Best Bratwurst Sides & Toppings

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Updated 2024.

When it comes to grilling, bratwursts with all the best brat toppings and sides make for a killer cookout! I personally like to serve my brats with… more sausages! So, whether you prefer a German bratwurst, a hot Italian sausage, or a good ol’ fashioned American frank, this sausage board is perfect for an outdoor barbecue, especially if you’re hosting! 

The only question is: what do you serve with your bratwurst board? The answer is: anything your heart desires, but I’ve included all of the classics on my board to get you started.

For more grill-friendly ideas, try my Hot Dog Toppings Board, Stone Fruit Salad, Build Your Own Burger Board, BBQ Chicken Board, and Cobb Salad Board.

>>> Jump to Recipe

Sausage Vs Brat

To put it simply, a bratwurst is just a type of sausage! A sausage is made of a minced or ground meat, usually beef, pork, veal, or chicken, that is mixed with herbs and spices. Whether links or uncased, they can be sold dried (like chorizo), smoked (like kielbasa), and fresh/raw (like bratwurst)! 

A bratwurst is a type of raw link that originated in Germany. There are a lot of regional variations in Germany (and other parts of the world, like the U.S.), but traditionally it’s made with a combo of pork and veal and seasoned with ginger, nutmeg, coriander, and/or caraway. 

Types of Brats

Beyond the classic brat, there are over 40 known variations (check out this German sausage guide)! Here are some of the more popular styles:

Kulmbacher bratwurst: Hailing from Bavaria, it’s made with more veal than pork and is longer and thinner.

Würzburger bratwurst: Made using local white wine from the city of Wurzburg.

Bierwurst: Literally translating to “beer sausage,” this brat isn’t made with beer, but is always paired with it!

Coburger bratwurst: This sausage is seasoned with salt, pepper, nutmeg, and lemon zest, then grilled over pine cones.

For non-German sausages you can find at the store, try these:

• Mexican Chorizo – A pork sausage seasoned with ground chiles (Spanish chorizo is cured!)

• Merguez – Native to North African Cuisine, this is a lamb link

• Andouille – This traditional Cajun sausage is rich with spiced and smoked

• Ballpark Franks – Need I say more? These come in pork and beef.

Bratwurst Brands

Here in the U.S., you can actually find some great options! Try:

• Nueske’s

• Boar’s Head

• Deutsche Kuche 

• Johnsonville

• Omaha Steaks

What To Serve With Brats

Sausages & Buns

• Bratwurst

• Kielbasa

• Hot Italian sausage

• Hot dog buns, grilled

Sides

• Dill pickle spears

• Cornichons

• Giardiniera

Toppings & Condiments

• Yellow mustard

• Dijon mustard

• Mayonnaise

• Ketchup

• Whole grain mustard

• Sauerkraut

• Radishes, sliced

• Red onions, sliced

Best Buns & Condiments for Brats

Buns: hoagie roll, German brötchen, or pretzel bun (don’t use a hot dog bun unless you are serving hot dogs!)

Mustard: Düsseldorf-style mustard, like Koops’, or stone-ground mustard, like Ingelhoffer (for more, check out these different kinds of mustard!)

Sauerkraut: Canned or homemade (see more below!)

Beer cheese sauce (like my beer cheese dip!)

Curry Ketchup (aka Currywurst Sauce)

How to make Sauerkraut for Brats

Sauerkraut is probably the most ubiquitous and one of the more traditional bratwurst toppings. It literally translates to “sour cabbage,” and that’s pretty much all it is! The sour part comes from fermentations, but don’t let that scare you. It’s incredibly easy to make plain sauerkraut: all you need is a large mason jar, green cabbage, salt, caraway seeds, and 3-10 days.

Already have some sauerkraut handy? Lucky you! Make it even more delicious by following this bacon sauerkraut recipe.

Put It All Together

• Add the condiments, sauerkraut, and giardiniera to individual bowls and place on the board. Focus the condiments in the center and the larger bowls around the edge of the board.

• Place the sausages on the board, separating the different types. Feel free to slice some of the sausages! Fill in the board with the pickles, cornichons, onion, and radishes. 

• Add the buns to the board away from the wet items to present sogginess, or serve separately! 

Other Sides for Brats

In my humble opinion, any side can be a bratwurst side! That said, there are definitely some classics that are a perfect pair:  

• German potato salad

• Bratkartoffeln (pan-fried potatoes)

• Dill pickles

• Rotkohl (sweet & sour red cabbage)

• Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes)

• Gurkensalat (Creamy cucumber salad)

What to Drink with Bratwurst

The short answer is: beer! Depending on what kind of sausages you’re serving, you can go for traditional German styles or serve your favorite lager. 

White wine, like Chablis or a dry Riesling, is also a great option! (check out more sausage and wine pairing here and learn more about wine in my Wine Pairing Guide)

• Andouille: wheat beer or Hefeweizen, like Allagash White or Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier

• Bratwurst: lager, like Paulaner

• Weisswurst: Bock, like Spaten

• Kielbasa: Pilsner, like Radeberger or Bitburger

• Chorizo: Dark or amber lager, like a Schwartzbier

Show Me Your Brats

I hope this post inspires you to make this bratwurst toppings board. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the beautiful spreads you create from my tips. If you make something inspired by this post, please tag me at @ainttooproudtomeg so I can see and share! 

And, If you liked this recipe, please rate and review.

Photos by Haley Hunt Davis of Salt Worth Creative. Food styling with Ryan Norton.