homemade brat burger on a bun with caramelized onions

Found my new go-to, summer favorite, ON REPEAT EVERY WEEK recipe – Homemade Brat Burgers with Gluten-Free Beer-Braised Caramelized Onions!

Homemade bratwurst patties made from pork and spices are topped with luscious, beer-braised caramelized onions (read below for my thoughts on GF beer,) to create the most craveable dish that has ever come from my grill. There, I said it. This clean recipe is not only gluten and dairy-free, but seriously easy and quick. Did I mention toddler friendly? Lincoln wolfed these down!

homemade brat burgers on the grill

After grilling these burgers up for the first time I thought they could use a hint of beer and onion flavor, which you traditionally boil brats in before grilling. Enter beer-braised caramelized onions. OH YES! Were talking seared onions simmered in gluten-free beer until golden brown, sticky-sweet, and perfectly caramelized. I don’t normally acknowledge a world in which brats aren’t buried under a blanket of tangy mustard, but these burgers topped with beer-braised caramelized onions slay the traditional combo.

Aside from the taste, there’s something deeply satisfying about making something at home that’s traditionally thought of as something you can only buy at the store. The homemade bratwurst patties tastes just like my favorite store-bought brats but only contain pork and spices. No preservatives (besides salt,) no sugar, no additives – just real food. Gotta try this unique grilling recipe, friends!

bite taken out of a homemade brat burger

Start by getting the beer-braised caramelized onions going. Add 1 jumbo sliced sweet onion to 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat then saute until the onions are golden brown, 10 minutes.

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Next add 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce, salt, and a 12oz bottle of gluten-free beer.

NOTE: If you have Celiac Disease I DO NOT recommend drinking or using “gluten-removed” or “gluten-reduced” beers like Omission, Glutiny, etc. I used to drink gluten-removed beers back when I was first diagnosed with CD and 100% know it was one of the reasons I was staying sick vs getting well. They aren’t consistently low enough in gluten ppm for people with CD or a serious gluten intolerance to safely drink. Instead, use a beer that’s brewed with gluten-free grains like rice, sorghum, etc.

If you aren’t gluten-free, you can just use your favorite beer!

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Turn the heat down to medium then simmer until the onions are tender and the beer is nearly absorbed, 10-15 minutes.

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Meanwhile, mix up the brat burger patties. That’s just 1lb ground pork mixed with 3/4 teaspoon each ground sage, dry mustard, and salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander, and 1/4 teaspoon each dried rosemary, paprika, white pepper, and nutmeg. SO EASY!!!!

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Form the mixture into four patties – they’ll be a little soft, but that’s ok – then spray the tops with nonstick spray and grill for 4-5 minutes per side. FYI, the way to get great grill marks is to heat your grill over high heat then turn it down to medium just before adding the patties!

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Place the patties onto buns then top with a mountain of beer-braised caramelized onions, and dig in!

homemade brat burger on a plate with chips

Homemade Brat Burgers

5/5 (2 REVIEWS)

Description

Homemade Brat Burgers with Gluten-Free Beer-Braised Caramelized Onions are homemade brat patties (just pork and spices,) topped with luscious, gluten-free beer-spiked onions. You'll be making this easy grilling recipe all summer long!

Ingredients

serves 4

  • 1lb ground pork
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground sage
  • 3/4 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon coriander
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed between your fingers
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 jumbo sweet onion
  • 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
  • 12oz (1 bottle) gluten-free beer (I used New Grist Pilsner)
  • 4 buns

Directions

  1. Heat extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions then saute until evenly caramelized, 10 minutes. Add beer, worcestershire sauce, and a little salt then bring to a boil. Turn heat down to medium then simmer until onions are tender and beer has nearly been absorbed, 10-15 minutes. Taste then add salt if necessary and set aside.
  2. While the onions are simmering, preheat grill on high heat for at least 10 minutes (I like to let my grill get to 400-450 degrees.) Combine pork and spices - sage through nutmeg - then form mixture into 4 patties - patties will be soft, but that's ok. Turn grill down to medium heat then spray tops of patties with nonstick spray. Place patties sprayed-side down on the grill then cook for 4-5 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Place brat burgers onto buns then top with beer-braised caramelized onions and serve.

Notes

  • The fat content in ground pork can vary wildly, so don't be surprised if your burgers shrink up a bit.
Onions adapted from Eat, Live, Run

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

Photo collage of homemade brat burgers