Juicy Air Fryer Brats
These Juicy Air Fryer Brats offer the perfect balance of snap and succulence with minimal effort. The air circulation creates an ideal crispy exterior while maintaining a moist, flavorful interior—all ready in about 12 minutes flat.
Ingredients
- 4 fresh bratwurst sausages uncooked
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or cooking spray
- Optional toppings: sauerkraut caramelized onions, mustard, sliced peppers
- Optional: 4 brat buns if serving as sandwiches
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 360°F (180°C) for 2-3 minutes. This ensures even cooking from the start.
- Lightly brush or spray the bratwursts with olive oil. This helps them brown evenly and get that beautiful crisp exterior.
- Place the brats in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they don’t touch. Overcrowding prevents proper air circulation and even cooking.
- Cook for 5 minutes, then flip the brats using tongs to ensure even browning on all sides.
- Continue cooking for another 5-8 minutes until the brats reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C). Use a meat thermometer inserted into the center of a brat to verify doneness.
- Let the brats rest for 2 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute throughout the sausage.
- Serve hot with your favorite toppings and sides. For a classic presentation, place in buns with mustard and sauerkraut.
Notes
- For extra flavor, you can lightly score the brats before cooking—just a few shallow cuts along the length of each sausage.
- If your brats are the pre-cooked variety, reduce cooking time to about 6-8 minutes total.
- Different air fryers have varying power levels, so your cooking time might vary slightly. Always use the internal temperature as your guide to doneness.
- For a complete meal, you can add vegetables like bell pepper chunks or small potato wedges to cook alongside the brats. Just ensure they’re cut to cook in the same time frame.
- Beer-soaked brats can be made by briefly simmering the brats in beer before air frying for 6-8 minutes.