Dinner (or lunch) in 10 minutes or less? Count me in! This Air Fryer Bratwurst Recipe is the answer to your dinner-in-a-flash prayers and can be modified to suit your dietary needs. Juicy, fragrant, and topped with your favorite veggies, the humble bratwurst is the breakout star of your next air fryer meal!
Jump to:
Why you need to make this Recipe for Bratwurst in the Air Fryer
Whether the summer heat (or rain) is making grilling unappealing, or you simply don’t want to slave over the stove top or hot oven, you air fryer can come to the rescue!
Cooking bratwurst has never been easier and there is no shortage of ways to make this meal your own! Serve atop a bun with your favorite veggies, alongside cabbage and noodles, or accompanied by a bright Coleslaw, it’s totally up to you!
Whether is your first time making bratwurst or you’re looking for something new, these Air Fryer Bratwurst are sure to please!
What you need to make these Air Fryer Brats
Ingredient Tips
- Bratwurst: Look for a sausage that has fewer ingredients and is lower in sodium. For example, The Meat Hook Bratwurst that has 6 ingredients and 580 mg of sodium per serving (not sponsored, just an example!) These would be a good option. As mentioned in my Creamy Sausage Casserole with Tomatoes post, processed meats can be eaten occasionally. As long as they are chosen mindfully, they can be part of a balanced diet.
- If you’d like the most control over what’s going in your brats, you can totally make them from scratch!
- Mustard: Choose whichever kind you like: spicy brown, Dijon, grainy, or simple yellow, anything goes!
- Buns: Again, choose your favorite: white, whole wheat, potato, or pretzel would work!
Ingredient Swaps
- Vegan: Beyond Meat makes a bratwurst sausage, can you believe it! Sub them in and cook as directed, following the same steps indicated in the recipe below!
- Toppings: If preparing to serve in a bun, follow your heart (and stomach) and choose the toppings you love best: sauerkraut, chopped cabbage slaw, sliced carrots, cucumber, onions, mustard, ketchup, or even my Habanero BBQ Sauce!
How to Make Air Fryer Bratwurst
Recipe Notes + Expert Tips
- Once air fried, it’s best to consume these brats. If you’re not planning to consume all of the sausages in a package, only cook what is needed and leave the rest in the refrigerator or freezer (and thaw later) until prepared to enjoy. Check your package for instructions about shelf-life!
- Every air fryer is a little different, so be sure to review your manual for the proper settings!
- While cooking at the proper time and temperature should be sufficient to cook your brats thoroughly, I always recommend temperature checking!
- To read the temperature properly, insert an analog or digital thermometer into the sausage at it’s widest part. In this case, I like to insert from the end, not the side. This way, the thermometer sticks straight down the middle and is totally covered. Then, to confirm a food-safe temperature, the temperature should stay above 165 degrees F for 15 seconds.
- If preparing to eat on a bun with toppings, the veggies can be prepped while the brats are cooking. To arrange the meal even faster, do the chopping prep the morning of, or the day before!
FAQ for these Brats in the Air Fryer
These brats are perfect for a group! However, how many to cook at a time really depends on the size of your air fryer. In order to get the brat skins nice and crispy, they’ll want to be in contact with the bottom of the fryer. Also, there should be at least a finger’s width of space between each sausage.
That being said, fit as many brats as you’re able (given the space needed). If you need to make more than can be accommodated at a time, place the cooked sausages on a platter and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm until all brats are ready to be served.
I believe in, and abide by, the rule that “all foods fit”! What this means is that while eating for one’s health is most important, enjoying life and a variety of delicious foods comes in a close second!
So, while most meals should be as healthful as possible i.e., low in saturated fats, mindful of sodium, added sugars, in proper portion sizes, and include plenty of non-starchy veggies (among other things, but that’s a good place to start), there is also room for foods that are satisfying and time saving!
Thus, every once in a while, it’s a great option to choose a delicious store bought sausage, like bratwurst, chicken sausage, or hot Italian sausage, and include it as part of a balanced meal!
Other Air Fryer Recipes you May Enjoy
If you try this recipe, would you please do me a favor and leave a star rating in the recipe box and/or comment below! This helps immensely in Google to continue delivering high quality content to you. And please be sure to tag and share what you made with me on social, I love seeing your creations! You can find me here: Instagram – Facebook – Pinterest!
Air Fryer Bratwurst
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 4 each bratwursts
- 4 each buns optional
- mustard optional
Veggies of Choice
- pickled carrots
- cabbage slaw
- chopped tomatoes
- onion
Instructions
- Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place bratwursts into air fryer basket and set temperature to 370 degrees F.
- Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking. When cooking completes, internal temperature should read 165 degrees F.
- Place inside a bun and add desired toppings. Enjoy immediately!
Notes
- Once air fried, it’s best to consume these brats. If you’re not planning to consume all of the sausages in a package, only cook what is needed and leave the rest in the refrigerator or freezer (and thaw later) until prepared to enjoy. Check your package for instructions about shelf-life!
- Every air fryer is a little different, so be sure to review your manual for the proper settings!
- While cooking at the proper time and temperature should be sufficient to cook your brats thoroughly, I always recommend temperature checking!
- To read the temperature properly, insert an analog or digital thermometer into the sausage at it’s widest part. In this case, I like to insert from the end, not the side. This way, the thermometer sticks straight down the middle and is totally covered. Then, to confirm a food-safe temperature, the temperature should stay above 165 degrees F for 15 seconds.
- If preparing to eat on a bun with toppings, the veggies can be prepped while the brats are cooking. To arrange the meal even faster, do the chopping prep the morning of, or the day before!
Want more Shaw Kitchen recipes? Then sign up here for my 5 Day Stress-Free Meal Plan delivered straight to your inbox!
Leave a Reply