Grilled Beer Brats with Sauerkraut

Name: Grilled Beer Brats with Sauerkraut
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 fresh (uncooked) bratwurst; 2 (12 oz) bottles lager or pale ale; 1 large onion, sliced; 2 tbsp butter; 1 tsp caraway seeds (optional); 6 sturdy hoagie or brat buns; 2 cups sauerkraut, drained and warmed; spicy brown mustard, to serve

Bratwurst simmered in beer with onions, then grilled until snappy and browned and served on toasted buns with sauerkraut and spicy brown mustard. A tailgate favorite.

Prep10 min

Cook30 min

Total40 min

Serves6

What you'll need

Enameled cast-iron Dutch ovenFor soups, stews and braises

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8-inch chef's knifeFor all the chopping

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Instant-read thermometerFor knowing when meat is done

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Steps

Put the brats, beer, onion, butter and caraway in a Dutch oven or deep grill-safe pan. Bring to a simmer (don't boil hard, or the casings split) and cook 15 minutes.

Heat a grill to medium. Lift the brats out of the beer and grill, turning often, until browned all over and 160°F inside, 8 to 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, keep simmering the onions in the beer until most of the liquid has cooked off and they are soft and jammy.

Toast the buns on the grill for 1 minute.

Return the grilled brats to the beer onions to keep warm, then serve in the buns with sauerkraut, onions and mustard.

TipKeep the beer bath at a gentle simmer; boiling makes the brats burst and lose their juices before they ever hit the grill.