Homemade Brat Burgers feature homemade brat patties made with ground pork and everyday spices. They're a dead ringer for the real thing!

homemade brat burger on a plate

Feast your eyes on your new go-to burger recipe: Homemade Brat Burgers with Beer-Braised Caramelized Onions!

Homemade bratwurst patties made from ground pork and everyday spices are topped with luscious, beer-braised caramelized onions to create the most craveable meal.

You’ll never look at burgers OR brats the same way again. They really are a dead ringer for juicy, sizzling brats!

homemade brat burgers on the grill
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Burger + Brat Mash Up

Here in the Midwest, you’ll find both burgers and brats on the menu at pretty much every summer cookout and, like I said, this recipe combines both into one incredibly delicious dish.

Normally I don’t acknowledge a world in which brats aren’t first drizzled with bright yellow mustard before devouring, but the sticky-sweet beer-braised caramelized onions totally outshine the traditional combo.

Best of all? The homemade bratwurst patties taste just like my favorite store-bought brats but only contain pork and spices. No preservatives (besides salt), sugar, or funky additives!

bite taken out of a homemade brat burger

Serve with Best Ever Pasta Salad

How to Make this Recipe

Step 1: Make the Beer-Braised Caramelized Onions

Heat extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat then add a sliced jumbo sweet onion and saute until the onions turn golden brown, about 10 minutes.

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Next add worcestershire sauce, salt, and beer – gluten free or regular depending on your dietary restrictions.

A Note on Gluten Free Beer

Since I have Celiac Disease I use gluten free beer made with gluten free grains like rice or sorghum – NOT gluten-removed or gluten-reduced beers.

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Turn the heat down to medium then simmer until the onions are tender and the beer has nearly cooked off, 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Onions = done!

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Step 2: Make the Brat Patties

To a large mixing bowl add ground pork plus the following dried herbs, spices, and seasonings:

  • Ground sage
  • Dry mustard
  • Ground coriander
  • Dried rosemary
  • Paprika
  • White pepper
  • Nutmeg
  • Salt
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Stir the mixture with a fork or your hands just until the ingredients are well combined, then form the mixture into four patties. They’ll be a little soft, but that’s ok.

Spray the tops of the patties with nonstick spray then grill for 4-5 minutes per side over medium heat, keeping the lid closed between flipping.

Want Great Grill Marks?

Heat your grill over high heat then turn it down to medium just before adding the patties. The grates will be screaming hot and sear the patties quickly.

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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

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Homemade Brat Burgers

5 from 4 votes

by Kristin Porter

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Servings: 4
Homemade Brat Burgers feature homemade brat patties made with ground pork and everyday spices. They’re a dead ringer for the real thing!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb 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 gluten free worcestershire sauce
  • 12 oz gluten free beer
  • 4 gluten free buns

Directions 

  • 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.
  • 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, keeping the lid closed between flipping. Briefly grill buns to soften and toast then place brat burgers onto buns and top with beer-braised caramelized onions before serving.

Notes

  • The fat content in ground pork can vary wildly, so don’t be surprised if your burgers shrink up a bit.

Nutrition

Calories: 519kcal, Carbohydrates: 32g, Protein: 25g, Fat: 30g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 14g, Cholesterol: 82mg, Sodium: 761mg, Potassium: 533mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 75IU, Vitamin C: 6mg, Calcium: 105mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.

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42 Comments

  1. Roman says:

    Can I make these on a stove top, I don’t have a BBQ

    1. Kristin Porter says:

      Definitely!