Beyond Basics: What to Serve with Brats for Ultimate Enjoyment
What is Traditionally Served With Bratwurst?
🧑‍🍳 Bratwurst is typically served with sauerkraut, a fermented cabbage dish, and tangy mustard. It’s often enjoyed in a freshly baked or grilled bun, creating a classic bratwurst sandwich. These simple yet flavorful pairings perfectly complement the rich and savory taste of bratwurst in German cuisine.
Brats, also known as bratwursts, are a tasty and versatile sausage dish that can be grilled, boiled, or pan-fried. They are commonly enjoyed at cookouts, sporting events, and family gatherings. To create a delicious meal with brats, it is important to pair them with flavorful side dishes that complement their taste.
Brats are a tasty and filling sausage that you can enjoy throughout the year. Whether you’re grilling them for dinner or serving them as a meal, German bratwurst sausages are a delicious option. Whether you slice them or serve them in a bun, you’ll want some side dishes to complement them.
If you’re unsure about what to serve with brats, here’s a list of classic German and American-style sides that go beyond sauerkraut and mustard sauce. Check out these nine ideas to make your meal even more enjoyable and satisfying.
Table of Contents
- How to Cook Brats
- What to Serve with Brats
- More Side Dish Recipes
- Final Thoughts: What to Serve With Brats
How to Cook Brats
Bratwursts are usually cooked on the grill or stovetop. Grilling is the preferred method as it adds a smoky flavor and a slightly crispy exterior.
To grill them, preheat your grill to medium-high heat and lightly oil the grates. Place the brats on the grates and cook for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway. Once browned and cooked through, they’re ready to be served!
Baking bratwurst in the oven is convenient for chilly and rainy days. It’s also great for winter backyard picnics and BBQs. While you can fry them in a pan or instant pot, baking is a healthier option.
This method guarantees delicious and juicy sausages. To bake bratwurst in the oven, simply place them on a baking sheet or dish and cook for less than 30 minutes.
Now, let’s explore what to serve with brats.
What to Serve with Brats
You don’t have to go overboard when deciding what to serve with bratwurst! Just a few delicious side dishes will perfectly complement its savory flavors. Since bratwurst is a German sausage, it makes sense to pair it with traditional German sides.
Bratwursts are best enjoyed with sides that enhance their smoky flavor. Consider side dishes that complement the spices in the brats, like tender potatoes, carrots, and red cabbage. Here are some classic sides that go perfectly with brats:
Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut is a German side dish made from fermented cabbage, commonly served with brats. The tangy and slightly sour flavor of sauerkraut pairs perfectly with the savory bratwurst, creating a delicious combination.
Making homemade sauerkraut through fermentation is super easy! Just do some minimal prep, then wait. There are different ways to make sauerkraut, but the basic method is the same: chop, salt, and keep the cabbage submerged until it ferments. You can also try different flavors for variation.
German Potato Salad
Bratwursts pair deliciously with many potato dishes, like this authentic German potato salad. This isn’t your regular potato salad. It features crispy red onions, tender potatoes, and a tangy vinegar-based dressing with bacon, creating a delightful combination with the sausage. It’s typically served warm rather than cold.
Learn how to make homemade German potato salad with this simple recipe. Boil and cool diced potatoes, fry bacon, and cook onions in the grease. Add vinegar, sugar, water, salt, and pepper to create a tangy dressing. Combine potatoes and bacon with the dressing, then transfer to a serving dish.
Steamed Corn on the Cob
Steamed corn on the cob is simple to make and its sweetness complements the smoky, meaty flavor of bratwurst perfectly. If you’re smoking or grilling sausages, you can also try smoked or grilled corn on the cob.
Steamed corn on the cob is a quick and convenient way to enjoy a classic summertime side dish whenever you want! In just 15 minutes, you’ll have deliciously sweet and tender corn to accompany your favorite main courses. Just add butter, salt, and pepper for a tasty side dish recipe.
Mashed Potatoes
A deliciously cooked bratwurst sausage served on buttery mashed potatoes with onion gravy is a satisfying choice for a chilly evening. This comforting and hearty dish is sure to become a favorite among your family.
Mashed potatoes are a timeless side dish that complements any type of sausage. They are creamy, rich, and bursting with flavor when made with butter, milk, and seasonings. Moreover, they can be easily paired with a range of flavors. For a lower-carb alternative, consider mashed cauliflower.
German Pretzels
German-style pretzels are a delicious and enjoyable side dish that goes perfectly with brats. The chewy texture and slightly salty flavor of the pretzels complement the juicy, savory bratwurst, creating a tasty and satisfying meal.
These German pretzels are traditionally made with a yeast-based dough, which gives them their distinctive flavor and texture. They can be served on their own or dipped in mustard for an added kick of flavor.
Coleslaw
Coleslaw is a refreshing and crunchy side dish that adds brightness to your brats. The combination of shredded cabbage, carrots, and tangy dressing creates a perfect balance to the flavorful bratwurst.
This keto coleslaw recipe is a modified version of the traditional coleslaw for a low-carb diet. It includes shredded cabbage, carrots, and other veggies, with a dressing that typically consists of mayo, apple cider vinegar, and seasonings, creating a tangy and creamy flavor that complements the crunchy vegetables.
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Instead of having french fries with your brats, consider adding low-carb veggies like zucchini instead of high-carb sweet potatoes. You can easily make crispy zucchini fries in your air fryer and enjoy them with your favorite sauces.
Air fryer zucchini fries are a tasty, low-carb snack! They’re crispy and cheesy on the outside, and tender on the inside. To reduce carbs, use parmesan cheese instead of bread crumbs to coat your fries. You can also try other veggies as an alternative to sweet potato fries.
Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage
This traditional German red cabbage recipe is a simple way to cook red cabbage. Sauté it with butter, sprinkle with sugar and balsamic vinegar, and simmer until tender. The sugar and balsamic vinegar create a delicious sweet and sour glaze for the cabbage.
Sweet and sour red cabbage is an ideal accompaniment to sausages, pork chops, schnitzel, or German burgers. This simple dish can be prepared in just minutes.
Spaetzle
Spaetzle, another German staple, is a delicious combination of egg noodles and dumplings. Don’t hesitate to give it a try, even if it’s new to you. You only need four basic ingredients. After cooking, simply add butter, herbs, and cheese to create a tasty and satisfying side dish to flavorful pork sausage.
Traditionally, spaetzle is made by scraping small pieces of dough off a board into boiling water. However, there are simpler ways to make this German favorite. You can use a colander or a spaetzle maker to create the noodles instead of manually scraping them off a board.
Roasted Vegetables
Roasted vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, radishes, broccoli, or cauliflower are a versatile and nutritious side dish for grilled meats. Just toss your preferred vegetables in olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and bake. The outcome is a colorful and tasty accompaniment that complements any protein.
Roasted vegetables are not just tasty, but also brimming with nutrients. Enhance the flavors by sprinkling garlic powder or smoked paprika before baking. For added health benefits, try using oils like avocado or coconut oil.
More Side Dish Recipes
For more options on what to serve with brats, consider the following ideas:
You can serve it in rolls for a German meal with sauerkraut, apples, bacon, cider, and caraway seeds. Alternatively, you can have it as bangers and mashed.
Serve the sausages with hot dogs, Italian sausage, baked beans, Brussels sprouts, macaroni and cheese, cucumber salad, fruit salad, or homemade applesauce.
For a delicious touch, try adding a generous drizzle of tangy ketchup and zesty Dijon mustard on top of the sizzling sausages.
For a delicious Oktoberfest-inspired meal, indulge in a flavorful combination. Begin with oven-baked brats served in soft pretzel buns.
Serve them with delicious baked apples that perfectly complement the savory goodness. Enjoy a side of hot German potato salad, with its tangy flavors dancing on your palate.
Try the flavorful Rotkohl, a German-style fried cabbage that adds a delightful twist to your meal. And don’t miss out on the delicious baked German potato pancakes to complete your culinary experience.
Final Thoughts: What to Serve With Brats
Finding what to serve with brats transforms meals into culinary adventures that delight the senses. From the classic charm of sauerkraut and potato salad to the innovative air fryer zucchini fries, these side dish ideas add layers of flavor and texture to your bratwurst experience.
Whether you enjoy classic German dishes or modern variations, brats offer endless gastronomic possibilities. As you indulge in each bite, the delectable combinations of these irresistible side dishes will leave a lasting impression on your taste buds.
Next time you grill or prepare a cozy dinner, try these options to enhance your bratwurst feast. With these nine side dish ideas, you’ll create memorable moments and satisfy even the pickiest eaters. Cheers to finding the perfect flavor combination with your beloved bratwurst!