Loaded and Smoked Brats Recipe and Topping Ideas

To make smoked brats, preheat the smoker to 225°F and place brats over hot coals. Smoke the bratwurst for 1½ to 2 hours or until they reach an internal temperature of 160°F. Take the smoked brats off the smoker, place them in a beer bath, and let them soak for about 20 minutes before eating.

The key to smoking brats is to smoke at a low temperature to allow your brats to absorb the smoke flavor produced by your favorite wood chips. 

How Do You Smoke Brats?

In just four simple steps, you can have perfectly smoked bratwurst!

1. Preheat your smoker to 225°F.
2. Use a pair of tongs to place brats into the smoker and be careful not to tear or pierce the casings. Puncturing the brats will cause the juices to escape.
3. Smoke bratwurst for around 1½ to 2 hours. If using a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the bratwurst, make sure to check the same sausage so as not to pierce the casings of multiple brats.
4. Once the smoked bratwurst reaches 160ºF, take them off the heat and rest them for 5 minutes.

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How Long Does It Take to Smoke Brats?

How long it takes to smoke bratwurst depends on the size of the brats and the smoker you’re using.

This chart will help you plan your bratwurst cooking time according to the smoking temperature.

Temperature	Time to Smoke
225°F	1½ to 2 hours
250°F	45 minutes to 1 hour
300°F	30 to 45 minutes

In all these cases, use a meat thermometer to test for doneness. You can know that smoked brats are ready to eat once the internal temperature reaches 160°F.

Target Internal Temperature for Brats

The best way to ensure your smoked brats are fully cooked is to monitor the internal temperature.

It’s imperative to know when your smoked brats are safe to eat. It’s strongly recommended to avoid eating raw meats.

If you suspect your brats are safe to eat, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the smoked sausage horizontally. According to the USDA, ground pork sausages like bratwurst are ready to eat once the internal temperature reaches 160°F.

What Temperature is Best for Smoking Brats?

The best temperature for smoking brats is 225°F. This is the best temperature because it makes it easier to smoke your bratwurst without overcooking them. 

If you set the smoker temperature too high, the bratwurst casings will likely burst. Although a ruptured casing seems minor, the high heat will cause the smoked brats to dry out and become flavorless.

If you set the smoker’s temperature too low, it could cause a safety risk. That’s why most experts recommend smoking brats at 225°F. Anything below 200°F can cause food poisoning.

Best Wood for Smoking Brats

There are a variety of wood chips that can be used for smoking brats or grilling them on a BBQ. Each type of wood will add a unique flavor to sausages.

Some popular wood options for smoking brats include:

• Applewood: This wood has a mild, fruity flavor that pairs well with brats.
• Cherry: Like applewood, cherry has a mild, fruity flavor that can add a touch of sweetness to smoked brats.
• Hickory: This wood has a strong, smoky flavor that pairs well with more traditional barbecue flavors.
• Mesquite: Mesquite wood has a strong, bold flavor that can add a deep, smoky taste to your smoked brats.
• Pecan: Pecan wood has a mild, nutty flavor that can add a subtle depth of flavor to smoked bratwurst.

When choosing wood for smoking brats, it is essential to consider the flavor of the wood and how it will complement the flavor of your smoked brats.

Should Brats Be Boiled Before Smoking?

It is widely believed that boiling brats in water or beer before cooking improves the texture and flavor of the sausages. Boiling beer brats also helps eliminate any excess fat, ensuring the brats are cooked more evenly.

However, this is true only when grilling brats and not when smoking them. Boiling brats before smoking ruins the flavor. The casings might also rupture, which causes the brats to absorb a lot of water or beer, thereby diluting the flavor of the smoked brats.

Smoked sausages sometimes have a pink middle, but this does not necessarily mean they are not adequately cooked. The best way to test for doneness is to check the internal temperature of the brats before removing them from the pellet grill or smoker.

Using a Smoker vs a Grill to Smoke Brats

Cooking brats can be done using either a smoker or a grill but the unique flavor imparted through the smoking process can’t be replicated on a grill.

Smoking Brats

The main advantage of using a smoker is that it allows you to maintain a consistent temperature over a longer period of time, which is essential for smoking meats. It also typically has a larger cooking area, allowing you to smoke more brats.

The main disadvantage of using a smoker is that it requires more setup and prep time, as you need to properly set up and light the fire, as well as monitor the temperature throughout the cooking process.

Grilling Brats

The main advantage of using a grill is that it is more convenient and easier to use than a smoker. It also allows you to cook the brats more quickly, as the direct heat of the grill cooks the meat faster.

The main disadvantage of using a grill is that it is more challenging to maintain a consistent temperature over a long period of time. It also typically has a smaller cooking area, so you may need to cook the brats in batches.

Ultimately, the choice between using a smoker or a grill to smoke brats will depend on your personal preference and the resources you have at hand. Both methods can produce delicious results.

Topping Ideas for Loaded Brats

When it comes to loaded and smoked brats, the sky is the limit on toppings! But what are the most popular bratwurst toppings? Here are some of my favorites:

Traditional Toppings for Brats

Here are the traditional, must-try toppers to consider when serving smoked brats:

• Sweet Bell Pepper Relish: Add a spoonful of sweet pickle relish to your smoked brats for a tangy and refreshing flavor.
• Foil-Wrapped Grilled Onions: These make a delicious, sweet & savory topping for loaded and smoked brats.
• Brown mustard: Top your smoked brats with spicy brown mustard for a tangy and spicy kick.
• Sauerkraut: Top your brats with warm, tangy sauerkraut for a classic flavor combination.

Tailgate Toppings for Brats

These are all delicious topping options for brats at a tailgate or any cookout:

• Beer-battered Onion Straws: Beer-battered onion straws make a delicious and indulgent topping for brats. You can also sprinkle the onion straws with a little salt or your favorite seasoning for an extra kick of flavor.
• Jalapeno Bacon Jam: Jalapeno bacon jam is a spicy and savory topping that pairs well with loaded and smoked brats.
• German Potato Salad: German potato salad is a traditional topping for brats that adds a creamy and tangy flavor to the smoked sausages. 

Fresh Toppings for Brats

• Diced Tomato and Corn Relish: Diced tomato and corn relish is a fresh and flavorful topping that pairs well with smoked brats. To make it, you will need some simple ingredients such as fresh tomatoes, fresh corn kernels, diced onion, jalapeno peppers, lime juice, and olive oil.
• Fresh Peach and Mango Salsa: For a fresh and fruity spin, try this juicy, tropical topping on your smoked brats!

There are endless possibilities for topping smoked brats, and you can even use side dishes as toppings! Whether you prefer brats simple or extra fancy, these brat condiments and toppings ideas are sure to take your smoked brats to the next level!