Air Fryer Brats (No Grill Needed!)
Recipe Snapshot
PREP + COOK TIME: 22 minutes
METHOD: Air Fryer
OTHER TOOLS: knife and cutting board, tongs
TOTAL INGREDIENTS: 3
Enjoy air fryer brats without the fuss and grease of the grill! With roasted sweet peppers to top them off, they turn out so juicy and flavorful. Enjoy this quick bratwurst meal that’s ready to eat in minutes on a bun or with your favorite sides.
What’s To Love About This Recipe
- The air fryer is a quick and flavorful way to cook brats year-round without needing a grill or perfect weather conditions.
- Brats and peppers cook fast in the air fryer with super-easy cleanup. With avocado oil spray, it’s less greasy and healthier than most cooking oils!
- In the air fryer, you can get perfectly browned, juicy brats and tender peppers in just one cooking step. It’s a great way to get some added veggies while enjoying your protein!
- This is a versatile meal idea for game day, entertaining, or a simple weeknight dinner or quick lunch.
- Customize the brats with your favorite toppings, buns, and condiments. Keep the sides simple or go all out with comfort-food favorites!
Ingredients Needed
- Bratwurst – Bratwurst is sausage that is typically made from pork or a ground meat mixture. It includes a natural casing and you can find raw bratwurst usually packaged in the grocery store meat department. Use 4 raw bratwurst and choose regular bratwurst or a variety with add-ins such as peppers or onions.
- Sweet peppers – Sweet peppers are usually available in a tricolored package and aren’t spicy at all. With a sharp knife, slice off the tops and remove the ribs and seeds, then slice thinly into strips or rings.
- Avocado oil spray – Look for a spray made from pure avocado oil as a healthier cooking option for the air fryer. The oil spray keeps the ingredients from sticking to the air fryer basket and they won’t turn out greasy.
How To Make Air Fryer Brats
- Spray the sliced peppers with avocado oil spray and add to the air fryer basket along with bratwurst links.
- Cook at 360 ℉ for 12 minutes, stopping to rotate the bratwurst and stir the peppers 1-2 times until fully cooked.
Pro Tips
- You can cook frozen brats, but add 5-7 extra minutes of cooking and monitor closely.
- Leave some space between the brats to allow for proper air circulation.
- Always check for doneness using a meat thermometer; brats should reach 160 ℉.
- Flip the links halfway through cooking for even browning.
- If your air fryer smokes, place a small piece of bread or parchment under the basket to catch dripping grease.
- Add parchment to the bottom of the basket for easier cleanup.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Precooked brats only need 8-10 minutes to heat through, and uncooked brats need a full 12-15 minutes.
- Use different flavors of brats or try out a combination for your meal! Some delicious options are beer brats, cheddar brats, or spicy brats. Turkey sausage or chicken apple sausage is a tasty, leaner option.
- Try different add-ins to cook alongside the brat, such as thinly sliced onions, zucchini slices, or mushrooms. Bell peppers, banana peppers, or even Hatch peppers are tasty additions, especially if you want to serve brats and peppers in a bun or roll!
How To Serve Air Fryer Brats
If you love a good brat served on a bun or hoagie roll, you’ll enjoy doctoring it up with your favorite condiments and toppings! Choose tasty options from this list:
- Sauerkraut
- Spicy brown mustard
- Beer cheese
- Caramelized onions
- Ketchup
- Pickles
- Jalapeños
- Relish
Whether you serve bratwurst on a bun or without, there are plenty of delicious sides that complement hearty links and peppers! Serve a scoop of Potato Salad or a side of Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries. Add Creamy Coleslaw or Corn on the Cob for a crunchy and colorful addition to your plate!
Storing and Reheating
How To Best Store Leftovers
Fridge
Store leftover brats and peppers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezer
Freezing leftovers is not recommended due to texture changes.
How To Best Reheat Leftovers
You’ll get the best results by reheating the brats in the air fryer at 350 ℉ for 3-4 minutes. You can also microwave the links at 30-second intervals until warmed.
Air Fryer Brats (No Grill Needed!)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 raw bratwurst
- 1 cup sliced sweet peppers ribs and seeds removed
- avocado oil spray
Instructions
- Spray sliced peppers with avocado oil spray and add to air fryer basket along with bratwurst links
- Cook at 360 ℉ for 12 minutes, stopping to rotate bratwurst and stir peppers 1-2 times until fully cooked
Notes
- Store brats and peppers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat at 350 ℉ for 3-4 minutes in the air fryer for best results.
- To cook frozen brats, add 5–7 extra minutes and monitor closely.
- Leave space between the brats for the air to circulate and cook evenly.
- Brats should reach 160 ℉ internally.
- Line the basket with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
