Want to enjoy bratwurst without turning on the grill or dealing with pan-frying them? Then try making air fryer brats!
They turn out juicy on the inside and perfectly browned on the outside without a lot of work. You can enjoy them with some mustard in a crusty roll, with a side of sauerkraut, or other sides and toppings of your choice.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t overcrowd your air fryer. Leave some space between the sausages so they can cook and brown evenly.
- There are lots of different brands that make bratwurst. The exact cooking time can vary depending on the type and thickness of the bratwurst as well as your air fryer and personal preference.
- Pork bratwurst should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius).
- Similar to Italian sausages, bratwurst have a high fat content, which could result in white smoke coming from your air fryer. That’s why it is important to use a clean air fryer (without leftover fat from other foods) and to stay close by – especially if you’re cooking brats in your air fryer for the first time.
- You can place a slice of old bread in the bottom of your air fryer (under the tray if you have a basket-style air fryer) to soak up some of the grease and reduce the risk of smoking.
- If you want toasted buns, place them in the air fryer for a minute or two after removing the brats.
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Step-by-Step Instructions
First, preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Fahrenheit).
When it’s hot, add the brats in one even layer with space between them. This helps with even cooking and browning.
Cook the brats for 12-16 minutes, or until they are fully cooked. Remember to flip the brats at the halfway mark (after approximately 7 minutes).
The exact cooking time can vary by air fryer and the thickness of the sausage. The internal temperature should reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius).
When they are done, remove the brats from the air fryer and serve them with mustard and/or ketchup on their own, on a crusty bun, with a side of sauerkraut, or with other sides and toppings of your choice. Enjoy!
Storage Tips
You can store leftover brats in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
You can eat the leftovers cold… but they are much tastier heated up. For this, you can put them back in the air fryer for a few minutes or microwave them – it’s really up to you.
Related Recipes
For more great air fryer meat recipes, check out these tasty classics:
- Homemade Air Fryer Meatballs
- Hamburgers in the Air Fryer (Homemade)
- Chicken Sausages in the Air Fryer
- Air Fried Chicken Thighs
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Air Fryer Brats
Ingredients
- 5 brats, approximately
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius).
- Once the air fryer is hot, add the brats. Leave some space between them to allow for even cooking.
- Cook the brats at 360 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) for 12-16 minutes, flipping halfway, or until they are fully cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius). The exact cooking time can vary depending on the type and thickness of the bratwurst as well as your air fryer.
- Once cooked, remove the brats from the air fryer and serve with mustard and/or ketchup on their own, on a crusty bun, or with a side of sauerkraut!
Notes
- There are lots of different brands that make bratwurst. The exact cooking time can vary depending on the type and thickness of the bratwurst as well as your air fryer and personal preference. We used Johnsonville regular brats and they cook really nicely in the air fryer.
- Don’t overcrowd your air fryer so the sausages can cook and brown evenly.
- Pork bratwurst should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius).
- Brats have a high fat content, which could result in white smoke coming from your air fryer. To reduce the likelihood of this happening, use a clean air fryer. Also stay close by (especially when making them for the first time). We don’t usually have any issues but every air fryer is different.
- You can place a slice of old bread in the bottom of your air fryer (under the tray if you have a basket-style air fryer) to soak up some of the grease and reduce the risk of smoking.
- If you want toasted buns, place them in the air fryer for a minute or two after removing the brats.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
