Bratwurst, or brats for short, is a classic sausage that’s enjoyed in a variety of ways, from the tailgate to your grill in the summer. I’ve tried preparing them a number of ways, but the air fryer is my favorite method. When you try these Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Brats you’ll see why!
Take a nice, juicy sausage, then wrap it in bacon, and cook it to perfection in your air fryer. You’ll have the perfect level of crispiness and caramelization on the outside, while still maintaining that amazing flavor inside.
If you didn’t think it could get any better, why not also stuff your brats with cheese before throwing on the bacon!
Is it a health food? No. But, every once in a while it’s nice to enjoy a mouthwatering and savory option. Plus, if you skip the bun, it’s a great Keto-friendly option!
What I love about this preparation is that you can use any flavor brats you like, and you can start with raw or cooked ones depending on your preference.
What You’ll Need: Ingredients
Brats (Bratwurst), any flavor (such as Johnsonville)
One slice of bacon per sausage
½ slice cheddar cheese per brat (optional)
Ingredient Tips and Notes
You can use any type of brats that you like. I have Johnsonville beer brats, but they also make original and cheddar (if you use cheddar, you can skip the additional cheese). There are of course other brands as well, so use your favorite!
Feel free to use fully cooked brats as well instead of the raw
Regular cut bacon actually works better than thick cut for this, but you can use whatever you like
I find that slices or sticks of cheese work best to stay put and make it easier to stuff your brat
How to Cook Bacon Wrapped Brats in the Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F
(Optional) To add cheese, use a sharp knife to cut a slit in the center of the brat, about ¼” from the ends and around halfway through the sausage. Stuff cheese into the cut, then press the sausage around to cover it
Start with the thicker end of the bacon and wrap it around the sausage with just enough overlap on the wrap to hold it in place. Tuck the small end under to secure when you finish
Place the bacon wrapped brats into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer
Cook on the air fry setting for 15 minutes at 400°F, pausing halfway through to flip them
Brats are done when the internal temperature reaches 160°F. Add additional time if needed to achieve this, or if you’d like even crispier bacon
Serve on brat buns with your favorite sides
What to Serve With Brats
Sauerkraut
Red cabbage
Spaetzle
Soft pretzels
French fries
German potato salad
Mac and cheese
Pierogies
Hash brown casserole
Macaroni salad
Roasted Brussels sprouts
Peppers and onions
Spicy brown mustard
Applesauce
Beer
There are lots of great sides to serve with brats, and beer is such a classic pairing that you can’t help but grab a cold one.
Brats cook for 15 minutes on average in an air fryer, or until 160°F internal temperature is reached. The time may vary slightly based on the thickness of your specific brats as well as your particular air fryer.
Note that fully cooked brats require less time, averaging 6-8 minutes of cooking time to heat them up.
Can You Cook Raw Brats in an Air Fryer?
Yes, you can cook raw brats in an air fryer. Make sure to cook them to an internal temperature of at least 160°F before consuming for food safety.
Of course, you may also heat up fully cooked brats in the air fryer as well, based on your preference.
What Temperature Do You Air Fry Brats?
You air fry brats at a temperature of 400°F. If this is not an available setting for your air fryer, anything between 375°F and 400°F also works.
Lower temperatures may require 1-3 additional minutes of cooking time.
Do You Poke Holes in Brats Before Air Frying?
You do not need to poke holes in brats before air frying. It doesn’t really affect cooking time to do so, and they’ll curl naturally regardless.
In fact, poking holes often makes them turn out more dry, simply from extra loss of moisture during cooking.
Should I Boil Brats Before Air Frying?
There is no need to boil brats before air frying. However, if you really want to, you certainly can. Just finish them in the air fryer to get that final browning on the outside.
It won’t save any time over just straight air frying the brats, though.
Are Johnsonville Bratwurst Pre Cooked?
Johnsonville offers bratwurst that are both raw and pre-cooked. The pre-cooked sausages come in a package of 6, whereas the raw come in quantities of 5 in a standard package.
Refer to the cooking directions on the package. If it directs you to meet an internal temperature of 160°F, then you have raw brats.
Recipe Pro Tips
If your air fryer starts smoking due to excess grease, pause it and hold the brats in place while you tip out the extra
It’s normal for some cheese to leak out during cooking if you’ve stuffed them. You can add foil underneath the brats to make cleanup easier, if desired
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover bacon wrapped brats in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months
Reheat brats in the air fryer at 350°F for 4-6 minutes or until warmed through
These air fryer bacon wrapped brats are incredibly tasty and so easy to make. No more standing over the grill when your air fryer can do all the hard work for you!
Whether you choose to stuff them with cheese or not is up to you, but either way you’re going to have a tasty bacon wrapped sausage to enjoy. They’re perfect for tailgating, barbecues, game day parties, or just anytime.
I like to serve mine up with some sauerkraut and spicy brown mustard, but feel free to choose your favorite combinations! Oh, and a cold beer is a must have in my opinion!
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Brats (Johnsonville)
These cheese stuffed air fryer bacon wrapped brats are the perfect sausages for your next tailgate or barbecue. Serve them up with your favorite toppings and sides to complete the meal!
2LinksBratwurst (Brats) sausage, any flavor(such as Johnsonville)
2Slicesbacon
1Slicecheddar cheese
Instructions
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F
(Optional) To add cheese, use a sharp knife to cut a slit in the center of the brat, about ¼” from the ends and around halfway through the sausage. Stuff cheese into the cut, then press the sausage around to cover it
Start with the thicker end of the bacon and wrap it around the sausage with just enough overlap on the wrap to hold it in place. Tuck the small end under to secure when you finish
2 Slices bacon
Place the bacon wrapped brats into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer
Cook on the air fry setting for 15 minutes at 400°F, pausing halfway through to flip them
Brats are done when the internal temperature reaches 160°F. Add additional time if needed to achieve this, or if you’d like even crispier bacon
Serve on brat buns with your favorite sides
Notes
You can use any type of brats that you like. I have Johnsonville beer brats, but they also make original and cheddar (if you use cheddar, you can skip the additional cheese). There are of course other brands as well, so use your favorite!
Feel free to use fully cooked brats as well instead of the raw (though cooking time is about the same because of the bacon)
Regular cut bacon actually works better than thick cut for this, but you can use whatever you like
I find that slices or sticks of cheese work best to stay put and make it easier to stuff your brat
If your air fryer starts smoking due to excess grease, pause it and hold the brats in place while you tip out the extra
It’s normal for some cheese to leak out during cooking if you’ve stuffed them. You can add foil underneath the brats to make cleanup easier, if desired
Store leftover bacon wrapped brats in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months
Reheat brats in the air fryer at 350°F for 4-6 minutes or until warmed through
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any condiments or sides added, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
