
A grilled Bratwurst is something I can always enjoy. The reason is that they are easy to prepare and pack a bunch of flavors. They also can be used for lunch, dinner, or a snack at night.
It does not matter how you eat them. On a bun or just on your plate at dinner, they taste great with (my favorite) mustard and sauerkraut.

Grilled Bratwurst Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Grill
- 1 lump charcoal
- 1 Tongs
- 1 Handheld thermometer Optional
Ingredients
- 4 Bratwurst
- 4 Bratwurst bun – Hoagie buns
- 1 Mustard
Instructions
- Setup your grill for 2-zone grilling
- Preheat the grill to medium heat (325 – 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- Place bratwurst on the side away from the charcoal
- Cook for about 15 minutes until 150 degrees Fahrenheit internally. Turn a few times and keep the lid closed as much as possible
- Move the bratwurst to direct over the charcoal for one or two minutes to create some grill marks.
- Take bratwurst off the grill and place it on a bun.
- Add your favorite toppings. Mine is mustard and sauerkraut if I have the time for that.
Notes
How To Grill The Perfect Bratwurst
One of the things that many people do wrong is putting the bratwurst straight from the refrigerator on the hot grill above the coals. This almost guarantees a dried-out cracked bratwurst with tough skin. Here are the steps I take to cook my bratwurst.- Set up your grill for 2-zone grilling.
- Preheat the grill to medium heat (325 – 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- Place bratwurst on the side away from the charcoal
- Cook for about 15 minutes until 150 degrees Fahrenheit internally. Turn a few times and keep the lid closed as much as possible
- Move the bratwurst directly over the charcoal for one or two minutes to create some grill marks.
- Take bratwurst off the grill and place it on a bun.
- Add your favorite toppings. Mine are mustard and sauerkraut if I have the time for that.
Nutrition
Many backyard grillers find it hard to grill a bratwurst. Sometimes they turn out cracked or dried out.
With the steps in my grilled bratwurst recipe, this will not happen. I also have some tips on how to serve them

How To Grill The Perfect Bratwurst
One of the things that many people do wrong is putting the bratwurst straight from the refrigerator on the hot grill above the coals.
This almost guarantees a dried-out cracked bratwurst with tough skin.
Here are the steps I take to cook my bratwurst.
- Set up your grill for 2-zone grilling.
- Preheat the grill to medium heat (325 – 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- Place bratwurst on the side away from the charcoal
- Cook for about 15 minutes until 150 degrees Fahrenheit internally. Turn a few times and keep the lid closed as much as possible
- Move the bratwurst directly over the charcoal for one or two minutes to create some grill marks.
- Take bratwurst off the grill and place it on a bun.
- Add your favorite toppings. Mine are mustard and sauerkraut if I have the time for that.

FAQ About Grilled Bratwurst
I ran into many questions about what can go wrong with grilling bratwurst and I will answer a few of them here.
Should I Poke Holes In My Brats?
I would not poke holes in a bratwurst. All the juices will leak out and you end up with a dry sausage with hardly any flavor.
Can You Put Brats Straight On The Grill?
Although you can do this, you probably have to move them around all the time and maybe even take them off the grill once and a while. A Better way is to set up a 2-zone heat as you can read here.
Should You Soak Brats In Water Before Grilling?
My personal belief is that when you soak bratwurst you lose some of the flavor and I never soak my brats.
How Do You Keep Brats From Sticking To The Grill?
This is a problem that I had with some other meats also. I coat the grates with a little Canola oil, and I have never had a problem.
How do you keep brats warm and moist after grilling?
It happens sometimes that the brats are done before the rest of the meal or the guests haven’t arrived yet.
You can keep them warm in the oven on low heat or cover them with aluminum foil to keep them warm for a while.
How To Check If Bratwurst Is Done
We all know that all meats have to be heated to a safe internal temperature and the way to do that with bratwurst is to use a digital handheld thermometer.
One tip is to not poke the probe just in the brat but put it in the end so you do not lose too many juices.
After reading my way of grilling bratwurst if you still have questions feel free to contact me and I will try to answer them.
Looking for more? Here are all my beef recipes.
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Eddie van Aken
Eddie van Aken brings years of experience from running a full-service restaurant, where he honed his skills with all types of kitchen equipment. His expertise extends to mastering the art of outdoor cooking, utilizing the right recipes to enhance flavors on grills and smokers. Eddie’s in-depth knowledge allows him to provide comprehensive grill reviews and valuable outdoor cooking tips, helping enthusiasts make the most of their grilling adventures. You can read more on the About page for Eddie van Aken