the remaining ingredients such as sauerkraut, beer, and seasonings. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
By searing brats before crockpot cooking, you not only improve their colour and texture but also ensure they remain juicy and flavourful. This simple step can elevate your bratwursts and make them the star of your meal.
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Cook on low for 6-8 hours
Cooking brats in a crock pot is a great option for a busy day dinner entree. It's an easy, no-fuss way to prepare juicy, flavorful brats without needing to cook them outside on a grill. The crock pot does most of the work, leaving you free to get on with your day.
To cook brats in a crock pot for 6-8 hours, first sear the brats in a pan. This step is optional but recommended, as it improves the texture and locks in the juices, resulting in tender, flavorful brats. Heat a tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the brats and sear on both sides for about 1-2 minutes per side, until charred but not fully cooked.
Next, prepare the crock pot. Slice onions and garlic and layer them in the bottom of the crock pot. You can also add other ingredients like butter, salt, pepper, and bay leaves. Then, place the seared brats on top of the onions and garlic.
Finally, add the liquid. Beer is a popular choice for cooking brats, as it adds flavor. Pour 12 ounces of beer over the brats, making sure they are mostly submerged. You can also use stock, broth, or water.
Cover the crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. The brats are done when they are tender and cooked through. Serve the brats on buns with your favorite condiments, such as mustard, sauerkraut, and onions. Enjoy!
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Use lager or pilsner beer
When making bratwurst in a crockpot, the type of beer you use is important. While you can use almost any kind of beer, it will taste best if you use a beer that you would normally drink with bratwurst, such as a traditional German lager or an IPA. If you don't want to use alcohol, you can use a non-alcoholic beer, apple juice, or chicken broth.
A light, mild lager is a good choice if you want to avoid a strong beer flavor. German-style lagers, in particular, fit well with the German theme of the recipe. However, you can also experiment with other beers such as amber ales or stouts. If you don't like beer, you can get a similar effect by using a soda like ginger ale.
When preparing the bratwurst, it is recommended to sear them in a skillet or grill before placing them in the crockpot to lock in flavor and improve the texture. This step is optional but recommended. After searing, place the bratwurst in the crockpot with the other ingredients, cover with lager, and cook for 6 to 8 hours on low heat.
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Add onions, garlic, mustard
Cooking brats in a crockpot is a great way to make a tasty and easy meal. The slow cooker keeps the brats warm and juicy, and you can even prepare everything the night before.
When adding onions, garlic, and mustard to your crockpot brats, there are a few different approaches you can take. One option is to create a sauce by combining barbecue sauce, mustard, and hot sauce. You can then add sliced onions to the slow cooker, pour the sauce over the onions and mix well. For added flavour, you can grill or sear the brats before adding them to the crockpot. This helps to lock in the juices and enhance the texture.
Another option is to cook the onions and garlic together before adding them to the crockpot. To do this, you can slice the onions and sauté them in butter until they are softened but not fully cooked. Then, add garlic to the onions and stir until fragrant. This will only take about 30 seconds. Once the onions and garlic are cooked, you can add them to the crockpot along with the brats and other ingredients.
You can also add mustard directly to the crockpot as a condiment. It is recommended to use a good quality grainy mustard or Dijon mustard. However, if you don't have access to these varieties, you can also use yellow mustard or substitute with coarse mustard. The mustard can be added to the crockpot along with the brats, onions, and other ingredients, or it can be used as a topping when serving.
When adding onions, garlic, and mustard to your crockpot brats, you can experiment with different combinations and amounts of these ingredients to find your preferred taste. These ingredients not only add flavour to the brats but also help to create a juicy and tender texture.
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Serve with potatoes, pretzels, or buns
There are several ways to serve crockpot brats with potatoes, pretzels, or buns. Here are some ideas:
With potatoes
You can serve crockpot brats with a potato side dish, such as potato salad, as suggested by a user who commented on the recipe. You could also make a stew with potatoes and carrots, as suggested by another recipe. Simply pre-boil the bratwursts to remove the fat and toss them in the crockpot with a barbecue sauce that includes your favorite beer, chili sauce, Worcestershire, ketchup, vinegar, salt, brown sugar, and paprika.
With pretzels
You can serve crockpot brats with pretzel bites on the side, or you could make a more complex dish by creating a smoked brat recipe: homemade pretzel dogs dipped in beer cheese sauce.
With buns
You can serve crockpot brats in a variety of buns, such as hoagie buns, brat buns, or hot dog buns. If you want to take it up a notch, you can butter and toast the buns. You can top the brats with grilled peppers and onions, chili and shredded cheddar cheese, or cheese, ketchup, or mustard. You can also serve them with a beer cheese sauce, made by melting cheddar or another meltable cheese with beer, mustard, and garlic.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended to cook brats for 6 hours on low heat or 2 hours on high heat. However, some recipes suggest cooking them for up to 8 hours on low heat.
It is recommended to sear brats in a pan before placing them in the crock pot. This helps to improve the texture, seal in the juices, and give them a nice brown color. However, searing the brats is not mandatory and can be skipped if you are short on time.
Brats are often cooked with onions, garlic, butter, salt, and pepper. Beer is also a common ingredient, adding flavor to the dish. You can use a lager or pilsner beer, or substitute it with chicken or beef stock, or water. Vegetables like potatoes, peppers, and sauerkraut can also be added to the crock pot.
Crock pot brats can be served on a bun with your favorite condiments such as mustard or ketchup. They can also be served plated with sides such as potatoes, onions, sauerkraut, mac and cheese, or other vegetables.
