Touchdown Brat Sliders (Printable Version)

Juicy bratwurst sliders with beer cheese sauce, caramelized onions, and pickles—ideal for game day snacking.

# What You'll Need:

→ Brat Patties

01 - 1 lb uncooked bratwurst sausages, casings removed
02 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
03 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

→ Beer Cheese Sauce

04 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
05 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
06 - 1 cup lager beer
07 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
08 - 2 ounces cream cheese
09 - 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - Salt to taste

→ Caramelized Onions

11 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
12 - 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
13 - Pinch of salt

→ Assembly

14 - 12 slider buns
15 - 1/3 cup sliced dill pickles
16 - 2 tablespoons melted butter for brushing buns
17 - 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, optional

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a skillet over medium heat, add olive oil. Sauté onions with a pinch of salt, stirring occasionally, until caramelized and golden brown, approximately 12 to 15 minutes. Set aside.
03 - In a bowl, combine bratwurst meat, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Mix gently. Divide into 12 equal portions and shape each into a small patty.
04 - Arrange patties on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until cooked through and lightly browned.
05 - In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute. Slowly add beer, whisking constantly until smooth. Reduce heat to low, then add cheddar and cream cheese, stirring until melted. Stir in Dijon mustard and season with salt. Keep warm.
06 - Split slider buns and place bottom halves in a baking dish. Top each with a brat patty, a spoonful of caramelized onions, pickles, and generous beer cheese sauce. Cover with bun tops.
07 - Brush bun tops with melted butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes, until buns are toasted and cheese is bubbling. Serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • These sliders pack all the bold flavor of a ballpark brat into a two-bite snackable form thats impossible to put down.
  • The beer cheese sauce is dangerously good and makes everything taste like it came from a food truck you'd wait in line for.
  • You can prep most components ahead and just assemble and bake right before kickoff.
  • Theyre rich enough to impress but simple enough that you wont miss the first quarter stuck in the kitchen.
02 -
  • Don't skip caramelizing the onions, rushing them over high heat will turn them bitter instead of sweet.
  • Whisk the beer into the flour mixture slowly or you'll end up with lumps that never smooth out.
  • Let the beer cheese sauce sit on low heat after adding the cheese, high heat can cause it to split and turn greasy.
03 -
  • Use a small ice cream scoop to portion the brat mixture evenly so all the patties cook at the same rate.
  • If your beer cheese sauce thickens too much while sitting, whisk in a splash of warm beer or milk to loosen it back up.
  • Toast the buns separately for a minute before assembling if you like extra crunch on the bottom, it helps them hold up under all that sauce.
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