Packer Brats Recipes

BEER BRATS

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat. When hot, lightly oil grate.
• Combine the beer and onions in a large pot; bring to a boil. Submerge the bratwurst in the beer; add the red pepper flakes, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to medium and cook another 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the bratwurst from the beer mixture; reduce heat to low, and continue cooking the onions.
• Cook the bratwurst on the preheated grill, turning once, 5 to 10 minutes. Serve with the beer mixture as a topping or side.

BRATS IN A BLANKET WITH BEER MUSTARD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
• Carefully unroll and separate 8 of the perforated triangles of crescent dough. Starting with the smaller end of each dough triangle, wrap it around a brat and pinch the seams together to totally seal. Place the wrapped brats on the prepared baking sheet.
• Beat the egg in a small bowl. Brush the brats with the egg and sprinkle the poppy and sesame seeds on top. Bake until the dough is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.
• To make the beer mustard, add the beer to a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer; simmer over medium heat until reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Add the brown sugar and stir until dissolved, about 1 minute. Add the yellow mustard and Dijon mustard to a small heatproof bowl. Pour in the reduced beer and stir to combine.
• Serve the brats in a blanket with the beer mustard on the side for dipping.

BEER-BRAISED BRATWURST & ONIONS

Steps:

• In a large (12-inch) cast iron skillet or nonstick pan with a tight-fitting lid, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the bratwurst and sear until nicely browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Using tongs, transfer the sausage to a plate; set aside. Add the onions and salt to the skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are softened and golden brown, about 5 minutes (do not burn; reduce the heat if necessary).
• Place the bratwurst back in the pan on top of the onions, add the beer, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover with the lid, and simmer for 10 minutes (at this point the sausages will be partially cooked through). Remove the cover, increase the heat to medium, and continue cooking until the bratwurst are cooked through and the beer is reduced by about three quarters, 10 to 12 minutes more. Serve the bratwurst and onions on rolls with mustard and sauerkraut, if desired.
• Note: I use Johnsonville Original Brats; avoid any brats already flavored with beer, as the finished dish will taste too bitter. Also be sure to purchase fresh (not cooked) sausages.
• Note: Lager is a family of beers that includes bright lagers, amber lagers, dark lagers, Oktoberfests, and pilsners. I use Sam Adams Oktoberfest, but Budweiser, Bud Light, Coors Light, and Miller Lite are all good options. No need to use anything fancy!
• Note: The nutritional information does not include the optional serving ingredients.

PACKER BRATS

Steps:

• Pierce the brat casing multiple times with a fork prior to boiling.
• In a large pasta pot, add beer. Add onion and garlic. Bring to a boil. Add brats. Allow beer to come back to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat an outdoor grill to medium heat.
• Remove brats from beer, pat dry and grill, turning frequently, until brats are browned all over, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• To serve brats "Classic Style", serve 2 brats each on round, hard rolls with Buttered Kraut and brown mustard.
• To serve brats "Stadium Style", serve 1 brat on a brat or hoagie pun with ketchup, mustard, onion and Buttered Kraut.
• Place sauerkraut in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat (this can also be done in a saucepan on the grill while grilling the brats). Add beer and cook until liquid is almost completely reduced. Add butter, cook, stirring frequently, until butter is melted and absorbs into the kraut, about 5 to 10 minutes.