These air fryer brats are so quick and easy, with a delicious, caramelized brown on the outside and ridiculously juicy on the inside! Just plop them in a toasted bun with your favorite hot dog toppings! Make those hectic weeknights so much easier with this amazing yet simple meal!
Easy Air Fryer Bratwurst
Using an air-fryer turns bratwurst sausages into mouth-watering juicy bursts of flavor with deliciously crispy skin. You can even cook them from frozen!
Take out buns and your favorite hot dog toppings, and enjoy! It's an easy lunch or dinner that's ready in a flash!
They're perfect for busy weeknights or late weekends when you don’t want to be bothered with fast food. With only four steps, you’ll be so glad you made them!
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🥘 Air Fryer Brats Ingredients, Notes, & Substitutes
- Oil (optional) – 1 teaspoon of oil is optional IF you don’t have a liner for your air fryer. Use any oil you like, but a neutral oil like vegetable or light olive oil is best!
- Bratwurst Sausages – 6 classic, flavorful, and super juicy bratwurst sausages! This recipe is for fresh brats, but you can use frozen if you have those on hand. (*See Tips & Recipe Notes)
- Bratwurst Buns – 6 hot dog buns. You can also use your favorite bun or wrap for these! Make it keto-friendly by using my easy low-carb flatbread!
- Mustard and Ketchup (optional) – My personal favorite condiments for brats, but feel free to substitute your favorite condiments! *Take a look at my hot dog bar post for more bratwurst topping ideas!
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make Air Fryer Brats
Anyone can make juicy brats in the air fryer, it really couldn't be easier! You'll need your air fryer, some kitchen tongs, and a basting brush if adding oil.
I typically can fit 6 brats in my air fryer without overcrowding it. If you want to make more, just work in batches!
Step 1: Prep. Preheat your air fryer to 360°F (180°C). Using a pastry brush, brush 1 teaspoon (4.9 milliliters) of oil on the bottom of your air-fryer basket, or use a liner. *Be sure not to use non-stick cooking spray (*see note)!
Step 2: Air fry the brats. Place 6 brats evenly in the prepared air fryer and cook at 360°F (182°C) for 12-15 minutes. Flip halfway through to ensure even cooking. You can work in batches, if necessary, to make sure the brats are all in one even layer in your air fryer.
Step 3: Finish cooking. When the brats are cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C), carefully remove them from the basket using tongs and allow them to rest for a couple of minutes.
Step 4: Serve and enjoy! Place each brat onto one of the 6 buns and serve each one with about 1 tablespoon (14.9 grams) of mustard and ketchup or your favorite condiments!
🍽️ What To Serve With Brats
French fries are a classic side dish for bratwurst, as is sauerkraut or buttered cabbage! Some crispy baked sweet potato fries with my signature sweet potato fry dipping sauce would be tasty, too!
If you love bratwurst, be sure to try them hot off the grill or smoked in the smoker! It's a tiny bit more work, but it's worth for all of the incredible flavor!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Cooking these brats from frozen and no time to thaw? Decrease the temperature of your air-fryer to 350°F (176°C) and increase the cooking time by 4-5 minutes. You’ll want to be sure you’ve cooked the brats to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) to ensure they’re completely cooked through.
- If you don't have an air fryer, preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C/Gas Mark 6). Place the brats evenly spread apart on an oiled or foil-lined baking tray. Cook for 10 minutes on one side, flip, and cook for another 5-7 minutes until they reach an
- Aerosolized non-stick cooking sprays will damage your air fryer! If you don’t have a pastry brush, you can use a paper towel to coat the air fryer basket or tray.
- Every air fryer is different! Cooking times may vary slightly based on the air fryer model, or whether you’ve used fresh or frozen brats. Be sure to check the temperature of the sausages!
🥄 Make Ahead Options
Whether you're meal-prepping or looking for an easy meal to thaw and reheat, I recommend freezing your cooked brats! Make multiple batches to really stock your freezer.
Freezing Brats
Make sure they’re completely cooled to room temperature, then you can store your brats in an airtight container, preferably wrapped with cling film to prevent freezer burn. They will keep for up to 1-2 months.
If thawing out frozen, precooked brats, the best way to defrost them safely is to do so in your refrigerator until it is completely thawed. If time is a concern, you can submerge your airtight container in cold tap water, changing the water every 30 minutes until the brats are completely defrosted.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Make sure the brats are completely cooled to room temperature first. Store in a shallow, air-tight container, or wrap tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap for up to 3-4 days.
Reheating Brats
These sausages can also be reheated in your air fryer! Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C), place the sausages in a prepared basket, and let them reheat for 10-15 minutes. They're done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F (73°C).
You can also repeat these same steps with your oven! I would not recommend the microwave, unless you’re very short on time, as the sausages can dry out or burn. Use short 30-second intervals and check frequently.
❓ Recipe FAQs
As noted above, brats are great with a simple side of fries, potato chips, or potato salad. To kick it up a notch, pay homage to their German roots with a side of sauerkraut or fried cabbage! Or, if you’d rather stick to the barbecue theme, serve with my tasty corn on the cob or my hearty baked beans with ground beef and bacon.
Though I highly recommend a meat thermometer, you can still get delicious, fully-cooked brats if you don’t have one. Your sausages will be fully cooked when the inside is no longer pink, the casings are golden brown, and, if pierced with a toothpick, the juices run clear. These juices should be free of any pink discoloration.
A meat thermometer is a terrific investment, though! It can be used on any variety of meat, poultry, or seafood to ensure that you’re keeping yourself and your family safe.
It's not necessary to pierce the brats before air frying. However, you can if you want to prevent them from bursting while cooking so that they're picture-perfect.
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📖 Recipe Card
Air Fryer Brats
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon oil (optional if not using a liner)
- 6 bratwurst sausages (if from frozen thaw or decrease temp to 350°F (175°C) and increase cooking time 4-5 minutes)
- 6 bratwurst buns (optional)
- 6 tablespoon mustard (optional)
- 6 tablespoon ketchup (optional)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Brush a small bit of oil on the bottom of your air fryer basket, or use a liner.
- Preheat your air fryer to 360°F (182°C).
- Place the brats in the basket and cook at 360°F (182°C) for 12 to 15 minutes, flip halfway through.
- When brats are cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C), carefully remove them from the basket and allow to rest a couple of minutes.
- Serve on buns with ketchup & mustard if desired and enjoy!
grinch says
After spending many years in Germany, don't EVEN think about putting ketchup on brats.
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
My husband would never (and totally agrees, we use German mustard most often) but to each their own 🙂