Grilled bacon wrapped bratwurst are an excellent meal to add to a summertime menu. These Bratwurst are easy to make and a delicious filling meal. 

Bacon Wrapped Bratwurst can be made on the grill or pan fried. Grilling the Bratwurst adds delicious flavor and helps hold the juices in the meat. This delicious dinner can be whipped together in under 30 minutes and makes a great summertime or potluck meal.

We have a few tips and tricks to make these bratwurst as delicious as possible! These are not hard to make and well worth the process.

Should I boil bratwurst before grilling them?

Bratwurst can be boiled before grilling to prevent grease flair ups and the brats bursting open. This is not always necessary and some people forego the boiling process. A lower cooking heat on the grill can be used to cook the brats “low and slow” this will help prevent bursting without boiling them. Boiling can help precook the inside of the bratwurst, making the chance of undercooking the meat lower.

Should I use raw or precooked bacon for bacon wrapped brats?

The bacon should be precooked or gently pan fried to prevent grease flair ups on the stove. Raw bacon will drip large amounts of grease into the grill and cause large flat ups and flames. Cook the bacon on the stove until the bacon is just starting to crisp up. Don’t over cook the bacon or it will not easily wrap around the bratwurst. Another option is to purchase precooked bacon if you want to avoid this extra step. For this recipe we used precooked bacon.

How long should I grill bacon wrapped Bratwurst?

Bacon wrapped bratwurst take a little longer to cook on the grill than plain bratwurst. For this recipe we cook the bratwurst on the grill for 15 minutes at 300 F. The bratwurst are then removed from the grill and wrapped in bacon. Once the bratwurst are wrapped in bacon, they get returned to the grill and cooked an additional 10 minutes at 300 F.

How do you tell if Brats are done?

The best way to tell its bratwurst is done cooking is to use a meat thermometer. Bratwurst internal temperature should read 160 F. Another way to tell is if the outside is crispy and meat has turned mostly white. Bratwurst will normally take 15 minutes on the grill at 300 F before being fully cooked.

It is normal for bratwurst or other ground pork products to have a slightly pink color in the middle. This can make it difficult to gauge wether or not the meat is fully cooked. Ground pork often has added minced meat in it which causes the pink coloring. If you are unsure if the meat is done, use a meat thermometer. Always aim for 160 F for best food safe practices.

Sides for Bacon Wrapped Brats

Bacon wrapped brats make a delicious main course meal. Here are a few of our favorite sides to pair with this dish:

1. Mashed Potatoes
2. Potato Salad
3. Roasted Vegetables
4. Grilled Corn on the Cob
5. Cornbread
6. Macaroni Salad
7. Green Salad
8. Grilled Vegetable Kabobs
9. Bean Salad
10. Fresh Watermelon (or grilled)

Grilled Recipes:

Grilled Bacon Wrapped Bratwurst Recipe Notes:

Grilled bacon wrapped Bratwurst are Excellent! Grill some boiled Brats wrapped in bacon and finish on the smokey grill until crispy and brown.

Serve bacon wrapped brats with no bun at all for a Keto friendly low carb entree’. Need a side suggestion? This delicious grilled dinner Companions excellently with bacon broccoli salad  (another low carb recipe) YUM!

There are SO many great ways to enjoy this simple grilled recipe. Add Sauerkraut and caramelized onions if you have them. These Bratwurst are SO good  many many different ways. The bacon layer adds more flavor and fat for a knockout satisfying dinner!

Instructions for Grilled Bacon Wrapped Brats:

To reduce the grease flare ups while grilling here are a few suggestions:

1. Boil the bratwurst in water on your stove before wrapping in bacon and grilling to reduce grill flare-ups.
2. Keep a spray bottle handy next to the grill and spray the grill flare ups down as you cook them.
3. Use PRE-COOKED bacon. I bought precooked bacon at Costco. It worked great to keep the brats cooking juices inside the casing the bacon made. Crispy and juicy. Yum!
   

How do you grill Bacon Wrapped Brats?

• Grill brats on 300 degrees for 15 minutes or until cooked through with no pink in the middle.
• Remove brats from grill. Let cool until you can handle them.
• Wrap 2 slices of bacon around each brat and secure end of bacon with toothpick through the brat.
• When all the brats are wrapped in bacon, take back to grill.
• Grill at 300 degrees an additional 10 minutes, turning frequently.
• Brats are done when bacon is nicely browned and crisped and the bratwurst is cooked completely. *remember to remove the toothpick before serving*
• Grill buns if desired and add condiments.

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