Brats in the Air Fryer

Making brats in the air fryer will soon be one of your favorite ways to cook brats, especially if you live somewhere that experiences winter! When you can't get out and grill brats, air-frying them is the next best thing. 

You'll love making brats in the air fryer

They turn out perfectly. These air fryer brats turn out so perfect every time! They're perfectly crispy with the best snap and juiciest inside. It's the perfect way to cook brats year-round! 

It's such an easy dinner idea. When you need a meal that's flavorful but quick and easy for those busy weeknights, you will love making these brats in the air fryer. It's one of my favorite air fryer meals for beginners. 

Ingredients

Brats. Now this recipe calls for uncooked brats versus pre-cooked brats. The cooking time will vary if you use pre-cooked brats. I made sure to include those directions below! 

Onion. I love cooking onions with these air fryer brats, they make for the perfect topping! 

Other ingredients may include brat buns, mustard, or any of your preferred toppings! If you're unsure of how to you want to dress up your air fryer brats, I included some of my recommendations below. 

You may also like:​ Air Fryer BBQ Chicken

What are brats?

Brats are a type of German sausage traditionally made from pork, veal, and other spices. It's a specific kind of sausage, so they have a different flavor than Italian sausage, Polish sausage, hot dogs, or any other sausage. 

There are many different flavors of bratwursts, some may have cheese in them, different veggies stuffed in them, you can find a few different varieties at your local grocery store. However, if you have a local butcher or meat shop, I suggest going there to find some really fun flavors.   

You may also like:​ Air Fryer Chicken Sausage

Favorite brand of brats

Your favorite brats really just come down to personal preference. If you want a reliable brand, Johnsonville brats are great and can be found at grocery stores all across the nation. However, if you want to upgrade, you can go to local butcher or meat shops and explore their brats! 

How to make brats in the air fryer

This air fryer brats recipe is so easy to make that chopping the onions is the most "work" necessary. In just about 15 minutes, you get juicy brats. If you're looking for easy air fryer recipes, you'll love this one. 

1. Preheat to 350F. If your air fryer doesn't have a preheat setting, simply set it at 350F, and let it run for 3 minutes.
2. Slice onions and lay them down in the air fryer basket.
3. Place your brats over them into a single layer. You don't want your brats overlapping. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to make multiple batches. 
4. Cook at 350F for 6 minutes, flip, and cook at 350F for another 6 minutes.

Your brats should reach an internal temperature of 160F. This is important to note when cooking raw brats. 

Note:​ The cook time will depend on the size and type of air fryer you have. 12-15 minutes should be enough to cook the brats through. 

You may also like: Air Fryer Crescent Rolls

Best way to serve this air fryer bratwurst recipe

You can serve your brats in brat buns or if you want a low carb option, you can make brat bowls with them! You can include rice, potatoes, onions, bell peppers, or anything else you're craving. I would recommend not serving them in a hot dog bun as hot dog buns are a bit smaller and can't hold a bratwurst sausage that well. You can also substitute brat buns out for hoagie rolls. 

Tip: I recommend steaming the buns for soft buns! It is such an easy way to elevate this quick meal. 

Condiment toppings for brats in the air fryer

Here are a few of my favorite toppings and some suggestions for the next time you make these air fryer brats.

• Mustard: classic yellow mustard or Dijon mustard are two of my favorites. Stone ground mustard is also a staple when making brats. 
• Sauerkraut
• Grilled or Sauteed Onions
• Ketchup
• Relish
• Coleslaw
• Potato Chips - crush them up and place them right on top! 

Side dish ideas to serve with air fryer brats

To make this a delicious dinner, of course, you need side dishes! Here are some of my favorites. 

Easy Potato Salad - what screams summertime cookout more than potato salad and brats?!

Sauerkraut - this can be served on top of your brats

German Potato Salad - you can stick with the Germanic theme and serve this German Potato Salad.

Homemade Coleslaw - I love pairing homemade coleslaw with almost anything like brats, grilled chicken, ribs, etc.

Storing and reheating brats

If you have any leftover brats, store them in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat them, place them in a preheated air fryer at 350F for 3-5 minutes.

FAQs

How long should you cook brats in an air fryer?

Cooking brats in the air fryer should only take about 12-15 minutes. You'll want to be sure they reach an internal temperature of 160F. You can measure that with a digital meat thermometer. 

Do you poke holes in brats before air frying?

For the best results, do not poke holes in the brats before air frying. The fat holds so much flavor and by poking holes, you are losing out on all of that goodness. 

What is the best temp and time to cook brats?

I recommend air frying brats at 350F for 12-15 minutes. 

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