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    Home » Recipes » Meat and Fish

    How to Cook Brats in an Air Fryer (so easy!)

    Modified: Aug 24, 2024 • Published: Jun 7, 2021 by Dr. Erin Carter • This post may contain affiliate links • Leave a Comment

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    Cooking brats in an air fryer is the easiest and best way to cook bratwurst sausages. They turn out perfectly crisp on the outside yet juicy and tender on the inside. They are ready in under 15 minutes and the clean up is so simple. You'll never want to cook bratwursts any other way again.

    A plate with cooked bratwurst sausages with a side of ketchup.
    Table of Contents
    • Why you will love this cooking method:
    • Ingredient notes:
    • How to cook (step-by-step):
    • How to cook frozen brats in an air fryer:
    • How to know if your sausages are fully cooked:
    • Top Tips:
    • How to serve:
    • How to store:
    • Frequently asked questions:
    • Other air fryer recipes you will love:
    • Recipe

    Why you will love this cooking method:

    • It is so easy to air fry brats! It takes less than 15 minutes to cook them and it's totally hands off. You just put the sausages in your air fryer and can walk away. It is the easiest way to cook sausages that I have found.
    • The sausages turn out perfectly cooked with a nice crisp skin and juicy, tender inside - they taste just as good as sausages from the grill, without having to worry about grilling in the heat or watching your bbq!
    • When you air fry bratwurst sausages it doesn’t leave your kitchen smelling like sausage grease like frying them does and you don’t have to worry about grease spraying everywhere.
    • Then clean up is so simple - you just put your air fryer trays in the dishwasher.
    • Sausages are one of the easiest protein options and are a great option if you want a quick meal or snack.

    If you love cooking with your air fryer you will love to learn about the health benefits of air frying and if you aren't sure which air fryers are safe I have a whole review on the best non-toxic air fryers to buy.

    Ingredient notes:

    Uncooked bratwurst sausages (uncooked brats) - Any brand or type of bratwurst sausage will do. You should be able to find them at your local grocery store and you can use sausage links or sausage patties. You can use pork sausages or beef sausages, cheddar brats, or even beer brats. Instead of brats you could also use another type of German sausage.

    How to cook (step-by-step):

    Simply place the raw brats in a single layer on the air fryer tray or in the air fryer basket and cook them for 11-13 minutes at 360 degrees Fahrenheit until they are crisp on the outside and golden brown.

    Six bratwurst sausages on an air fryer tray.

    How to cook frozen brats in an air fryer:

    If you forgot to take your sausages out of the freezer you don’t have to worry, you can just cook them from frozen instead. To do so place the frozen bratwurst sausages in your air fryer and cook them at 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-18 minutes – note that if you are using a basket style air fryer you will want to flip the sausages half way through.

    How to know if your sausages are fully cooked:

    To double check that your sausages are cooked you can use a digital meat thermometer or instant-read thermometer. According to the USDA, sausages made with ground beef, pork, lamb or veal should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. If using sausages made from ground turkey or ground chicken the internal temperature of the sausages should be 165°F.

    Top Tips:

    • Bratwurst sausages have a high-fat content and like bacon, could cause your air fryer to fill with smoke. To help prevent this make sure your drip tray is clean before cooking them. It may also depend on the brand of Bratwurst you use, as some will have higher fat contents than others. Personally, I have not had any problems with smoke when I've cooked them in my air fryer.
    • Every model of air fryer is different, so you may have to adjust the cook time slightly.
    • For this cook method I did not preheat my air fryer. If you do preheat it decrease the cook time by a few minutes.
    • Depending on the brand and size of the brats you are using you may have to adjust the cooking time slightly.
    • For best results don't overlap the sausages when cooking them or they won't cook properly. You want them to be in a single layer. 
    • If food tends to stick to your air fryer, give the air fryer tray or air fryer basket a spray with a cooking spray or cooking oil such as avocado oil or olive oil before cooking the sausages.
    • Depending on the size of your air fryer you may have to cook the sausages in batches if they don't all fit in at once. 

    How to serve:

    Bratwurst sausages can be served in so many ways. You can eat them on their own or add them to other dishes. Here are a few of my favorite ways to serve them:

    • Serve with roasted bell peppers and onions for a complete, healthy meal.
    • Serve with roasted air fryer potato wedges and broccoli.
    • Slice up the cooked brats and add them to pasta dishes, soups or stews.
    • Serve them in a hot dog bun with your favorite toppings or favorite condiments such as ketchup, homemade mayonnaise, sugar free bbq sauce, yellow mustard, or spicy mustard for the most delicious hot dogs.
    • Eat them on their own or with a side of crispy air fried French fries or potato chips.
    • Be more traditional and serve them with Whole30 potato salad or sauerkraut.

    How to store:

    Store leftover sausages in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    A plate with cooked brats with a dish full of ketchup beside them.

    Frequently asked questions:

    How is bratwurst different than sausage?

    Bratwurst is just a type of German sausage most often made from pork, and less commonly from beef or veal. Brats are typically seasoned with ginger, nutmeg, coriander, or caraway spices, but there are many different types of bratwurst, with some more commonly eaten in certain regions of Germany. Traditionally bratwurst is often served with sauerkraut, potato salad, or on a bread roll.

    Do I have to preheat my air fryer?

    For this air fryer recipe you do not need to preheat your air fryer. If you choose to preheat it, subtract a few minutes of cooking time.

    Other air fryer recipes you will love:

    • Italian sausages in an air fryer
    • Hash Browns in an air fryer
    • Turkey Burgers in air fryer

    Since you made it this far we are basically best friends so be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Facebook where I share even more recipes and healthy living tips! And don’t forget to leave this recipe a star rating before you go!

    Recipe

    A plate of cooked bratwurst sausages with a dish of ketchup beside them.

    Brats in an Air Fryer

    Cooking brats in an air fryer is the best way to cook them! Ready in under 15 minutes it's totally hands off and they turn out nice and crisp on the outside, and juicy tender on the inside.
    4.72 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast, Dinner, Meat
    Cuisine: American, German
    Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free
    Prep Time: 1 minute minute
    Cook Time: 11 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 12 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 220kcal
    Author: Dr. Erin Carter

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Ingredients

    • 6 Bratwurst sausages

    Optional

    • Spray oil

    Instructions

    • Place the brats on the tray of your air fryer and cook for 11-13 minutes at 360F.

    Optional

    • If food tends to stick to your air fryer give it a spray with some spray oil first.

    Notes

    1. Every model of air fryer is different, so you may have to adjust the cooking times slightly.
    2. Depending on the brand and size of the brats you are using you may have to adjust the cooking times slightly.
    3. Don't overlap the sausages when cooking them or they won't cook properly.
    4. If you have a basket style air fryer: Cook the brats for 11-14 minutes at 360F, flipping the sausages half way through.
    5. Nutritional values are an estimate and will vary depending on the type of brats you use.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 220kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 558mg | Potassium: 230mg | Vitamin A: 4IU | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @pureandsimpleno or tag #pureandsimpleno!

    DISCLAIMERS: The statements made on this website have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. You assume full responsibility for how you use this information. Always consult with your physician or other health professionals before making any diet or lifestyle changes. This post may contain affiliate links whereby if you purchase these products I receive a small percentage of the sale price. This allows me to keep the blog running and I thank you for allowing me to do that!

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    Hi everyone!

    My name is Dr. Erin Carter and I am so thrilled you are here. I am a physician with specialties in both internal medicine and rheumatology, and I believe that food and healthy living are forms of medicine. In my spare time I share health information and delicious, healthy recipes here on Pure and Simple Nourishment.

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