Best Air Fryer Bratwurst Recipe – Lydia's Easy German Brats

by: Lydia Fulson  /  Writer, Artist, Traveler, Granddaughter & Ever-Learning German Cook

These air fryer bratwursts are such a splendid German treat, made quickly and conveniently in the air fryer! 

Served alongside homemade sauerkraut and traditional mustards, you'll be craving seconds, and maybe even thirds. 

I made these brats in the Instant Vortex Air Fryer Oven, which saved so much time rather than using the regular oven.

It quite literally cuts the cooking time in half! Depending on which fryer you have, you may need to adjust your temperature and cook time accordingly to your fryer. 

This German sausage makes for such a delicious dinner and using the air fryer is a great way to save SO many minutes of cook time.

As you can see in my bratwurst picture above, I served it along with sauerkraut. But it isn't just any sauerkraut. This is my Grandpa's famous family recipe for sauerkraut!

It's always a fun time whenever I got to visit and see a big bucket with a towel overtop sitting under the window. I ask "Uhm, Grandpa why is there a smelly bucket in the sitting room ...?" and he'd reply with "Why it's my sauerkraut getting ready, silly!"

These make for such a delicious dinner and using the air fryer is a great way to save SO many minutes of cook time.

He never ceases to make irresistible sauerkraut, much like Oma. I'm lucky to have so many chefs in my family!

See the next section for Oma's sauerkraut recipe!

What to Serve with Bratwurst

The wunderbar thing about bratwurst is that it can pair perfectly with so many yummy sides or toppings.

If you're looking to serve your guests or family a super traditional version of this bratwurst, you've got to serve it with ...

• Oma's homemade sauerkraut, of course!
• German Red Cabbage / Rotkohl ( My favorite!)

Or maybe you want something reminiscent of the bratwurst served from the Imbissbuden (take-out snack bars) along the lovely German streets. Then you'll want to try some classic ...

• Pommes frittes (French fries - Try making them in the air fryer to save even more time!)

Perhaps you're making these brats in the summertime and you're really wanting a salad to pair with them. Give these recipes a visit.

• German potato salad
• Northern or Southern cucumber salad
• Heidi's Bean Salad
• Asparagus salad

If you're looking for more recipes like this wunderbar air fryer brats recipe, check out my other easy air fryer recipes here!

Storing Leftover Bratwurst

Bratwurst is something that you could never get sick of... but maybe you had a few too many of them and those delicious sides above and have some leftovers. How should you store them??

Storing brats is pretty simple! One way of storing leftover brats is by sealing them in an airtight container before refrigerating. You can also wrap them in aluminum foil, or saran wrap before storing them in the fridge as well. Either way keeps them fresh enough for a few days or however long you store them. 

The great thing about the air fryer is that it makes the perfect tool for heating up leftovers. Using the oven can take forever to heat up, and the microwave can leave a weird texture. Air frying will leave your bratwurst tasting just as it did the first time! It will always be my go-to cooking method!

There’s something absolutely mouth-watering about having a German meat-and-potato dinner. Get Oma's revised collection of her favorites in German Meat Dishes.

Take a peek at all Oma's eCookbooks. They make sharing your German heritage a delicious adventure!

Bratwurst in Germany!

It's no secret that bratwurst is such a staple in German culture and cuisine. When you think of German food, one of the first dishes to come to mind are the famous brats, of course!

Bratwurst is such a major part of historic importance in German regions. Centuries ago, when food supply was scarce and nothing went to waste, that included leftover scraps of veal, pork, or whatever was available. The scraps would then be encased and preserved to make bratwurst sausages. Interesting!

You can find bratwurst pretty much everywhere in Germany. From restaurants to festivals, to simply just walking down the beautiful cobblestone streets.

You can find sooo many vendors and food carts along the streets selling this delicious sausage, often with mustard and sauerkraut. If you like Italian sausage, then you're guaranteed to LOVE everything that bratwurst has to offer.

If it's your first time visiting Germany, you have got to stop for street food. From what I've heard from my Oma and Opa, it is sooo popular and is the best thing!

Ready to Air Fry These Bratwurst?

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Best Air Fryer Bratwurst Recipe – Lydia's Easy German Brats

These easy air fryer brats are such a splendid German treat, made quickly and conveniently. Served alongside homemade sauerkraut and traditional mustards, you'll be craving seconds, and maybe even thirds. 

I used the Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven to make these delicious bratwursts. If you have something different, no problem. Simply adjust settings and cook time accordingly. 

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes

Total Time 27 minutes

Servings:

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 package of 4 bratwurst sausages
• Cooking spray

Instructions:

1. Preheat air fryer to 360°F on air fry mode.
2. Take brats out of the refrigerator to bring to room temperature for 12 to 15 minutes.
3. Prepare air fryer tray by spraying lightly with cooking oil/spray.
4. Once thawed, lay brats in a single layer on tray.
5. Lay another air fryer tray on the very bottom of the fryer to catch any excess juices or fat during the cooking process.
6. Keeping space between them, air fry the bratwurst for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through at 6 minutes.
7. Remove from fryer, serve with sauerkraut, mustard, and enjoy!

Notes/Hints:

• Johnsonville brats are good quality and the most common brand of bratwurst sausage you can find and your local grocery store probably has it too!
• Use a meat thermometer to see if the internal temperature of the brats has made it to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
• I use an olive oil cooking spray to spray my tray before use to keep the brats from sticking.
• By placing a tray on the bottom of your air fryer before cooking you can catch the fatty juices that drip out. Sausage tends to have a high fat content, so laying that tray makes sure that your air fryer stays a clean air fryer!

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Best Air Fryer Bratwurst Recipe ~ Lydia's Easy German Brats

By Lydia Fulson

These air fryer bratwurst are such a splendid German treat, made quickly and conveniently in the air fryer! Serve alongside homemade sauerkraut for a yummy treat!

Ingredients: bratwurst sausages, cooking spray,

For the full recipe, scroll up ...

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Bake & Cook Just Like Oma

Grab all four paperback cookbooks for under your tree!

More about me >

Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.