Go Back Email Link
–+ servings
smoked brats on buns on a white plate with a side salad

Pellet Grilled Bratwurst with Beer Braised Onions

Mads Martigan
Brats perfectly cooked on a pellet grill such as a Traeger, Camp Chef, or Pit Boss.
Slow roasted and then optionally topped with buttery beer braised onions.
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share on Facebook Save Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Course Main Course, Sandwich
Cuisine American, german, Smoked
Servings 6 servings
Calories 700 kcal

Equipment

  • Pellet Grill
  • Wood Pellets, preferably Mesquite or Hickory
  • Basting brush
  • Aluminum foil pan
  • Long Handled BBQ Tongs
  • Instant Read Thermometer
  • Wide Shallow Saute Pan
  • Cutting Board
  • Chopping Knife

Ingredients
  

Beer Braised Onions

  • 5 Large Yellow Onions
  • 1 Can Beer
  • 4 tablespoon Salted Butter

Pellet Grilled Bratwurst

  • 12 Bratwurst
  • olive oil

Instructions
 

Braising the Onions

  • Slice 5 Large Onions.
  • Place the onions in the Saute Pan.
  • Pour beer into saute pan until it is about an inch high in the pan and turn to medium high heat.
  • Stir the onions around until they are mostly covered by the beer. Simmer uncovered until all the beer has evaporated and absorbed into the onions, about 20-30 minutes.
  • Add butter to the onions and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook uncovered, stirring frequently 45-60 minutes until onions have caramelized and are a rich golden brown color.
    beer braised onions for bratwurst
  • Remove from heat and set aside until ready to serve over the bratwurst. Onions can be gently reheated over medium-low heat in the pan if they cool too much before the brats are ready to serve.

Grilling the Brats on the Pellet Grill

  • Fill the hopper with pellets, start the pellet grill, let it run through its start up process, then set the temperature to 225° F.
    pellets in the hopper of a pit boss pellet grill
  • Lightly coat the skin of the brats in olive oil to keep them from drying out and splitting while cooking.
    brushing oil on brats before cooking
  • Once the pellet grill is up to temperature, put your bratwursts on the grill grates away from any direct heat. You can even place them on the upper rack above an aluminum foil pan of water. Close the lid.
    raw brats just placed on a pellet grill
  • Once the brats have reached 165° F internally using an instant read thermometer, you can remove them from the pellet grill, likely after about 1.5-2 hours.
    checking the temperature of the brats cooking on the pellet grill
  • If you wish to have a crispier exterior, you can throw the brats on a hot grill for 1-2 minutes per side just before they reach 165° F to finish them without overcooking.
  • Serve on a bun with the braised onions, or sauerkraut, mustard, or any other favorite condiment!
    Bratwurst on Pellet Grill with caramelized onions on white plate with salad

Nutrition

Calories: 700kcal
Keyword beer braised onions, Brats, Bratwurst, Camp Chef, grilled brats, Grilled Onions, pellet grill, pellet grill brats, pellet grill bratwurst, Pit Boss, smoked bratwurst, traeger
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!