These Slow Cooker Brats are seared until golden then slow cooked in beer grainy mustard and garlic with sweet caramelized onions. Just $0.75 a serving and the easiest most crowd-pleasing game day dinner you can make that stays warm all afternoon without any effort.
We love grilling brats in the summer, but the slow cooker version has changed how I make them for game day. I sear them first for a golden crust, then let the crockpot do the rest while the house fills with the smell of beer and onions. In a house with 8 kids, having a game day dinner that feeds 10 for just $7.48 total and stays warm until everyone is ready to eat is a big win.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
- Budget Friendly — $7.48 total for 10 brats that feed a hungry game day crowd
- Keep the slow cooker on warm all afternoon
- The beer and grainy mustard braising liquid is what gives every bite incredible depth and flavor
- Perfect for feeding a large crowd with zero effort
- All year long — no grill required and just as delicious in January as in July
After 14 years of developing crockpot recipes I know that the best game day slow cooker recipes are always the ones that let you actually watch the game instead of being stuck in the kitchen. If you love easy game day recipes like this one you will also love our Grilled Brats Recipe, Air Fryer Brats, and Beer Brats. They are all budget-friendly, made with simple ingredients, and the kind of crowd-pleasing game day food your family will request every single season.
Ingredients
- Onion, sliced into half moons — the sweet savory base that the brats cook on top of. The onions soften and caramelize during the long slow cook and become the most incredible topping to pile on each brat. Yellow or white onion both work beautifully — slice into generous half moons so they hold their shape during cooking
- Minced garlic — used in two places in this recipe. Half goes into the slow cooker with the onions as an aromatic base and the other half goes into the beer mustard braising liquid for a double layer of garlic flavor throughout. Fresh minced or jarred both work
- Vegetable oil — for searing the brats in the skillet before slow cooking. Any neutral high smoke point oil works — avocado oil or canola oil are both great substitutes
- Bratwurst — always use raw uncooked bratwurst for this recipe — they need the full cook time in the slow cooker to become properly tender and juicy. Pre-cooked brats become rubbery with the long cook time. Any brand works — Johnsonville is the most popular choice
- Beer — the braising liquid that gives the brats their signature deep flavor. Use any beer you enjoy drinking — a lager or pilsner gives a clean mild flavor while an amber or dark beer gives a richer more robust result. Non-alcoholic beer works as a substitute
- Grainy mustard — adds a bold tangy depth to the braising liquid that pairs perfectly with the beer and sausage. Dijon mustard works as a smoother substitute
- Black pepper — seasoning throughout the braising liquid. Always taste before serving and adjust
How to Make Slow Cooker Brats
Step 1 – Slice the onions and place in the bottom of the slow cooker. Add garlic on top.
Step 2 – Heat oil in large skillet. Brown uncooked brats for about 1-2 minutes per side, just until browned or char.
Step 3 – Place the brats on top of the onions and garlic in crockpot.
Step 4 – Combine beer, mustard, minced garlic and pepper in a small bowl.
Step 5 – Season with salt and pepper and pour over brats and veggies.
Step 6 – Cook on high for 2-3 hours, or low for about 4 hours, or until brats are cooked through. Serve as is or on a bun and enjoy!
Tips for Success
- Always sear the brats first. One to two minutes per side in a hot skillet develops a golden crust and locks in the juices — skipping this step gives you pale steamed brats without the flavor depth that makes this recipe so good
- Use raw bratwurst not pre-cooked. Raw brats need the full cook time to become tender and juicy — pre-cooked brats will become dry and rubbery during the long slow cook
- Do not skip the beer. The beer is the braising liquid that infuses every bite of the brat with incredible flavor — substituting with broth gives a completely different and significantly less flavorful result
- Always check the internal temperature. Brats are done when they reach 160°F internally — always use a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the thickest brat for the most accurate reading
- Keep on warm for the whole game. Once the brats reach 160°F switch to the warm setting — they will stay perfectly hot and juicy for up to 4 additional hours without drying out
- Drain Brats. Let the brats drain briefly before adding to a bun — this prevents the braising liquid from making the bun soggy.
Game Day Topping Bar Ideas
Set up a topping bar alongside the slow cooker for the ultimate game day brat station:
- Yellow mustard and grainy mustard — always set out both for guests who prefer different mustard intensities
- Shredded cheddar cheese — pile generously over each brat for a cheesy finish
- Ketchup and relish — the most classic brat condiments alongside mustard
- Sauerkraut — the most traditional brat topping that pairs beautifully with the beer braising liquid
- Sliced jalapeños — for heat lovers who want a spicy kick alongside every bite
- The slow cooked caramelized onions — always serve the onions from the slow cooker as a topping — they are deeply flavored and the best part of the whole dish
Variations and Substitutions
- Use chicken bratwurst or turkey bratwurst for a lighter version with the same flavor profile
- Swap beer for non-alcoholic beer apple cider or chicken broth for an alcohol-free version
- Swap grainy mustard for Dijon mustard for a smoother more refined mustard flavor
- Add sliced bell peppers to the slow cooker alongside the onions for extra color and sweetness
- Use yellow or white onion — both give slightly different flavor profiles but both work beautifully
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the beer mixture for extra heat throughout
Serving Suggestions
These slow cooker beer brats recipe can be served with your favorite side dish recipes. Serve with the bun of your choice with a side of mashed potatoes, microwaved corn on the cob or potato salad.
Make sure to top with your favorite condiments such as cheese, mustards, ketchup, relish and minced onions.
Storage and Freezer Instructions
Refrigerator
- Store leftover brats and onions together in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days
Freezer
- Cool completely then freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in a skillet over medium heat for the best result
Reheating
- Reheat in a skillet over medium heat for 3–4 minutes per side for the best texture — microwave in 30-second intervals also works but the casing will not be as firm as fresh-cooked
Game Day Warm Setting
- Once brats reach 160°F switch to the warm setting — they stay perfectly hot for up to 4 additional hours making this the ideal game day recipe that requires zero reheating
Frequently Asked Questions
Searing is strongly recommended — the 1–2 minutes per side in a hot skillet develops a golden crust and locks in the juices that give slow cooker brats their best flavor and texture.
Any beer you enjoy drinking works — a lager or pilsner gives a clean mild flavor while an amber or dark beer gives a richer more robust result throughout the braising liquid.
Brats are done when they reach an internal temperature of 160°F — always use a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the thickest brat for the most accurate reading.
Yes — substitute non-alcoholic beer apple cider or chicken broth for an alcohol-free version that still gives you a flavorful braising liquid.
Brats can safely stay on the warm setting for up to 4 hours after reaching 160°F — perfect for keeping them hot throughout an entire game day without any reheating.
Raw bratwurst gives the best result — pre-cooked brats become dry and rubbery during the long slow cook time since they do not need the additional cooking that raw brats benefit from.
Yes — double all the ingredients. Use an 8-quart slow cooker (or larger) to make sure everything has enough room to cook evenly and safely.
Yes — sear the brats and add everything to the slow cooker insert the night before, then cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, place the insert in the slow cooker base and cook as directed.
More Easy Game Day Recipes
These Slow Cooker Brats have become one of our most made game day recipes. Golden brats cook in beer and garlic with caramelized onions for just $0.75 per serving, and the slow cooker keeps them hot all afternoon. Set them up before kickoff and serve whenever everyone is ready to eat.
We love hearing from you. If you make Brats in a Slow Cooker Recipe, please leave us a comment or star review.
Slow Cooker Brats
Ingredients
- 1 onion sliced into half moons
- 2 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
- 10 brats
- 12 oz beer of choice
- 2 Tbsp. grainy mustard
- ½ teaspoon pepper
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Instructions
- Add onion sliced into half moons, minced garlic, and vegetable oil to a skillet. Cook until the onion is soft.
- Heat oil in large skillet. Brown brats for about 1-2 minutes per side, just until browned. (They don’t need to be cooked through!)
- Place the brats in the slow cooker. Top with the cooked onion and garlic mixture.
- Pour 12 ounces beer over the brats.
- Stir in 2 tablespoons grainy mustard and ½ teaspoon pepper.
- Cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours.
- Serve as is or on a bun and enjoy!
The beer brats look so good and smell so good. I love it and I will cook more like this next time.