Air Fryer Brats? Yes, you heard right! This recipe for Air Fryer Brats is the best thing to come out of the air fryer.
If you are looking for a great and easy meal that requires very little clean up and few ingredients then look no further. These Air Fryer Bratwursts come out moist and flavorful with just the right amount of crispiness on the outside.
They are perfect for weeknight dinners, easy lunches, and game day eats! Scroll down for a printable recipe card or read on for tips and full step-by-step instructions.
AIR FRYER BRATS RECIPE
I have always preferred grilled brats. It was a habit for me to grill them. One day I had big plans to grill a batch of our favorite brats and then up popped a monsoon. Well, not really a monsoon but very heavy rain. I was not standing out in the storm to grill my brats.
So, I looked around my kitchen for a different way to cook them, and then my eyes landed on my air fryer. I knew right away that I had to give them a try. It was a decision I will never regret. Now, I have a new favorite way of cooking brats. Air frying is one of my favorite ways to cook these days.
Using the air fryer to make brats turned out perfect. They have a crispy exterior and stay tender and juicy on the inside. These air fryer brats have quickly become a staple in our household.
More easy air fryer side dishes that pair well with brats include Air Fryer Fried Pickles and Air Fryer Zucchini Fries.
WHAT DO I NEED TO MAKE AIR FRYER BRATS?
You will need a good bratwurst. You can use any type of bratwurst that your family prefers. My family is a fan of beef bratwurst. No matter which type of bratwurst you choose, your air fryer will cook them up quickly for you.
The next thing you will need is an air fryer. I use a basket style air fryer for all my air fryer recipes, but you can use any type of air fryer that you have.
HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER BRATS
Place the brats in an even layer in the air fryer basket or on air fryer trays, making sure they aren’t touching. This is important if your brats are too close together they will not cook evenly. You may need to cook your brats in a couple of batches.
Cook at 350° for 13-15 minutes, flipping the brats halfway through the cooking time. Air Fryer cook times vary from model to model so I recommend checking your brats at about 10 minutes.
If your air fryer requires it, be sure to preheat air fryer to 350°, and then you may find you can reduce the cooking time slightly.
You can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the brats. You want raw brats to reach a minimum of 160°F. If your brats have not reached an internal temperature of 160°F, simply continue to cook them for a few more minutes.
You want to make sure your uncooked brats to be safe to eat!
Let the brats rest for 3-5 minutes before serving.
WHAT GOES WELL WITH BEER BRATS?
Here are some of my favorite toppings for cooked brats:
- Sauerkraut
- Horseradish Mustard
- Sliced Onions (white onion, sweet onion, or caramelized onions)
- Bell Peppers – any sauteed peppers but especially banana peppers
- Cheese – beer cheese sauce/dip, cheddar cheese, swiss cheese
HOW DO YOU AIR FRY FROZEN BRATS?
Frozen brats are fine to use in this recipe.
Be sure that you do not overfill your air fryer and cook them for 20 minutes. Since they are frozen you will need to adjust the cooking time and add on approximately 5 extra minutes for a total of 20 minutes.
HOW DO I TELL IF MY BRATS ARE DONE?
A meat thermometer is the best way to tell if your brats are done.
I like to cook mine until they hit 160 degrees. The cooking time will vary depending on your air fryer and how many brats you are cooking at one time.
My 15 minute cook time is the average time that it takes for my air fryer. You may have to adjust the cook time depending on your air fryer and how many brats you are cooking.
CAN I DOUBLE THIS RECIPE?
This recipe can be doubled for a larger family. Double everything including the cook time and do your best to lay the brats evenly in the basket so that they cook evenly.
Cook your brats in batches if you do not have enough room to space them all out evenly. The size of your air fryer will dictate how many you can cook at one time.
WHY DID MY BRATS TURN OUT SOGGY?
If your brats did not form a crust on the outside, most likely that means that you cooked them too close together and they steamed instead of air fried.
Try spacing your brats out and putting them back in your air fryer for 3 to 5 minutes that should help them crisp up. You want the hot air to be able to circulate around the brats while they cook.
HOW TO STORE LEFTOVERS
You can store leftover brats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
CAN YOU PUT ALUMINUM FOIL IN THE AIR FRYER?
Absolutely. I don’t always use it but you can put a foil in the air fryer basket to make it easier to clean up. Only put aluminum foil in the bottom of the air fryer basket, not in the bottom of the fryer itself.
If you do this, only use a small piece that covers the bottom of the basket, and don’t cover the food with foil.
I didn’t use foil for this recipe, but if you’re making brats in air fryer and want to avoid some of the drips, it is one way to do it.
HOW DO I PICK THE CORRECT SIZE AIR FRYER FOR MY FAMILY?
The first thing you need to do is decide how many people you cook for on a regular basis. I cook for a family of four so I need my air fryer to have the ability to cook enough food for all four of us. The next step is figuring out how much time you have to spend cooking. If you have a larger family the smaller your air fryer the more batches you will need to make which would make your cooking time longer.
A family of four needs an air fryer that is at least 4 quarts or 1700 volts. I like to size up at least one additional quart when I am shopping for an air fryer so that I have a little more room for leftovers.
Since I’ve learned to air fry brats, we eat them more often. It is so quick and easy to make cooked brats this way. They turn out perfectly each time we make them. These air fryer brats are crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. My husband loves that he can make a large batch of these for dinner and still have leftovers to take for lunches.
AIR FRYER BRATWURST RECIPE CARD
Air Fryer Brats
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 raw bratwurst
Instructions
- Place the brats in an even layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they aren’t touching.
- Cook at 350° for 15 minutes, flipping the brats halfway through the cook time.
- Let the brats sit for 3-5 minutes before serving.
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