My air fryer brats are so quick and easy, and a delicious, caramelized brown on the outside and ridiculously juicy on the inside! Make those hectic weeknights so much easier with this amazing, yet simple meal!
Golden, Juicy, and Incredibly Easy – these Air Fryer Brats are sure to be a treat!
Let’s face it: we all have nights when the last thing we want to do is cook. But this recipe will save you from ordering fast- food. The best part is that you don’t even need to turn your oven on! You can have this classic summertime dinner any day of the year!
Using an air-fryer turns these humble sausages into mouth-watering juicy bursts of flavor with a deliciously crispy skin. You can even cook them from frozen! Take out buns and your favorite condiments, and dinner is done. You can serve these with your favorite side or eat them by themselves!
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This meal is also super kid friendly! Let them customize their brats with different condiments to make this quick meal a family favorite!
❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe!
It’s Quick! 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!
So Tasty! Brats aren’t everyone’s go-to sausage—but they should be! The air-fryer’s magic brings out the savory flavor of these sausages.
It’s Versatile! You can easily substitute your favorite condiments, toppings, and sides to make this meal your favorite!
🥘 Ingredients
There are only two necessary ingredients for these easy brats – everything else is optional! These brats will turn out succulent and perfectly cooked, then you can serve them up your way.
- Oil – 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 – Classic, flavorful, and super juicy! This recipe is for fresh brats, but you can use frozen if you have those on hand. (See Tips & Recipe Notes)
- Bratwurst Buns – You can also use your favorite bun or wrap for these! Feel free to make it keto-friendly with a side of cabbage instead!
- Mustard and Ketchup – My personal favorite condiments for brats, but feel free to substitute your favorite condiments!
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
Cooking these brats from frozen and no time to thaw? I’ve got you covered!
Decrease the temperature of your air-fryer to 350°F (176°C) and increase the cooking time 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, but still want tasty and succulent brats without the hassle, you can use your oven!
Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). 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 internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
Oil your air fryer basket or tray with a pastry brush to prevent the brats from sticking.
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.
Cooking times are an estimate and may vary, based on many factors.
Every air fryer is different! Cooking times may vary slightly based on air fryer model, or whether you’ve used fresh or frozen brats. Be sure to check the temperature of the sausages!
🔪 Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prep. Preheat your air fryer to 360°F (182°C). Using a pastry brush, brush one teaspoon of oil on the bottom of your air-fryer basket or tray or use a liner. Be sure not to use non-stick cooking spray!
- Air fry the brats. Place the 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.
- 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 to rest for a couple of minutes.
- Serve and enjoy! Place each brat onto a bun and serve with about a tablespoon of mustard and ketchup, or your favorite condiments!
I love to serve these brats for dinner with my air fryer frozen french fries, or some delightfully crisp air fryer potato chips! Enjoy!
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Refrigerating
Make sure the brats are completely cooled to room temperature first. Store these tasty brats in a shallow, air-tight container, or wrap tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap for up to 3-4 days. They don’t last long in the fridge, but you’ll want to eat leftovers immediately!
Freezing
Meal prepping? Make sure they’re completely cooled to room temperature, then you can store these brats in an airtight container, preferably wrapped with cling film to prevent freezer burn. They will keep for up to 1-2 months.
Reheating
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.
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.
❓ FAQ
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 you and your family safe.
Air fryers work well for so many things! Try heating up your favorite corn dogs or show off a little with my air fryer shrimp recipe! Or you can check out all of my Air Fryer Recipes. Whatever you decide to make, it’s guaranteed to be delicious!
📋 Recipe
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 (176°C) and increase cooking time 4-5 minutes)
- 6 bratwurst buns (optional)
- 6 tablespoon mustard (optional)
- 6 tablespoon ketchup (optional)
Instructions
- Brush a small bit of oil on the bottom of your air fryer basket, or use a liner.1 teaspoon oil
- 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!
Equipment You May Need
Notes
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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 🙂