Learn how to cook brats in the oven for one of the best ways to enjoy tasty sausages without the hard work or use of propane and charcoal. Oven baked brats are a simple, hands-off recipe that gives you a thick and crispy casing and a juicy sausage inside.
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When the weather doesn't cooperate, cooking brats indoors becomes the go-to choice. Unfortunately, the stovetop can be a bit of a hassle when you're preparing brats for a group, and the limited pan space becomes a challenge. That's where the oven method comes to the rescue.
Cooking brats in the oven is our top pick, mainly because it ensures that the brats turn out perfect every single time. It's a virtually foolproof technique, eliminating the chances of ruining these delectable sausages.
With the oven, you can enjoy consistently delicious results, unlike when you use the stovetop or grill. For more brat fun, try our Oven Roasted Bratwurst with Peppers and Onions and our Bratwurst Sheet Pan Dinner
Serve these brats up with other summer favorites like Dill Pickle Potato Salad, Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad and Microwave Yellow Squash.
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- You can cook as many as you want at once. Cook a large batch or just a few and you'll have a tasty meal in no time. Try my Sheet Pan Sausages and Brussel Sprouts for a nice variation.
- The weather doesn't matter. Because we cook these brats indoors, in the oven, we don't need to worry about the weather outside. No worries about being rained out or running low on propane.
- They taste great. From the crispy casings to the juicy insides, these bratwurst are perfect.
🛒 Ingredients
Brats- You will need your favorite bratwurst for this recipe. My husband likes the Johnsonville brand, but any brand or flavor variation works fine. Even thicker Italian sausages work too.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Buy brats in family packs. Larger packages usually cost less per brat and are great for feeding a group.
Store brands work just fine. Generic brats bake up just as well as name brands.
Cook once, use leftovers. Extra brats can be sliced for sandwiches, wraps, or pasta dishes later.
🥄 Instructions for Oven Baked Brats
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400°F.
Step 2: Unwrap your brats from their packaging. (Image 1) Place them on a baking sheet so that they are not touching, line with foil or parchment paper for easier clean up. (Image 2)
Step 3: Bake for 15 minutes, flip the brats over (Image 3) and then bake for an additional 10 minutes. (Image 4)
Step 4: They're finished when they reach a 160°F internal temperature.
Serve and Enjoy!
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Flip once. Turn the sausage only once during cooking. Repeated flipping releases heat and can prevent proper browning.
- Cook to temperature. Brats are done at an internal temperature of 160°F, even if they still appear slightly pink.
- Internal appearance. Oven baked brats won't look the same inside as stovetop versions. A different interior color is normal and doesn't mean they're undercooked.
❄️ Storage, Reheating & Make Ahead
Storage: Store cooked oven baked brats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheating: Reheat in the oven at 350°F, in a skillet, or briefly in the microwave until warmed through.
Make Ahead: Brats can be baked in advance and reheated just before serving, making them great for meal prep or gatherings.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
These oven baked brats pair well with sauerkraut, roasted potatoes, coleslaw, baked beans, or served in buns with simple toppings for an easy meal.
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❓ Oven Baked Brats FAQs
Absolutely. You can cook beer brats in the oven following this same recipe and method. Johnsonville brats or store brands should all work the same.
You can broil the brats if you're looking for a richer color. To do this you can turn the broiler on after the brats have finished cooking and broil for 1 minute on each side, keeping a close eye to make sure that they don't burn. You can cook the brats in the oven without a broiling pan to do this.
Bratwurst sausages are often sold both raw and pre-cooked. Raw brats need to be cooked thoroughly, while pre-cooked brats can be reheated.
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🐝 If you tried these Oven Baked Brats, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Oven Baked Brats
Instructions
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil if desired.
- Arrange Brats: Place the bratwurst on the baking sheet, spacing them evenly so they are not touching.
- Bake & Flip: Bake for 15 minutes. Flip the brats using tongs, then return to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
- Check Doneness: Brats are fully cooked when they reach an internal temperature of 160°F.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve hot.
Notes
- Flipping Tip: Flip the brats only once to retain oven heat and help them brown evenly.
- Doneness: Brats may appear slightly pink inside even when fully cooked. This is normal and does not indicate undercooking.
- Cooking Method: Oven baked brats may look different inside than stovetop or simmered brats, which often appear gray.
- Beer Brats: This method also works for oven cooked beer brats.
- Brand Options: Both name brand and store brand bratwurst work well.
- Extra Browning: For deeper color, broil for 1 minute per side after baking, watching closely to prevent burning.
Nutritional Information
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Schanda says
It's awesome