Air Fryer Brats
These Air Fryer Brats cook up with perfectly crisp skins, juicy centers, and tender caramelized onions—all without firing up the grill. Simmered briefly in beer and finished in the air fryer, they’re packed with classic bratwurst flavor and ready fast, making them perfect for easy weeknight dinners, game days, or anytime you’re craving a little Wisconsin-inspired comfort food.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 12 oz. cans beer lager or pilsner are best
- 1 16 oz. package bratwurst
- 1 medium yellow or white onion sliced
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 Pinch salt
- 5-6 hot dog buns depending on the number of hot dogs
- German mustard to garnish
Instructions
- In a deep skillet over medium-high heat (or on the sauté feature of an air fryer/multicooker unit), bring the beer and brats to a boil. Simmer for 4 minutes. Carefully remove the brats from the beer without puncturing them. Note: The brats will not be completely cooked through at this point; only parboiled.
- In a medium mixing bowl, toss the onion with olive oil and salt until evenly coated.
- If using a multicooker unit, carefully drain the beer from the cooking pot and install the air fryer basket.Preheat the air fryer to 390°F per the manufacturer's instructions.
- Add the onions to the air fryer basket and layer the par-boiled brats on top. Air fry for 10–12 minutes, gently tossing the onions and turning the brats halfway through, until the onions are tender and the brats are golden brown and cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F.
- Serve the brats in hot dog buns, topped with the onions and German mustard. Enjoy!
Notes
Recipe Pro-Tips
- Parboil (don't fully cook) the brats. Simmering the brats briefly in beer adds flavor and helps them cook evenly, but they should not be fully cooked during this step. Parboiling keeps the brats juicy and prevents the casings from bursting in the air fryer.
- Avoid puncturing the brats. When removing the brats from the beer, use tongs and handle them gently. Keeping the casings intact helps lock in moisture and flavor as they finish cooking.
- Preheat the air fryer. Unless your air fryer has a built-in preheating cycle, a short preheat caramelizes the onions from the jump and ensures the brats cook evenly with a golden, lightly crisped exterior.
- Air fry in a single layer. Spreading the onions out and layering the brats on top allows hot air to circulate properly, resulting in better browning and more consistent cooking. Gently turn or toss the onions and brats halfway through the cooking time for even cooking and crisping.
- Measure the final temperature. Brats are done when they reach an internal temperature of 160°F. Checking the temp ensures they’re safely cooked without drying out.
- Refrigerating: Store leftover brats and onions in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days. Keep the buns stored separately at room temperature or in the freezer for best freshness.
- Freezing: Once cooled completely, separate the brats from the onions and buns and transfer to individual freezer-safe bags or containers and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw the brats and onions in the refrigerator overnight, and thaw the buns at room temperature before serving.
- Reheating: Reheat brats and onions in the air fryer at 375°F for 3–5 minutes, or until heated through. This helps restore some of the crisp exterior without drying them out. Buns are best warmed separately or toasted lightly just before serving.
Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 435kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 16gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 975mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4g
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