Make a game day classic without spending all day in the kitchen with these slow cooker beer brats! Quickly brown the brats, then dump everything into the slow cooker, set it, and return hours later to tender, flavorful brats perfect for tailgating.
Beer brats in the slow cooker are basically foolproof. The slow, gentle cooking keeps the casings from splitting while the beer and onions create an incredible braising liquid. The brats absorb all those flavors over several hours, becoming way more tender and tasty than if you’d just grilled or pan fried them.
The onions caramelize and cook down into a topping that’s perfect for piling on buns, and you can keep everything warm in the slow cooker until everyone is ready to eat. There is no timing stress, no last-minute cooking, and no standing over a hot grill while everyone else enjoys the game.
Reader Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Oh my, this was soooo amazing and very easy to make. The only beer I had was Guinness stout and add the whole 14.5 ounce can. The brats were so tender and flavorful. Thank you for a wonderful recipe I will definitely be making again!
— Mrs. Kelly
Serve these on good buns with some mustard and those beer-braised onions, add a bag of chips and some coleslaw, and you’ve got a crowd-pleasing meal that requires about five minutes of actual work from you!
Let me show you the simple steps to make these tasty bratwurst. You will love how your slow cooker makes game day hosting completely painless!
Looking for more game day favorites you can make in the slow cooker? Try slow cooker BBQ ribs, slow cooker Buffalo chicken chili, or slow cooker queso dip.
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Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- Bratwurst: Most grocery stores carry a standard “German bratwurst“, which is quite tasty. But if you can find a German butcher or deli, you can find even more varieties.
- Beer: Any light or medium-bodied beer works great. If you don’t like beer or don’t drink you can get some of the same effect by using soda like gingerale in the recipe.
- Onions
- Butter
- Salt
- Pepper
- Rolls
How to Make Slow Cooker Beer Brats
- Start by browning the bratwurst in a skillet or on the grill for about 7-8 minutes. Get them nicely browned on all sides.
- Place the browned brats in your slow cooker.
- Layer in the sliced onions around and over the brats. Sprinkle everything with salt and pepper.
- Cut the butter into four pieces and nestle them around the slow cooker. The butter will slowly melt, creating a sauce with the beer.
- Add your beer, pouring it evenly over everything. Don’t worry if it doesn’t completely cover the brats – they’ll cook perfectly in the steam.
- Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours.
- Once done, place each brat in a roll and top with the cooked onions.
Serving Ideas
My family loves it when I make these brats for game day! Make sure you top the brats with the bear-soaked onions from the slow cooker. Here are some topping ideas:
- Add yellow mustard or spicy brown mustard. Or try hot honey mustard for something new and different!
- Pile on some tangy sauerkraut
- Add ketchup (my kids’ favorite!)
- Grilled bell peppers
- Sprinkle on some cheese
- Kimchi is fun when you want a cultural mashup of different cuisines
- Refrigerator pickles
And when it comes to side dishes, anything you’d serve for a cookout would be excellent. For my family, Syracuse salt potatoes are a given, along with blue cheese coleslaw and Texas caviar.
How to Store
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge with some of the cooking liquid and onions. They will keep for up to 4 days. Store the buns separately to prevent them from getting soggy.
When you’re ready to enjoy your leftover brats, reheat them in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, wrapped in a slightly damp paper towel. Or heat them on the stovetop in a skillet with a splash of beer or water.
Tips & Tricks
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- A light lager or pilsner is best suited for this recipe. The lighter beer won’t overwhelm the brat flavors. Save those fancy craft IPAs for drinking, though. There is no reason to use an expensive beer in this recipe.
- You can substitute chicken broth, apple juice, ginger ale, or non-alcoholic beer for the beer.
- I like to place the butter pats on top of the onions rather than directly on the brats. This helps the butter melt evenly throughout the dish.
- While grocery store German bratwurst is a classic for this recipe, you can definitely experiment with other types of sausages. In my neighborhood, there is a German butcher who has been in business for years. And they offer a variety of bratwurst, ranging from traditional Bavarian bratwurst to unique options like Jalapeno bratwurst. So experiment and try something different!
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Crockpot Beer Brats
Ingredients
- 4 Bratwurst
- 6 ounces beer
- 2 large onions sliced
- 1 teapoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- 4 rolls
- Optional toppings mustard, ketchup, sauerkraut, relish
Instructions
- Brown the bratwurst in a skillet on a the stove or on the grill for 7-8 minutes, nicely browning on all sides.4 Bratwurst
- Put the bratwurst in the crockpot.
- Add the onion to the crockpot and sprinkle the salt and pepper on everything.2 large onions, 1 teapoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper
- Cut the butter into 4 parts and distribute it around the crockpot.4 Tablespoons butter
- Pour the beer over the top of everything.6 ounces beer
- Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours.
- Serve on buns with your desired toppings. Some suggestions – ketchup, spicy mustard, relish, sauerkraut.4 rolls, Optional toppings
Notes
- A light lager or pilsner is best suited for this recipe.
- You can substitute chicken broth, apple juice, ginger ale, or non-alcoholic beer for the beer.
- I like to place the butter pats on top of the onions rather than directly on the brats. This helps the butter melt evenly throughout the dish.
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
Oh my, this was soooo amazing and very easy to make. The only beer I had was Guinness stout and add the whole 14.5 ounce can. The brats were so tender and flavorful. Thank you for a wonderful recipe I will definitely be making again!
Do you warm the rolls or just use them out of the package?
do I have to brown then first Sharon
You don’t have to brown first, but I think it tastes better if you do.
This was so easy and tasted so good! There were 5 brats in my pack, and it’s just me and my husband, so tonight we had them with a side of sauerkraut, the onions, spicy brown mustard, homemade hash browns and some baked beans, they were extremely tender and delicious!
We will be using 2 of the others for sub sandwiches with those wonderful onions they cooked with, some sauerkraut and mustard and a side of pasta salad in a couple of nights from now. Looking forward to it!
Hubby has already called dibs on the final one for lunch tomorrow. He loved them.
Thank you so much for sharing this great recipe. 🙂