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You can make precooked brats in the air fryer in only 8-10 minutes at 350F (177C), no preheating needed! Air fryer precooked brats remain juicy and robust in flavor, without the need to simmer in a buttery beer bath. Forget Oktoberfest, you’ll want to air fry precooked brats all year long after you see how easy it is! Just put your favorite toppings on this popular German-style sausage, and enjoy.
🌭 Precooked Brats in Air Fryer
Here’s what you need to make fully cooked brats in an air fryer:
- 2 bratwurst sausage (precooked; you can cook a bigger batch if they fit)
- 2 hot dog rolls
- Sausage toppings (optional; mustard, sauerkraut, onions, etc.)
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You don’t need cooking spray for this recipe. Pork brats are pretty fatty and won’t stick to the air fryer tray or basket.
If you really want to go all out, you could try making your own brats. These homemade chicken bratwurst with pork are a fun project if you have the time and inclination. Keep in mind that these brats are raw, so they’ll have a longer air frying time than precooked bratwurst.
Any air fryer should work fine for air frying brats. The Ninja Foodi, Pampered Chef Air Fryer, Actifry, Cosori, Nuwave, Instant Vortex, Cuisinart, Philips, Power Air Fryer, etc. can be used. You may need to adjust the cooking time for the air fryer you use.
Now let’s talk about how long to cook precooked brats in the air fryer:
Remove the precooked brats from the package and place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. (Air fryer ovens: use top rack position.) Air fry for 6-8 minutes at 350F (177C). You don’t need to preheat the air fryer or flip the brats.
Place the brats in the buns and air fry an additional 2 minutes at 350F (177C). Let the brats rest for 3-5 minutes before topping and serving. Enjoy!
Since the brats are fully cooked, you’re just looking to warm and brown them. Raw brats should be cooked to a minimum safe internal temp of 160F (71C), or 165F (74C) if they contain poultry.
How to Make Frozen Brats in the Air Fryer
Air fry frozen brats in an air fryer preheated to 350F for 13-15 minutes. Ensure they’ve reached a safe minimum internal temperature of 160F (71C) before enjoying.
How to Cook Raw Brats in the Air Fryer
Air fryer raw brats take 13-15 minutes at 375F (190C). Make sure the sausages reach the minimum safe internal temp of 160F (71C). Use these directions to air fry Johnsonville brats (a raw, large, refrigerated bratwurst), or your favorite brand.
🌡️ How to Reheat Brats in Air Fryer
Air fried brats can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can reheat them in the air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177C) for 3-5 minutes.
🧂 Toppings for Brats
Try air fryer brats and onions with mustard, and sauerkraut. If you really want to go all out, here are some DIY recipes for shredded fermented veggies and mustard:
You could also add Swiss cheese or cheddar cheese to your brats. And of course, you can always add a little crumbled bacon on top. Bacon has a way of making everything taste even better.
Watch How to Make It!
Precooked Brats in Air Fryer (How Long to Cook Pre Cooked Brats)
Ingredients
- 2 precooked brats
- 2 hot dog buns
- sausage toppings (optional; mustard, sauerkraut, onions, etc.)
Instructions
- Remove the precooked brats from the package and place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. (Air fryer ovens: use top rack position.) Air fry for 6-8 minutes at 350°F (177°C).
- Place the brats in the buns and air fry an additional 2 minutes at 350°F (177°C). Let the brats rest for 3-5 minutes before topping and serving. Enjoy!
Equipment
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). Bratwurst is a fatty meat made leaner by air frying (particularly if you start with raw brats). A lot of fat drips off the meat while it air fries, leaving you with a leaner sausage than you started with. Additionally, brats are often cooked in a buttery beer bath, swimming in added fat. Instead of making the meat leaner, this cooking method coats the sausage with additional fat. With air frying, we’re not adding fat to the bratwurst. I’ve never had an issue with my air fryer oven smoking when cooking fatty meats. However, I’ve heard that putting some water or a piece of bread underneath the air fryer basket can stop the smoking. YMMV, but it may be something to try if you’re having this problem. Nutrition information varies depending on the brand of brats and rolls you use.
nutrition info disclaimer
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
“To taste” means to your preferences, which may have to be visual to follow food safety rules. Please don’t eat undercooked food x
Nutrition
🍟 Side Dishes for Brats
👩🏻🍳 More Air Fryer Sausage Recipes
Don’t miss these other air fryer recipes using sausage:
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Hello! I’m Summer, a registered dietitian and home chef who loves to cook, eat, and create recipes for you! Every recipe on this site has been tested by me to help ensure your success in the kitchen. All eaters are welcome here 🙂