Brats In The Oven
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Cooking brats in the oven is a convenient way to go when a craving for beer-soaked sausages hits! This hands-off approach leaves you with plump, juicy bratwurst every time.
I make grilled or air fryer brats all the time, but when I’m craving something extra flavorful with almost no cleanup, I turn to the oven. Baking bratwurst this way gives you all the juicy, browned flavor you’d expect from grilling, but without hovering over the stove or standing outside.
I’ve actually been baking brats for years, as my partner and I used to enjoy them as part of our weekly meal prep, and the oven allowed me to bake a whole bunch at once (along with other veggies and proteins). It wasn’t until culinary school that I learned to soak them in beer first, which completely transforms the flavor and texture. It also softens the casing, which was a huge win (no more burst sausages for us!).
While they still sometimes make the weekly meal prep, they’ve become more of a weeknight dinner- especially with a side of roasted veggies or when I’m lazy (96% of the time) —or in a bun with all the fixings.
Table of Contents
Key Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make oven-baked brats. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
- Bratwurst sausages. They’re available in various flavors, but since you’ll be marinating them in beer, choose the original/traditional flavor. My two preferred brands include Johnsonville brats or Canino’s bratwurst.
- Beer. Soak the brats in a light lager or a pilsner. These have a mild flavor and subtle bitterness, infusing the brats with a hint of malty sweetness. Ambers, wheat beers, and pale ales also work. Essentially, the stronger the flavored beer, the more intense the sausages will taste. If you don’t want to use alcohol, I’ve tested this using chicken broth, beef broth, and full-sugar cola. Yes, the latter does in fact work!
How to cook brats in the oven
Step 1- soak in beer (or broth). Place the sausages in a deep container, pour the beer over top, and set them aside to marinate. Afterward, drain and discard the beer.
Step 2- Bake. Place the sausages on a baking sheet, casserole dish, or cast-iron skillet and bake until they’re browned and cooked through.
Step 3- Serve with toppings. Serve the warm sausages in buns with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Arman’s recipe tips
- Check the internal temperature. My foolproof way to know when any meat is done is to use a meat thermometer. Brats and sausages should have an internal temperature of 160°F.
- Leave plenty of space between each sausage on the baking sheet. This helps them cook evenly and encourages browning on the outsides.
- Use a wire rack. You can bake the sausages on a wire rack set on a baking sheet. This will allow the heat to circulate the sausages, making them crispier with no flipping required. You can also add a layer of aluminum foil to the base if you are worried about any overspill.
- Rest after baking. Like with any red meat I cook, I like to let the bratwurst rest for a few minutes before serving. This helps the juices redistribute, resulting in extra-juicy, flavorful meat.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can. Saying that, I tested this cooking them from frozen and thawing them first, and they tasted so much better when thawed. When baked from frozen, they just never got as juicy as I liked, no matter which kind of bratwurst I used (trust me, I tried a bunch!).
No, this is not the kind of recipe that will work with sliced or cut-up brats. They not only lose moisture as they cook (which results in dry brats), but their flavor also changes, as the beer or broth seeps into the meat.
✅ Nutrition reviewed
Nutrition information has been reviewed by registered dietitian Felicia Newell, MScAHN, RD, CPT.
Oven Baked Brats
Video
Ingredients
- 4 brats uncooked
- 350 mls light beer * See notes
Instructions
- Place sausages in a deep baking dish and pour beer over them. Let them marinate for 6 hours in a fridge.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Drain the sausages and discard the beer.
- Place the sausages on the lined sheet and bake for 20 minutes, flip, and bake for another 15 minutes.
- Let the oven baked brats rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- No alcohol: Non-alcoholic options include chicken broth, beef broth, vegetable broth, or full-sugar cola.
- Serve these brats with hot dog buns, sauerkraut, pickles, mustard, and ketchup.
- TO STORE. Place the leftover beer brats in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- TO FREEZE. You can also freeze the cooked brats for up to 2 months. Let them thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- TO REHEAT. The best way to reheat bratwurst is in a non-stick pan over medium heat or in a 350°F oven (or air fryer) until warmed through.
Nutrition
More oven-baked dinner ideas
- Crispy baked chicken thighs
- Baked chicken tenderloins
- Sirloin tip roast
- Roasted boneless turkey breast
- Baked chicken breast
Originally published August 2023
Do you have to wrap the brats in their tray in foil or saran wrap when marinating in the refrigerator?
Do you have to cover the brats in their tray when marinating in the fridge?
How many cans of coke is needed for marinating?
Do I have to marinate the brats for six hours in the fridge using coke?
Nope, 30 minutes is plenty. Even for the beer option 🙂