Fitness / March 26, 2024

Air Fryer Brats

Put a healthy spin on a German fave with this recipe for Air-Fryer Brats and get juicy-yet-crispy sausage every time.

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I don’t really care for baseball. It seems like a lot of sitting around waiting for things to happen and then missing them when they eventually do. It also features so many stats and acronyms (what the heck is a RISP anyway?) that I can’t keep track of what anything means and I get flustered.

But do you know why I go whenever my husband suggests a trip to the ballpark? Brats.

That’s right. I’m one of the many who think the best thing about baseball is the food. Namely, the sausages. Namely, the bratwurst that, for some reason, taste so much better when scarfed down among tens of thousands of spectators.

That is, until I got my air fryer. I’ve sung its praises from the rooftops for a few years now, ever since I got one that fateful Christmas. Since then, I’ve experimented with different foods to see which can be improved upon by being fried with air. And bratwurst, let me tell you, surpass even the ballpark.

What’s more, it saves me from having to sit through three hours (more, if there are extra innings) of baseball. I can spend that time preparing my toppings, which is half the fun of hot dogs and sausages in buns. Thanks to my air fryer, my brats are a home run every time. (Or is a grand slam better? I can never keep track.)

Are Air Fryer Brats Healthy?

That really depends on how the brats are made and what they’re made with (more on that below). They generally do have a decent amount of protein, but along with that protein are fat and sodium. So you probably shouldn’t let them feature regularly in your diet nor have more than one or two in a meal. Further, the toppings can have a huge impact on the healthfulness of your brats, so keep that in mind. Don’t think that, because they are toppings, their nutritional value (or lack of) can be overlooked. This particular recipe is relatively healthy because we do them in the air fryer, which doesn’t require any additional oils. High-quality brats (with no bun nor topping) are suitable for paleo, keto, and gluten-free diets, but again, this may change depending on the brats’ ingredients.

Are There Different Kinds of Bratwurst?

Traditional bratwurst is, like most sausage, made from pork, though you can find varieties made from beef and even veal. Joining the meat is a variety of spices and herbs, like salt and pepper, nutmeg, parsley, and marjoram. But there are other, non-traditional brats out there. With beer bratwurst, for instance, you don’t need to buy a drink along with your sausage, it is simmered in lager/ale before it even hits the grill. Talk about convenience! We Americans have created our own version of the brat—the Wisconsin brat—made with more pork and additional fillings like onion and garlic. You’ll also find some brats with cheese worked right into the meat, as well as spicy brats, made with jalapeno. These days, brat purveyors will also have chicken variants, as well as veggie sausages, made with tofu, seitan, lentils, or vegetables.

INGREDIENTS

1 pack of uncooked brats

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F.

Arrange

Place the brats in the basket, spaced apart for even air flow and cooking.

Cook

Air fry the brats for 12–15 minutes, flipping them halfway through.

Rest

Let the brats rest for 5 minutes after cooking to lock in the juices.

DEVOUR!

FAQs & Tips

How to Make Ahead and Store?

Let the brats cool then wrap them individually in aluminum foil or in plastic (or put them all in an airtight container) and keep them in the fridge for up to four days. You can also freeze them. Store them in the airtight container or double-wrap them in the aluminum and plastic. They should last for up to two months.

How do I know the brats are done?

Ensure the brats have reached the safe internal temperature of 160°F.

Why are my brats dry?

You didn’t poke them, did you? Doing so will let the juices flow and leave you with a partially dry sausage. Did you overcook it? You should also know that leaner brats (e.g., made with chicken or turkey) are more susceptible to drying out cos they don’t have the fat to keep them moist. If all else fails, add a slight amount of oil to the brats to retain the juices.

Help, my brats exploded!

Brats cooked for a long time or at a high temperature run the risk of exploding. Doing them in an air fryer should mitigate this risk but if yours explode, they’ll lose their juices and could dry out. In which case, I’m going to contradict my previous answer and tell you to pierce them before cooking so that only a bit of the juice gets out and they don’t explode and lose even more.

Can I air-fry frozen brats?

Sure. Do them 10 minutes a side and use a meat thermometer to ensure they are done.

Serving Suggestions

While eating a bunless brat is totally acceptable (and low in carbs), a bun does make it easier to load up the sausage with toppings and eat it. Toppings I’m partial to include sauerkraut (a German take on fermented cabbage), caramelized onions, mustard (Dijon, spicy, or whole grain), pickles, cheese (try cheddar, Swiss, or provolone), sauteed bell peppers, mayo, or your favorite hot sauce.

Air-Fryer Brats

Put a healthy spin on a German fave with this recipe for Air-Fryer Brats and get juicy-yet-crispy sausage every time.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Total Time 20

Servings

Calories 44kcal

Author FoodFaithFitness

Ingredients

1 pack uncooked brats

Instructions

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F if your model requires preheating.
Place the uncooked brats in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not touching for even cooking.
Cook the brats at 350°F for 12-15 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time.
Use tongs to carefully remove the brats from the air fryer and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.
DEVOUR!