Beer Braised Sausages with Onions (Party-Size Recipe)
Ingredients:
- 3 lbs (1.5 kg) bratwurst or thick sausages (about 12–15 sausages)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
- 3 large onions, thinly sliced
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional, for caramelizing onions)
- 2 cups (480 ml) beer (lager or amber preferred)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)
- Fresh thyme or rosemary (optional garnish)
Instructions:
1. Sear the Sausages:
- Preheat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat.
- Add a bit of oil and brown the sausages on all sides for 5–7 minutes.
- You don’t need to cook them through — just get a nice golden color.
- Transfer to a large baking dish or aluminum tray.
2. Cook the Onions:
- In the same skillet, add more oil if needed and reduce heat to medium.
- Sauté onions for about 10–15 minutes, stirring often until they’re soft and caramelized. Add brown sugar to enhance caramelization if desired.
- Add garlic, salt, pepper, and cook for 1–2 more minutes.
3. Deglaze and Simmer:
- Pour in the beer, scraping up browned bits from the pan.
- Stir in Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard for extra flavor.
- Simmer for 5 minutes to let it reduce slightly.
4. Bake Everything Together:
- Pour the onion-beer mixture over the sausages in the tray.
- Cover the tray with foil and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake uncovered for another 15–20 minutes, or until sausages are fully cooked and nicely glazed on top.
Serving Suggestions:
- Serve on hoagie rolls or brat buns with mustard and sauerkraut.
- Pair with mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, or coleslaw.
- Great with a cold glass of the same beer used for braising!
Benefits:
- Feeds a crowd – easily serves 10–12 people.
- Make-ahead friendly – refrigerates and reheats well.
- Customizable – use different beers (IPA, stout, etc.) or flavored sausages (cheddar, jalapeño, etc.)
- Flavor bomb – rich from the onions, tangy from mustard, and deep from beer.
Lovers of This Dish:
This dish is loved by:
- Backyard BBQ fanatics
- Beer enthusiasts
- Busy parents needing meal prep 🍽️
- Oktoberfest fans