What to Serve with Brats - The Short Order Cook

If you are trying to figure out what to serve with brats for lunch or dinner, this list is exactly what you are looking for. No matter how you enjoy your bratwurst, all these recipes go well as a side dish.

4 recipe images for sweet potato fries baked potato creamed spinach and roasted green beans

These German sausages are a classic dish not just in Europe but also in America. They are great as an appetizer, in a roll for sandwiches, or served at dinner for a complete meal.

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The Best Bratwurst & How to Cook It
WHAT TO SERVE WITH BRATWURST
COCKTAILS & APPETIZERS
COMFORT FOOD CLASSIC SIDE DISHES
POTATO SIDE DISHES
SALAD & VEGETABLE SIDE DISHES
KETO, LOW-CARB, OR GLUTEN-FREE SIDE DISHES
More Recipe Collections

The Best Bratwurst & How to Cook It

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Whether you want a salad, vegetables, or potato, we have you covered with so many choices on what to enjoy with beer brats. All of these sides pair well with seasoned beef, pork, and veal sausages. If you have ever wondered how best to cook brats in the oven, make sure you try the HOW TO COOK BRATS IN THE OVEN. And if you are daring enough to make your own, try this recipe for Homemade German Bratwurst.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH BRATWURST

This is a tasty list of what to serve with any sausage, but especially mild brats. To help you decide what to offer, I have broken down the list into some subcategories. So based on your mood, preference, or diet, there is something for everyone. There are comfort food classics, healthy salads, casseroles, low-carb, keto, gluten-free, and keto sides.

This recipe roundup of what to make with bratwurst includes:

Cocktails & Appetizers
Comfort Food Classic Side Dishes
Potato Side Dishes
Salad & Vegetable Side Dishes
Keto, Low Carb, or Gluten-Free Side Dishes

COCKTAILS & APPETIZERS

Bratwurst makes for a great appetizer. Serve them along with these cocktails and appetizers that all go well with them.

Dill PIckle Deviled Eggs

Creamy and tangy deviled eggs are party-perfect food and a crowd-pleasing appetizer. This easy recipe is keto, low-carb, gluten-free, and diabetic too. Great for cookouts, BBQs, game day, Super Bowl, & buffets.

Dill Pickle Deviled Eggs

Roasted Marinated Artichoke Hearts

Crispy roasted marinated artichoke hearts are the easiest recipe ever. It is so simple to cook marinated, canned, or frozen artichoke hearts in the oven on high heat to get a crispy outside and a tender inside. They're best as an appetizer, healthy snack, salad pizza topping, or side dish. They are gluten-free, grain-free, low-carb, vegan, vegetarian and keto. For a Spanish twist (alcachofa) or Italian take (carciofo) artichoke hearts are so versatile.

Roasted Artichoke Hearts

Crispy Baked Marinated Artichoke Hearts featured closeup

Air Fryer Loaded Potato Skins

The best crunchy air fryer loaded potato skins is this quick & easy recipe. This 30-minute appetizer or side is great for game day, parties, or dinner. Use baked potatoes & stuff with crispy bacon & melted cheddar cheese. Don't forget all the best toppings like sour cream & chives, dips, & more. Including how to bake, scoop, & cook potato skins with time & temperature steps to cook these TGI Friday's copycat recipe to perfection.

Air Fryer Loaded Potato Skins

Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail

Sip on this yummy fall cocktail, Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail. The easy 5 ingredient recipe is sweet, tart & festive for holidays. Great for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any chilly Autumn day.

Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail

Burt Reynolds Shot

This sweet & spicy drink is a favorite of Burt Reynolds. One sip and you will fall in love too with the butterscotch and spiced rum combination.

Burt Reynolds Shot

Berry Ginger Beer Mocktail

This zero-proof recipe for Berry Ginger Beer Mocktail is refreshing, sweet, & bold. The easy to make beverage without alcohol is a pretty summer drink. Serve over the rocks with fresh fruit for fancy aesthetics. Great for parties, celebrations, BBQs, & poolside.

Berry Ginger Beer Mocktail

COMFORT FOOD CLASSIC SIDE DISHES

This list includes some comfort food classics and new recipes that you will want to make over and over again. All of these soul-pleasing recipes will be a surefire hit with the family.

Old-Fashioned Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Bacon

Creamy macaroni & cheese with caramelized onions & bacon is a classic old-fashioned recipe. The best homemade baked mac and cheese begins with a traditional roux, 3 kinds of cheese & al dente elbow pasta. This family-favorite casserole recipe is creamy, comforting, & simple to make.

Baked Mac & Cheese with Bacon

casserole dish with baked 3 cheese mac and cheese topped with bacon

Slow Cooker Creamed Corn

The ultimate easy recipe for Slow Cooker Creamed Corn. This simple dump & go CrockPot side dish is a comforting Southern classic.

Slow Cooker Creamed Corn

Deep-Fried Beer-Battered Onion Rings

Onion rings are a classic fried treat that is so easy to make homemade. This beer-battered recipe for onion rings is deep-fried until crispy & crunchy. It's the perfect side dish, snack, or appetizer.

Beer Battered Onion Rings

Easy Homemade Soft Dinner Rolls

The best soft homemade dinner rolls baked using yeast are easy to make. These rolls are delicious and enjoyed best when warm straight out of the oven.

Soft Dinner Rolls

POTATO SIDE DISHES

If you love meat and potatoes, these recipes are the best. Whether you want french fries, sweet potatoes, or potato leek soup, all of these side dishes go well with brats. These easy recipes are just the thing to enjoy your meat & potato craving.

Whipped Sweet Potatoes

For a comforting side dish, these whipped sweet potatoes really hit the spot. They are fluffy and sweet with a hint of nutmeg. Perfect to serve with Thanksgiving turkey, Christmas roast, Easter Ham, or any family dinner or holiday.

Whipped Sweet Potatoes

Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potatoes

For the best baked sweet potatoes in the air fryer, try this easy recipe. They come out crispy & tender in less time than from the oven.

Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes

Two sweet potatoes cut open exposing the orange flesh inside.

Deep-Fried Sweet Potato Fries

Homemade deep-fried sweet potato fries are a quick and easy family favorite recipe. This fantastic method to deep fry & season them makes the best appetizer or side dish.

Sweet Potato Fries

Air Fryer Frozen Crinkle French Fries

For an easy foolproof method for cooking frozen crinkle-cut french fries in the air fryer, try this recipe. They will be hot, crispy, and yummy with just the right amount of time to cook in the air fryer. Plus delicious dips and seasonings to add for the best air fryer french fries.

Air Fryer Crinkle Fries

Air Fryer Frozen Crinkle French Fries recipe card plate with ketchup ready to eat

How Long to Bake Potatoes at 400°

Tips & tricks for the best baked potatoes. Quick & easy guide for times based on the size of potato to bake at 400°F. The fluffiest potato with crispy skin with this recipe.

How Long to Bake a Potato at 400°

Toaster Oven Baked Potato

Making baked potatoes in the toaster oven is an easy and delicious way to cook this classic side dish. The skin turns out crispy and the inside is soft and fluffy. If your toaster oven has a convection setting, this baked potato recipe is super quick

Toaster Oven Baked Potatoes

Toaster Oven Baked Potato topped recipe card with sour cream butter and fresh parsley

Roasted Potatoes & Broccoli

Two yummy side dishes in one sheet pan recipe - oven roasted potatoes & broccoli florets are the ultimate pairing. The spice mix add a ton of flavor & it pairs with anything from fish to chicken or beef. This easy vegetable side takes little prep & the small pieces cook fast in the oven. This simple yet fancy recipe is vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, & dairy-free.

Roasted Potatoes & Broccoli

Serving plate piled high with roasted potato chunks and broccoli florets.

Pan Fried Potatoes & Onions

Fire up your skillet and pan-fry some potatoes and onions for a hearty side dish. This easy recipe is ready in 30 minutes & takes only a few ingredients. This southern recipe for seasoned russet potato cubes is a classic American dish great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The potatoes are crispy & fork-tender - plus gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, & dairy-free.

Pan Fried Potatoes & Onions

Potato cubes and onions fried in a skillet.

Instant Pot Ranch Salt Potatoes

Tender bite-sized potatoes are tossed with butter and ranch seasoning for a family favorite. These salt-crusted electric pressure cooker potatoes are easy and the best side dish recipe.

Instant Pot Salt Potatoes

French Potato Salad

Tender warm herbed potatoes in a Champagne dijon vinaigrette with fresh herbs are bright, tangy, and crowd-pleasing. This is the best potato salad recipe without mayo. It is great for parties, picnics, & BBQs to feed a crowd. A fun summer side dish that's gluten-free, vegan, & dairy-free.

French Potato Salad

SALAD & VEGETABLE SIDE DISHES

Here are some great healthy side dishes to make and eat with your next sausage dinner or sandwich lunch. There are healthy salads, fruits & vegetables, and comforting vegetable casseroles. All of them are yummy and complete your meal.

Air Fryer Green Beans

In just 10 minutes, this recipe for crispy air fryer green beans is the best. This simple side dish with few ingredients is quick & easy.

Air Fryer Green Beans

Baked Green Beans with Everything But the Bagel Seasoning

These delicious baked green beans will be a family favorite. The nutty everything bagel sesame seasoning that includes garlic and onion adds so much flavor. This quick & easy sheet pan veggie recipe.

Roasted Green Beans with Everything but the Bagel Seasoning

Plated baked green beans sprinkles with everything bagel seasoning

Caramelized Brussel sprouts with Brown Sugar, Bacon, & Blue Cheese

Caramelized Brussel sprouts with brown sugar are a wonderful simple side dish. To make Brussel sprouts even more wonderful add bacon and blue cheese for a sweet, salty, creamy, and nutty delight.

Brussels Sprouts with Bacon & Blue Cheese

Caramelized Brussel Sprouts with Brown Sugar, Bacon, & Blue Cheese featured overhead

Slow Cooker Collard Greens

Tender slow cooker collard greens are perfectly seasoned for a delicious southern side dish. These bacon-cooked greens are tender, rich, and full of flavor. There is no easier recipe.

Slow Cooker Collard Greens

Broccoli Salad with Apples & Cheese

This healthy broccoli salad with carrots, raisins, apples, and cheese is amazing. The creamy greek yogurt dressing is low-fat and made without mayo. It is tangy, crisp, fresh, and sweet in every bite. It holds up great for potlucks and barbecues. It is even great as a leftover, unlike other salads.

Broccoli Salad with Cheese & Apples

Broccoli Apple Salad with Greek Yogurt Dressing (no mayo) overhead featured

Butternut Squash, Apple, and Kale Salad

Butternut squash, apple, and kale make the perfect Fall salad. The crunchy pecans, crisp apples, sweet raisins, and roasted butternut squash make the most amazing Autumn harvest salad recipe.

Butternut Squash, Apple & Kale Salad

Butternut Squash Apple pecan and Kale Salad on a platter.

Simple Spinach Salad

Toss together this quick & easy simple spinach salad in just minutes. The crunchy croutons are made from scratch & with a homemade dijon vinaigrette this is the best recipe hands down. It's a fresh & healthy side dish that goes with any meal or enjoy for lunch. Pile on some protein for an entree dinner.

Simple Spinach Salad

Glass serving bowl with a quick & easy spinach salad with simple ingredients.

KETO, LOW-CARB, OR GLUTEN-FREE SIDE DISHES

This category of ideas to serve with brats includes keto, low-carb, paleo, or gluten-free recipes. Try a new creamed vegetable or a gluten-free twist on a classic recipe. No matter what you choose, your healthy diet will be on track and your taste buds will thank you.

Crispy Air Fryer Keto Radishes

Crispy air fryer keto radishes are the low-carb answer to those that love roasted potatoes. These seasoned radishes are an easy recipe & done in 15 minutes.

Keto Crispy Radishes

Crispy Air Fryer Keto Radishes featured recipe card image overhead of round plate with radishes ready to eat napkin and fork

Keto Cornbread Chaffles

Cornbread chaffles made with almond flour are the best Mini Dash keto waffle recipe. A savory low-carb & gluten-free side for chili, soup, or salad.

Keto Cornbread Chaffles

Keto Cream of Mushroom Soup

This restaurant-quality low-carb keto cream of mushroom soup is easy to make and simply delicious. The creamy texture with sherry creates a rich velvety mushroom soup that is so much better than any Campbell’s condensed version you can buy.

Keto Cream of Mushroom Soup

4 recipe images for air fryer frozen fries potato leek soup brussels sprouts and bratwurst sandwich

More Recipe Collections

Here are other side dish recipe ideas to pair with our main entrees: