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    Home » All Recipes

    Vegan Brats

    Published: Jun 17, 2022 by Bonnie · Modified: Jun 18, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    10 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    These easy Vegan Brats are infused in a delicious beer and onion sauce, and then covered with your favorite toppings! Every bite is bursting with flavor in this sweet and savory meal that’s sure to please. All it takes is 20 minutes and just a few simple ingredients!

    Vegan brat on a bun.

    These beer brats are so easy to make and have become one of my go-to meals for busy weeknights. They are perfect for summer barbecues, parties, or Oktoberfest festivities!

    We love how they are very filling and incredibly flavorful! This recipe is also so simple to make. 

    Start by searing the vegan brats in a pan. Then, sauté a whole sliced onion. Next, nest the bratwurst links onto the onions and gently boil them in beer and seasoning to make a mouth-watering sauce. If you don’t have any beer, you can use non-alcoholic as I do, or even vegetable broth. Once it cooks down into a thick sauce, simply place the brats on buns, add your favorite toppings, and enjoy!

    Reasons To Love This Recipe

    • It’s vegan
    • Full of flavor
    • Quick and Easy
    • 10 simple ingredients
    • Ready in 20 minutes or less!

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    Labeled bratwurst ingredients.
    • Vegan Bratwurst - Look for vegan bratwurst links such as Beyond Meat or Impossible. Both are very tasty and I tend to get whichever is on sale. 
    • Vegan Butter - Use your favorite vegan butter. A tablespoon of oil can be used instead.
    • Onion - I like to use yellow onions for the sauce, but any other kind of onions would be just as delicious.
    • Seasoning - With a bit of salt, pepper, and dried oregano, these brats take the sauce over the top. Feel free to add any other favorites you have. 
    • Vegan Beer - Pour in half of your favorite vegan beer and then drink the rest! Many beers are vegan, but you might check their website to verify this. Non-alcoholic beer works as well, which is what I always use. Another option is vegetable broth.
    • Brown Sugar - Adds a perfect amount of sweetness to the dish. Light or dark works here. Other sweeteners such as cane sugar, agave, or even maple syrup can be used.
    • Caraway Seeds - Commonly added to German recipes and are delicious with these brats. If you don’t have any on hand, you can use anise seeds, fennel seeds, or simply leave it out. 
    • Buns - Use your favorite hot dog buns or sausage rolls. I like to try locally made buns as long as they are vegan. Recently, I found some delicious pretzel rolls made by a company called Pretzilla at my nearby Walmart. 
    • Optional Toppings - I like to add sauerkraut and vegan spicy mustard, but the sky is the limit with bratwurst toppings.

    How to Make Vegan Brats

    Here are some quick visual steps. The full recipe with exact measurements can be found on the recipe card below.

    Slice the onions and heat a medium-sized pan or skillet to medium-high heat. Add half of the butter to the pan.

    Sear the vegan brats by cooking them for 1-2 minutes on each side. Remove them from the pan for now. 

    Add the remaining butter, onions, salt, pepper, oregano, and brown sugar to the pan. Stir occasionally as they cook for about 3-5 minutes or until the onions start to caramelize.

    Place the brats over the onions, pour half of a bottle of vegan beer into the pan, and sprinkle the caraway seeds over everything. Lower the heat to medium.

    Numbered process steps for brats.

    Cook the brats for 9-10 minutes, turning them occasionally. Keep the pan at a low boil till the beer has reduced to a sauce.

    Bratwurst in beer sauce.

    Serve the brats on buns, top them with some of the onion sauce, and add any of your favorite toppings such as sauerkraut and spicy mustard.

    Brats and onions on a plate.

    Recipe Variation Ideas

    • Sear the cooked brats on the grill.
    • Toast the insides of the buns for added flavor and crunchiness.
    • Add fun toppings such as jalapeños, guacamole, relish, fresh onions, chili, or coleslaw.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How do you store leftover bratwurst? 

    Store leftover brats and beer sauce in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 3 days. Reheat them in the microwave until heated through. 

    What can I substitute caraway seeds with?

    The caraway seeds are absolutely delicious in this onion sauce. However, if you don’t have any on hand, you can use anise seeds, fennel seeds, mustard seeds, or dill seeds. 

    What are some vegan beers to cook brats in?

    • Bud Light
    • Busch Light
    • Coors Light
    • Corona
    • Heineken
    • Michelob Light
    • Miller Light
    • And many more! Check Barnivore.com or the company’s website to verify.

    What To Serve With Brats

    • Vegan Goulash 
    • Cheesy Vegan Scalloped Potatoes
    • Cheese Curds (Vegan)
    • Vegan Bread Pudding With Butterscotch Sauce

    I hope you loved these Vegan Brats! Please leave a star rating and comment below.

    Pinterest pin of bratwurst.
    Close up of vegan bratwurst.

    Vegan Brats

    These easy Vegan Brats are infused in a delicious beer and onion sauce, and then covered with your favorite toppings! Every bite is bursting with flavor in this sweet and savory meal that’s sure to please. All it takes is 20 minutes and just a few simple ingredients!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: German
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 475kcal

    Ingredients

    • 4 vegan bratwurst links (such as Impossible or Beyond)
    • 2 tablespoons vegan butter, divided
    • ¾ cup vegan beer, (half of a 12 oz bottle or can)
    • 1 yellow onion, thick slices
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
    • ½ tablespoon brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
    • 4 buns
    • Optional Toppings: sauerkraut, spicy mustard

    Instructions

    • Slice the onions and heat a medium-sized pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of the butter to the pan.
    • Sear the vegan brats by cooking them for 1-2 minutes on each side. Remove them from the pan for now.
    • Add the remaining butter along with the onions, salt, pepper, oregano, and brown sugar to the pan. Stir occasionally as they cook for about 3-5 minutes or until the onions start to caramelize.
    • Place the brats over the onions, pour half of a bottle of vegan beer into the pan, and sprinkle the caraway seeds over everything. Lower the heat to medium.
    • Turn the brats occasionally as they cook. Keep the pan at a low boil till the beer has reduced to a sauce (9-10 minutes).
    • Serve the brats on buns, top them with some of the onion sauce, and add any of your favorite toppings such as sauerkraut and spicy mustard.

    Video

    Notes

    Variation Ideas

    • Sear the cooked brats on the grill.
    • Toast the insides of the buns for added flavor and crunchiness.
    • Add fun toppings such as jalapeños, guacamole, relish, fresh onions, chili, or coleslaw.

    Leftovers

    Store leftover brats and beer sauce in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 3 days. Reheat them in the microwave until heated through.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 brat | Calories: 475kcal | Carbohydrates: 50.8g | Protein: 21.6g | Fat: 19.5g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Sodium: 573mg | Potassium: 352mg | Fiber: 4.8g | Sugar: 5g | Calcium: 143mg | Iron: 5.8mg

    The nutrition information is estimated and can vary depending on brands and measurements used.

    Did you try this recipe? I would love to see it!Tag @serene.trail on Instagram!
    • Vegan Goulash
    • Vegan Scalloped Potatoes
    • Vegan Cheese Curds
    • Vegan Bread Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce
    « Vegan Ladyfingers 
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    about Bonnie

    Hi, I'm Bonnie! I'm so happy you've stopped by Serene Trail! You'll find delicious recipes and great vegan lifestyle tips here. My hope is to share ways to make your vegan journey peaceful and uncomplicated.

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