Move over beer brats there’s a new kid in town! Root Beer Brats are not only delicious but they are so easy to prepare. And since they’re made with root beer rather than beer, they’re family friendly too. Slow-cooking in a sweet root beer marinade helps this tasty sausage really soak up tons of flavor. You can adjust the heat to your taste by adding a spicier chili sauce to the mix. And let’s not forget the best part, this summertime meal is made in the crockpot so you can get dinner on the table and still keep the house cool. Amazing, right?!?

Here’s all you’ll need : root beer, corn starch, ground mustard, caraway seeds, bratwurst links, onion, chili sauce, hoagie rolls, red onion and mustard for serving (optional).

Let’s get started on that sweet and tasty marinade. In a large bowl, mix together one 12 oz can of root beer, corn starch, ground mustard, and caraway seeds. Whisk until the corn starch is fully combined into the soda pop mixture.

Next brown the brats in batches in a large skillet over medium heat. Keep in mind that you don’t want to cook them all the way through. We’re just searing the outsides to help keep in all of that juicy and delicious flavor! Now just what exactly is bratwurst you might ask? Bratwurst is a specific type of sausage link that originated in Germany. Typically it’s made with pork, beef, or sometimes even veal. If you don’t have bratwurst available you can use a typical run of the mill sausage as a substitute.

Add the Root Beer Brats to a 4-5 quart crockpot. Cover with chopped white or yellow onion, chili sauce and the root beer mixture. Cook covered, on low for 6-8 hours or until a meat thermometer reads at least 160 degrees. My crockpots always seem to cook on the hot side so 6 hours was plenty for me. I would recommend checking about 4 hours in so you can adjust the temperature as needed.

Grab a bun and a brat and you’re ready to eat! Spoon with chili sauce just before serving. Then add the toppings of your choice, like thinly sliced red onions or go the traditional route by adding a little mustard. You really can’t go wrong on this one! Dinner doesn’t get much easier than Root Beer Brats. Serve with our Slow-Cooked German Potato Salad or our Sweet and Tangy Macaroni Salad and you’ve got yourself a meal!

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