Beer brats are a favorite in many cities. These savory sausages are cooked in beer and onions before being grilled or smoked. There is almost nothing better to enjoy with friends and family. However, beer brats carry a complex flavor that can be difficult to pair with other foods, leading many to wonder what are the best dishes to serve with beer brats.
Beer brats are delicious and excellent when combined with mustard, sauerkraut, potato salad, coleslaw, grilled corn on the cob, grilled vegetables, caramelized onions, bacon, hashbrowns, or soft pretzels. Beer brats pair well with tangy, savory, and mild flavors.
Finding the perfect sides to serve with beer brats can be challenging, but several dishes will fill the bill perfectly. Let’s explore some of the best dishes, sides, sauces, and snacks to serve alongside beer brats to create the perfect food combinations.
What To Serve With Beer Brats
The bratwurst sausage is among the most iconic of all. This sausage makes the perfect hot dog and pairs excellently with many different sides and sauces.
However, beer brats take this sausage to another level and add even more depth of flavor and complexity.
This can make pairing beer brats with other dishes and sauces difficult, but the good news is that there are several options to try.
The flavor of the beer brat lends itself very well to savory and tangy foods. This is crucial when looking for foods to serve with beer brats. Very mild flavors can work very well, too, as this sausage has an intense flavor, and milder tasting notes can soften it a little.
Let’s explore some of the best foods to serve with beer brats for any occasion.
Mustard
Mustard is the first paring on this list for a good reason. Very few sauces go as well with beer brats as mustard does.
Spicey mustard makes the perfect dipping sauce for beer brats and can also be the best condiment for beer brat hot dogs. There are several varieties of mustard, so be sure to find your favorite, but the best options are those with a more robust flavor and those made to be spicy.
For example, we love spicy brown mustard or Dijon mustard here.
Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut is a classic pairing bratwursts. Fermented cabbage does not sound very appealing, but if you try it with a beer brat, the flavor profile of the two foods combines into something extraordinary.
This sight is excellent for a beer brat, and it is good for you in many ways as well. It may take some getting used for some people, but many consider sauerkraut and beer brats the perfect match.
Potato Salad
Potato salad is another classic beer brat side in many places. The tang of the mayonnaise and the density of the potatoes is a good paring with these strong-tasting sausages.
Serving potato salad alongside beer brats is sure to be a favorite among friends and family. Using it as a topping on the sausages is another delicious way to serve beer brats.
Coleslaw
Coleslaw is another classic beer brat side. However, the best coleslaw to serve with beer brats is not regular mayo, cabbage, and carrots. Instead, the best coleslaw for this sausage is spicey coleslaw made with spices, seasonings, and with other vegetables such as celery incorporated into it.
This depth of flavor compliments beer brats very well and provides an excellent flavor balance for the sausage.
Try making a spicy coleslaw for yourself and add in your favorite flavors; you will find it an ideal side for beer brats.
Grilled Corn On The Cob
Beer brats are always finished on the grill or pan, so you will likely already have a heat source. In addition, this provides the perfect opportunity to grill some corn on the cob, which is another excellent pairing with beer brats.
Grilled corn on the cob has a smokey flavor that is also sweet and rich. This combination makes corn on the cob ideal for serving with bratwurst sausages and even better for beer brats.
Grilled Vegetables
Grilled vegetables such as pumpkin, squash, carrots, peppers, onions, and potatoes are excellent foods to serve with beer brats. The smokey flavor of these vegetables and the flavors that can be drawn from them complement the sausage very well.
Choose your favorite vegetables, season them with your favorite flavors, grill them alongside the brats, and you will find them to be an excellent side to serve with these sausages.
Caramelized Onions
Caramelized onions are a standard hot dog topping, but this side carries over to beer brats very well. The sweet and savory flavor of onions cooked this way is an excellent combination with beer brats. It is always a crowd-pleaser as well.
Properly caramelizing onions is tricky, but it is with effort when you taste them with this iconic sausage.
Bacon
Everything is improved by bacon, and beer brats are no exception. Crispy, savory bacon is an ideal pairing with the intense flavor of beer brats, and the bacon’s saltiness elevates the bratwurst’s flavor into another realm.
There are few better sides to serve with beer brats than bacon, but it is essential to know that this pairing is not the best option for your health.
Hashbrowns
Hashbrowns fall into the category of beer brat pairings that are mild in flavor to complement the strong flavor of the sausage.
Serving beer brats with hashbrowns is a delicious way to reduce the sausage’s intensity and bring it together into a more cohesive meal, especially when served with other foods such as grilled vegetables.
Soft Pretzels
Soft pretzels may not seem like a prominent serving with beer brats, but this spongey, soft, tasty, salty, crispy bread is perfect for beer brats.
Try this combination, and you may never want to eat anything with a beer brat again.
These dishes, sauces, and sides all complement beer brats. With the right selection of ingredients, you can create an unforgettable meal that will impress your friends and family.
Final Word
Beer brats are delicious, but they are always made better by serving them alongside other good foods. Knowing what to serve with these flavorful sausages is a challenge, but so long as you use this list as a reference, you will never go wrong.
Try these beer brat combinations to find your favorites. Experiment with other foods until you find your ideal beer brat pairings.
Sausages are meant to be served alongside other foods, so explore the options, and you will never be disappointed.
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