How To Cook Brats On The Stove

Brats are an easy, weeknight meal.  More importantly they are a staple for picnics and tailgates, especially in the Midwest.  The question is “How to cook brats on the stove”?

OK, you’re going to say that brats must be grilled.  There are some that would agree with you.  I’m pragmatic and sometimes it’s just plain easier to cook the brats on the stove inside.  Whether it’s raining or snowing or whatever, there are times it’s easier to cook inside on a stove.

What Is A Brat You Ask?

Well it’s not a little whiny kid, it’s a juicy, fresh sausage bursting with flavor.  Brat rhymes with cot, not cat.  So that clears up the issue of the whiny kid.

If you’ve never tasted a brat you’re in for a big, tasty surprise.  Sure, a hot dog is good at the ballpark, but if you want to take it up a notch serve bratwurst.

I grew up in the Midwest which is home to the bratwurst.  In particular Wisconsin.  It’s said German immigrants in Wisconsin brought their home country’s sausage to America.

I remember growing up and going to country fairs with all kinds of wonderful food smells.  Warm, juicy bratwurst in a fresh bun smothered in hot mustard and grilled onions with a side of grilled corn still in its husk.  Heaven!

You can find homemade bratwurst at a local butcher.  Here in Decatur we go to an artisan market Pine Street Market.  But you can find Johnsonville brats in the freezer section of most grocery stores and they are delicious too.

How To Cook Brats On The Stove

You will find all kinds of ways of HOW TO COOK BRATS ON THE STOVE.  I’ve found the method in the recipe below primarily from Johnsonville’s site to be the most convenient and turns out a great finished brat.

Remember that Johnsonville sells millions of brats each year, so I’ll trust their method of cooking brats. When in Rome……….

Thaw bratwurst first.  Bring to room temperature for more even cooking and pat dry to get a better browning and crust.

In a heavy skillet, cast iron is great, brush on a very thin layer of vegetable oil.  Over medium heat cook the bratwurst, without touching each other, and turn often.  It should take about 5 minutes total to get the browning that you are looking for.

Then fill the skillet with ½ cup of water, reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer an additional 10-12 minutes to cook through.  Allow to rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes before eating.

Tips For How To Cook Brats On The Stove

Use tongs to flip.  If you use a fork it will let all of those wonderful juices out of the brats.

Do not use too high a heat.  Not only will the brats tend to burn instead of brown, buy you also run the risk of the brat bursting.  Bad for two reasons.  One it just looks unappetizing that way and two you’ll lose a lot of the yummy juices.

If you have tough hands you can gently squeeze the brats to see if they are cooked.  They should feel firm without a lot of give.

What Kind Of Bread Do You Use For A Bratwurst?

Traditional bratwurst bun is a crusty white bread, similar to a hoagie roll.  You’ll also see regular soft hotdog buns used.  It’s your preference. 

What Condiments Do You Serve With A Brat?

After figuring out how to cook brats on the stove, you’ll want to know what toppings and condiments go with them. 

The traditional way to serve a brat is with hot brown mustard.  But of course, people use yellow mustard, raw or sautéed onions, grilled peppers or sauerkraut.

My son Ben made up our Brats With Pickled Red Onions recipe the other night.  It was so good we decided to put it on the site.

Our bratwurst recipe is topped with Pickled Red Onions, Fresh Jalapenos, hot pepper flakes, crispy lettuce on a mayonnaise covered crusty roll.  A flavor explosion in your mouth.

Other Than How To Cook Brats On The Stove, What Other Methods Are There To Cook Brats?

I’ll be adding more posts soon to show you how to cook brats on the grill, how to boil brats and how to cook brats in the oven.  Join my newsletter and you’ll be the first one to see the new recipes.

Are Brats Keto, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free & Low-Carb?

Yes!  Just keep away from a bun.  Slice a cooked brat and top a protein bowl filled with brown rice (keep to a minimum of rice if keto or low-carb).  Bowls filled with quinoa, cauliflower or low-carb vegetables are a good choice too.

Make Ahead Tips For How To Cook Brats On The Stove

In this case I’d flip the way of how to cook brats on the stove.  Meaning you should do the steaming part.  Put the raw sausages in a heavy skillet, fill with ½ cup of water, cover and bring to a boil.  Then simmer with cover on for 12 minutes.

Let cool and then refrigerate up to overnight.  When ready to serve brown in a heavy skillet over medium heat, about a total of 5 minutes.

What About Those White Brats?

Those are precooked brats.  Personally I don’t care for the taste.  But if you like them then have at it.

What Side Dishes To Serve With Brats

The question of “How to cook brats on the stove” isn’t the only important thing.  What about the sides?  You need something hearty to hold up to the bold taste of the brats.

Great sides for brats are potato salad, creamy coleslaw (try our Chick-fil-A coleslaw, their actual recipe), or vinegar coleslaw, potato chips, corn on the cobb and baked beans. Really any typical picnic side is perfect for brats.