Ella Walter
Bratwurst is a type of sausage that can be cooked in a crock pot. It is a convenient meal option for busy days, as it can be prepared in advance and left to cook slowly throughout the day. Crockpot bratwurst is a versatile dish that can be served on a bun with peppers, onions, and other toppings, or plated with a side such as mac and cheese or potato salad. The cooking process involves searing the bratwurst and layering it with onions, garlic, butter, and seasonings, before slow-cooking it in beer to infuse flavour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Bratwurst, onions, peppers, garlic, butter, salt, pepper, beer, mustard, sauerkraut, vegetable oil, apple, brown sugar, caraway seeds |
| Equipment | Slow cooker, skillet, crockpot |
| Preparation time | Sear the bratwurst and toss everything in the crockpot the evening before serving. |
| Cooking time | 6 hours on low heat or 2 hours on high heat |
| Serving suggestions | Hot dog buns, mac and cheese, potato salad, chips, slaw |
| Storage | Store leftover bratwurst in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Freeze cooked bratwurst in an airtight container for 2-3 months. |
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What You'll Learn
Prepping bratwurst for the crock pot
Bratwurst is a great option for a cookout, especially when you want to switch things up from the usual burgers and hot dogs. It's also a good choice for a busy day dinner entree. You can prep your bratwurst and veggies in advance, and they will be ready to eat when you are.
When buying bratwurst, it's best to get good-quality ones. Cheap bratwurst tends to taste cheap, and it's not worth the effort. If you buy your bratwurst from the meat aisle in the grocery store, you may need to reshape them before cooking, as they can become flattened when stacked on top of each other.
It's recommended to sear or brown your bratwurst in a pan before putting them in the crockpot. This improves their texture and helps seal in the juices. To sear your bratwurst, add a tablespoon of vegetable oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the bratwurst and sear on both sides for about 6 minutes, until charred but not fully cooked.
You can also prep your bratwurst the night before. Simply sear them and toss them in the crockpot with the other ingredients, cover, and place in the fridge. Put everything in the slow cooker in the morning, turn it on, and your meal will be ready by dinnertime.
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Cooking time and temperature
Cooking bratwurst in a crock pot is a convenient way to prepare a tasty meal, especially when you're busy. It is a simple process that requires minimal prep work and delivers juicy, tender bratwurst infused with flavour.
To cook bratwurst in a crock pot, you'll first want to sear the bratwurst on a skillet or pan. This step is optional but recommended, as it locks in the juices and improves the texture of the bratwurst. Add a tablespoon of vegetable oil to a skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the bratwurst and sear for about 6 minutes on each side until charred but not fully cooked.
After searing, the bratwurst can go into the crock pot. Layer half of the sliced onions at the bottom of the crock pot, followed by the bratwurst, and then cover with the remaining onions and other ingredients like garlic, butter, salt, and pepper. Pour beer over the bratwurst—a lager or pilsner works well—until the sausages are covered.
For the cooking time and temperature, it is recommended to cook the bratwurst on low heat for 6 hours or on high heat for 2 hours. Cooking them on low heat for a longer duration ensures that the bratwurst becomes tender and absorbs the flavours of the other ingredients. If you are in a hurry, you can opt for the high heat setting, but the bratwurst may not be as tender.
It is important not to open the crock pot lid during the cooking process, as this can affect the cooking time and temperature. Once the bratwurst is done cooking, you can serve them with hot dog buns, mustard, and sauerkraut and your choice of sides. If you want to be extra sure about food safety, you can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the bratwurst, which should reach 160 °Fahrenheit.
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Beer and other ingredients
Beer is a key ingredient in cooking bratwurst in a crock pot, as it adds flavour to the dish. It is recommended to use lager-style beer, such as a light pilsner or lager, or your favourite non-alcoholic beer. The amount of beer used will depend on the number of bratwursts being cooked, but generally, one 12-ounce bottle or can of beer is used for 5-8 bratwursts. If you don't have beer, you can substitute it with chicken or beef stock, or even water.
In addition to beer, onions are also a common ingredient used when cooking bratwurst in a crock pot. It is recommended to use a large, sweet onion, thinly sliced or chopped. The onions are cooked until they are translucent and starting to brown before being added to the crock pot. Other ingredients that can be added to the crock pot include garlic, butter, salt, and pepper. Some recipes also include vegetables such as peppers, apples, and sauerkraut.
It is important to note that the quality of the bratwurst can impact the final dish. It is recommended to purchase good-quality bratwurst, such as Omaha Steaks' Knockwurst sausages, as cheap bratwursts may taste cheap and not be worth the effort. It is also suggested to sear or brown the bratwurst in a pan before adding them to the crock pot to improve their texture and seal in their juices.
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Storing and reheating
Leftover crockpot beer brats can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days. To reheat, you can use a hot skillet or a microwave until heated through.
You can also freeze cooked bratwurst in an airtight freezer container for 2–3 months. Make sure to let them thaw before reheating.
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Serving suggestions
Bratwursts cooked in a crock pot are versatile and can be served in a variety of ways. A popular option is to serve them in a bun, either hot dog-style or as a sandwich. You can top the bratwurst with a variety of condiments, such as mustard, ketchup, relish, minced onion, or sauerkraut. If you want to serve them as a fork-and-knife dish, you can place the bratwurst on a bed of tender onions or sauerkraut, with a side of roasted carrots, pureed parsnips, or peas.
For a more substantial meal, bratwursts can be served with a variety of sides, such as potatoes, potato salad, mac and cheese, slaw, or chips. You can also serve them with vegetables like onions, peppers, and garlic, which can be cooked alongside the bratwurst in the crock pot.
For a traditional German meal, serve the bratwurst with potatoes, sauerkraut, and German lager. Alternatively, for a Midwestern-style meal, serve the bratwurst with onions and a beer and mustard sauce.
If you're serving a large group, you can set up a build-your-own brat bar, where guests can choose their own toppings and sides. This is a great option for a casual get-together or cookout.
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Frequently asked questions
Bratwurst, onions, garlic, butter, salt, pepper, and beer. You can also add peppers, mustard, and sauerkraut.
Layer half of the onions over the bottom of the slow cooker, then top them with a layer of bratwurst. Cover the bratwurst with the remaining onions, garlic, butter, salt, and pepper. Pour 12 ounces of beer over the sausages, close the lid, and cook. You can cook bratwurst for 6 hours on low heat or 2 hours on high heat.
It is recommended to sear the bratwurst in a pan before putting them in the crock pot to improve their texture and seal in their juices. You can also cook the onions in the same pan. However, this step can be skipped if you're in a rush.
Leftover bratwurst should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. They can also be frozen for 2-3 months.
