What To Serve With Brats (21 Unique Ideas To Inspire Your Menu) (2024)

I have turned over many rocks, flipped through many cookbooks, and skimmed tons of blog posts in my effort to bring you twenty-one wonderful ideas for what to serve with brats.

When it is time for brats, it must also be time for amazing toppings and sides.

Brats are short for bratwurst sausage, a type of German sausage made from veal, beef, or pork.

The name itself comes from the word “Brat” which refers to that meat mixture used to make the bratwurst.

This list of sides for brats is as wide and long as a picnic buffet table at a family reunion!

Some of the bratwurst side dishes I included are also of German origin to complete the theme of the meal; like our Best German Pasta Salad (Nudelsalat) and Potato Pancakes – German Kartoffelpuffer.

Brats are easy to prepare since there are so many ways to cook them!

Sometimes brats are served simply or with a creative collection of toppings; #13.

So whether you are steaming them on the stovetop, baking them in the oven, or grilling them outside, there is a lot of freedom when it comes to selecting what goes with brats.

May your side dishes for brats be as flavorful and fun as the company you keep!

For a little something on the sweet and salty side, my first suggestion for what to serve with brats is sweet potato fries!

The key is to follow some unique steps to help them crisp up since sweet potatoes are softer when cooked.

One of my favorite tips to make the best fries is to not crowd them in the pan.

Allowing for as much space between the pieces as possible will make for crispier french fries.

Whether you serve your brats in buns with onions on top or use the onions as sides for brats, you cannot go wrong!

Not much can beat the smell of cooking onions except their delicious taste!

Often lighter side dishes for brats are welcome and that is where the veggies come in!

Here green beans, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, and almond combine for a beautiful green bean salad side for brats!

Homemade baked beans from scratch are most definitely what goes with brats!

A bit tangy and a bit sweet and easy to make with bacon, onion, garlic, and fabulous seasonings.

They can be simmered in a slow cooker for six hours or stovetop for three!

An excellent choice for sweet and sour bratwurst side dishes would have to hands-down be sauerkraut!

If you plan ahead, you can even make your own with cabbage, salt, and a mason jar.

Just keep all the cabbage submerged during the one to three weeks it takes to ferment.

Homemade quick pickled red onions make fantastic bratwurst sides especially if that brat is wrapped in bacon!

The quick pickling process only takes one to two hours.

The wrapping of the brats in bacon is done in stages but SO worth the effort!

This relish is the answer to what to serve with brats at your next dinner or get-together.

It has a bit of everything for a truly bold tropical taste.

It includes pineapple, red and yellow bell peppers, onion, cilantro, rice vinegar, soy sauce, hot sauce, sugar, lime juice, and crushed red pepper.

Lots and lots of slicing and dicing go into this salad that doubles as sides for brats!

Items needed are Brussel sprouts, granny smith apples, red onion, orange pepper, walnuts, cheddar cheese, and green grapes combined with a dressing made of oil, vinegar, honey mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper.

Delicious!

Traditional and creamy is what many side dishes for brats serve up, and none more so than this potato salad recipe!

The secret ingredient here is hard-boiled eggs.

They totally work!

It also uses red potatoes for a slightly different flavor palate.

The combo of sour cream and mayo is great as well.

This potato salad delivers!

Corn on the cob is perhaps the quintessential foregone conclusion for what goes with brats.

In this recipe three different ways of preparing them are thoroughly discussed: grilling, boiling, and microwaving.

So you can pick the best method for you based on the amount of time you have and the end result you want.

For refreshingly light and creamy bratwurst side dishes, this cucumber salad checks all the boxes.

Fresh ingredients of cucumbers, red onions, and dill are used.

The dressing base can start with sour cream or Greek yogurt or even ranch dressing.

Flexibility for the win!

When crunchy is the texture you want in your bratwurst sides, this broccoli salad will not disappoint.

It is indeed crunchy with great texture from the broccoli and a hint of both sweetness from the apple cider vinegar and savory from the cheese and bacon!

Ok, so you know we are discussing what to serve with brats but this entry on the list is what to serve ON the brats.

I know somebody needs to try this recipe for spicy peach salsa today!

Just look at the lineup it includes peaches, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, shallots, red onion, Jalapeno peppers, cilantro, grapeseed oil, and salt and pepper!

German recipes for sides for brats are truly exceptional.

This coleslaw recipe is different from the creamy style you may be familiar with.

The dressing is made of vinegar, dry mustard, celery seeds, salt, sugar, and oil.

It’s tangy and complements the crunchy cabbage nicely.

Pasta salads make great side dishes for brats.

This macaroni salad has a tangy dressing created with paprika, sugar, vinegar, mustard, and real mayo.

It really does not get any easier than cooking the pasta, making the dressing, chopping the veggies and hard-boiled eggs, and mixing them all together!

Cheese is what goes with brats and this beer cheese is flavorful and beautiful.

The beer cheese is made of beer, freshly shredded cheddar cheese, cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and ground mustard.

After the cheese is poured on the brats, sprinkle with bacon bits and chives.

Make-ahead bratwurst side dishes are fantastic especially when they are served chilled like this German pasta salad.

It starts with rotini pasta, peas, carrots, and sliced pickled gherkins.

The dressing is made of mayo, mustard, and juice from the gherkin jar.

Traditionally it also has some protein, but since you are serving as a brat side dish, feel free to leave it out.

Fresh fruit makes for refreshing bratwurst sides!

This easy fruit salad with fresh fruit is not only a colorful addition to your plate, it has no added sugar!

The “dressing” is simply a combination of orange and lemon juice.

The recommended fruit combination is red grapes, pineapple, mango, blueberries, strawberries, watermelon, blackberries, kiwi, and raspberries.

Sweet!

This next recipe is not only what to serve with brats, it outlines how to grill all the parts!

This mango relish begins with grilling mango halves, onion, and brats.

Once done, grill large romaine lettuce hearts till slightly browned.

Then the relish is made by dicing the mango and onion and combining with a bit of oil, jerk seasoning, salt, and pepper.

Makes a beautifully balanced plate of protein, veggies, and fruit!

Marinated and grilled mushrooms make delicious sides for brats!

And skewers are such a fun way to serve food!

The mushrooms are marinated in a mixture of olive oil, soy sauce, garlic, thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper (or red chili pepper flakes) for thirty minutes.

Skewer them, grill them, and serve them!

I guarantee they will be requested again!

My last item on this list is a little something different as side dishes for brats.

These potato pancakes are made from long grates of raw potato and onion mixed with an egg, salt, and flour and then fried until golden brown.

Serve as is or with applesauce for a sweet touch or sour cream for a savory bite.

The bottom line

Bratwurst side dishes can range from fruit to veggies to potatoes to pasta to salad!

No matter what sides for brats you decide to serve, any from this list or variations thereof will be wonderful.