Brat Sliders – loaded with bell peppers, sweet onion, mayo, mustard, and Muenster cheese, then brushed with a sweet & savory sauce and baked to perfection. One of our favorite game day recipes!
Growing up in Wisconsin, summertime has always meant brat time. To be fair, it has also meant burger and hot dog time, but brats are one thing that were ALWAYS on the menu.
I can vividly remember the smell of my dad firing up the charcoal grill on a hot summer day. I always knew a delicious dinner was in store. And to this day, brats remind me of my childhood!
Of course, as an adult, I love putting my own twist on things… and what better way to put a twist on a favorite than to turn it into a slider!? I’ve done it before – from Cuban Sliders to Reuben Sliders to Chili Cheese Turkey Sliders. And I have to say… these Brat Sliders are one of the BEST.
Loaded with juicy brats, bell peppers, sweet onions, and melted cheese, they’re a fun new twist on a childhood favorite. They’re perfect for game days, parties, or a quick and easy weeknight meal. You’ve never had brats like this before!
What You’ll Love About This Recipe
Twist on a classic: Brats are a classic, and these sliders are a fun twist that everyone will love.
Game day ready: It’s the perfect game day recipe and feeds a crowd!
Make ahead: Best of all, you can make them in advance for stress-free entertaining or game watching!
what you’ll need for this recipe
Brats – I used one package (5 count) uncooked brats.
Onion – I paired the brats with one large sweet (Vidalia) onion. Feel free to substitute yellow onions or any type you prefer.
Bell peppers – In addition to the onion, I used one red pepper and one yellow pepper, both thinly sliced. You can use any color bell pepper you’d like, since they’re all similar in flavor.
Beer – I added one bottle of of light beer to the peppers, onion and brats to infuse the ingredients with delicious flavor. Feel free to substitute broth or water if you prefer.
Cheese – I added sliced Muenster cheese to give these sliders a cheesy twist. Feel free to use any type of cheese you like (Cheddar, Provolone or Swiss would all be delicious!)
Slider buns – For the bread, I used one package (12 count) silver dollar rolls. Hawaiian Rolls, small Kaiser rolls, or any small sandwich rolls work well.
Mayo & mustard – I used a simple combination of mayonnaise and stone ground mustard as the sauce for these sliders. Substitute yellow mustard if you prefer.
Sauce – For the sauce, I combined 1/2 stick of butter, 1/2 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 Tablespoon dried mustard powder, 1 teaspoon brown sugar and sesame seeds.
how to make brat sliders
Sear the brats. Drizzle 1 Tablespoon of olive oil in a cast iron skillet. Heat to medium-high, then add the brats and sear for 5 minutes, turning as needed to brown all sides.
Cook the peppers and onions. Add the sliced peppers and onions; season with salt & pepper. Reduce heat to medium and slowly add the beer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, stirring the vegetables occasionally.
Cut the brats. Remove the brats from the skillet and slice into pieces (about 8 pieces per brat.) Drain any remaining liquid from the pepper & onion mixture.
Assemble the sliders. Cut the buns in half, being careful to leave them attached if possible. Place the bottom halves of the rolls on a rimmed baking sheet or 9×13 inch pan lined with foil. Brush with mayo and mustard, then layer with brats, vegetables, and cheese. Add the bun tops to complete the sandwiches.
Make the sauce. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
Brush the tops & bake. Brush the buttery sauce over the tops of the buns, using all of it. Bake at 350° F for 15 minutes or until cheese is completely melted.
make ahead, storage & reheating
These sliders can be made up to 24 hours in advance and stored overnight in the refrigerator before baking. Simply follow the prep and assembly instructions, including the sauce, then cover them with foil and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake them. Remove them from the refrigerator and bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until cheese is fully melted.
Leftover sliders can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For best results, reheat them in an oven-safe container at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
Recipe Variations
- Add sliced mushrooms to the onions and peppers
- Use any type of sliced cheese OR omit the cheese for a dairy-free recipe
- Substitute chicken broth for the beer
- Add giardiniera, sliced pickles or pickle relish in place of bell peppers
- Add sauerkraut
- Substitute yellow mustard for stone ground
- add ketchup or bbq sauce
- Sprinkle with poppy seeds or everything bagel seasoning instead of sesame seeds
What to Serve with Brat Sliders
These slider are a complete meal all on their own, but they’re also delicious served with a lighter side dish like salad, fruit or veggies. These are some of our favorites:
Brat Sliders
Ingredients
Sliders
- 1 package 5 count uncooked brats
- 1 sweet onion
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 yellow bell pepper
- 1 bottle light beer
- 1 package silver dollar rolls OR slider buns
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup stone ground mustard
- 8 slices Muenster cheese
Sauce
- 4 Tablespoons salted butter
- 1/2 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 Tablespoons dried mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- Drizzle 1 Tablespoon of olive oil in a cast iron skillet. Heat to medium-high, then add brats and sear for 5 minutes, turning as needed to brown all sides.
- Add sliced peppers and onions to the skillet with the brats; season with salt & pepper. Reduce heat to medium and slowly add the beer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, stirring the vegetables occasionally.
- Remove brats from the skillet and slice into pieces (about 8 pieces per brat.) Drain any remaining liquid from the pepper & onion mixture.
- Cut the buns in half, being careful to leave them attached if possible. Place the bottom bun halves on a rimmed baking sheet or 9×13 inch pan lined with foil. Brush with mayo and mustard, then layer with brats, vegetables, and cheese. Add the bun tops to complete the sandwiches.
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter for the sauce over medium-low heat. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
- Brush the butter sauce over the tops of the buns.
- Bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until cheese is fully melted.
Lisa says
“Your recommendation for the Brat Sliders was a total hit—juicy, flavorful, and so satisfying! They were the perfect blend of savory goodness and were devoured in no time. Thanks for the great recipe!”
Brandon says
“Your recommendation for the brat sliders was an absolute hit! Everyone loved them, and they were the perfect blend of flavor and creativity. Thank you for sharing such a delicious and unique recipe!”