To make brats in the air fryer, preheat to 370°F, cook raw brats for 12–15 minutes, and flip halfway until the sausage reaches 160°F inside.
Air fryer brats are one of those quick dinners that feel like a small cheat code. You get browned sausage, snappy casing, and juicy meat in minutes with very little mess.
If you have a pack of bratwurst and a basket-style or oven-style air fryer, you already have dinner close to done. The real trick is getting the time, temperature, and spacing right so the sausage cooks evenly and hits a safe internal temperature without drying out. You do not need special equipment, just basic kitchen tools and tongs.
How Do You Make Brats In The Air Fryer? Step-By-Step Method
The basic method for cooking raw pork brats in the air fryer is simple. You preheat, arrange the links in a single layer, cook, flip once, and check the internal temperature.
Step 1: Check Your Brats
Look at the package first. If the brats are raw, they need more time and you must check the internal temperature. If they are fully cooked or smoked, you are mostly reheating and browning, so time is shorter.
Step 2: Preheat The Air Fryer
Set the air fryer to 370°F (190°C) and let it preheat for three to five minutes. Preheating helps the casing brown quickly and keeps the bratwurst from steaming in a lukewarm basket.
Step 3: Prep The Basket
Lightly brush or spray the basket with a high smoke point oil, or line it with a perforated parchment liner made for air fryers. This prevents sticking while still letting hot air move around the brats.
Step 4: Arrange The Brats
Place the bratwurst in a single layer with a little space between each link. Crowding blocks airflow, which leads to pale spots and uneven cooking. Work in two batches if your basket is small rather than stacking or overlapping the sausage.
Step 5: Cook, Flip, And Check Temperature
Cook raw brats at 370°F for 12–15 minutes. Flip the links once around the halfway mark so both sides brown evenly. Near the end of the cook time, use an instant-read thermometer in the center of a sausage to check the internal temperature.
| Brat Type | Air Fryer Temperature | Approximate Time |
|---|---|---|
| Raw pork brats, average size | 370°F (190°C) | 12–15 minutes |
| Thick raw brats | 370°F (190°C) | 14–18 minutes |
| Chicken or turkey brats | 360°F (182°C) | 11–14 minutes |
| Pre-cooked or smoked brats | 360°F (182°C) | 7–10 minutes |
| Frozen raw brats | 360°F (182°C) | 15–18 minutes |
| Frozen pre-cooked brats | 360°F (182°C) | 10–12 minutes |
| Brat patties | 370°F (190°C) | 8–12 minutes |
Times in the table are a good starting point, but the safest way to judge doneness is temperature. For ground pork sausage, food safety agencies recommend at least 160°F (71°C) in the center of the meat. That applies whether you cook brats on a grill, stovetop, or in an air fryer.
Step 6: Rest Before Serving
When the brats reach 160°F, move them to a plate and let them rest for about five minutes. Resting lets juices redistribute so you get a juicy bite instead of a dry sausage with a burst of liquid on the cutting board.
Why Air Fryer Brats Work So Well
Cooking brats in the air fryer acts a lot like a strong convection oven. Hot air moves around the sausage from all sides, so the casing browns and the interior cooks evenly without constant turning.
You also keep the mess contained in the basket. Grease drips away from the sausage instead of pooling in a pan, yet you still keep enough fat around the meat to keep it moist.
Texture And Browning
An air fryer can give you a firm, juicy interior with a nice snap on the casing. If you like a deeper browned brat, you can bump the temperature up slightly near the end of the cook. Keep a close eye so the casing does not split wide or burn in spots.
Hands-Off Cooking
Once you place the brats in the basket and set the timer, you only need to flip once. You can use the cook time to set the table, prep toppings, or heat side dishes instead of standing at the stove or grill.
Air Fryer Brats For Different Styles
Not every pack of bratwurst looks the same. Some are raw and pale, some are smoked, some are stuffed with cheese or peppers. A few small tweaks help you handle each version without guesswork.
Raw Pork Brats
Raw pork brats are the classic backyard choice. For these, stick close to 370°F and plan for 12–15 minutes. Prick the casing only if the sausage is very tight and prone to bursting.
Pre-Cooked Or Smoked Brats
Pre-cooked or smoked brats are already through the original cooking step. The air fryer’s job here is to reheat the sausage, crisp the casing, and warm the center. Lower the temperature slightly to 360°F and keep the time closer to eight minutes so the meat stays moist.
Chicken And Turkey Brats
Poultry brats are leaner, so they dry out faster than pork. Coat them lightly in oil, keep them around 360°F, and start checking around the 11-minute mark. Aim for at least 165°F in the center, since that is the standard safe temperature for ground poultry.
Food Safety And Internal Temperature For Air Fryer Brats
Good flavor starts with safe cooking habits. Brats are usually made from ground pork or a mix of meats, so you should always check the center for doneness, not just the outer color.
Food safety experts recommend cooking ground meat and sausage to 160°F (71°C). Pork industry groups and government agencies agree that ground pork products, including bratwurst, need that internal temperature to kill harmful bacteria. You can see this in official charts for safe minimum internal temperatures for ground meat and sausage.
The USDA also explains that uncooked sausages with ground beef, pork, lamb, or veal should be cooked until they reach 160°F inside to stay in the safe zone. Their guidance on sausages and food safety is a good reference if you want a deeper look at storage, thawing, and cooking.
Use a digital instant-read thermometer and insert it through the side of the brat into the center of the thickest part. Check more than one sausage if your links vary in size. If the temp reads a couple of degrees low, add two to three minutes and test again.
How To Prep The Brats And Air Fryer For Better Results
A little prep makes air fryer brats more consistent from batch to batch. You do not need anything fancy, just a few small habits.
Dry And Season The Brats
Pat the sausage dry with paper towels so the casing can brown instead of steaming. Brats are usually well seasoned already, but you can add a light rub of black pepper, garlic powder, or onion powder if you like extra flavor.
Preheat And Space The Links
Always let the air fryer come fully up to temperature before you add the meat. When you lay the brats in the basket, leave space on all sides so hot air can move freely. If the links touch, those contact points will stay pale and soft.
Use The Drip Tray Or Foil Wisely
Most air fryers have a drip tray under the basket. Make sure it is in place so you do not have grease on the heating element. If you use foil, keep it in the basket only and poke a few holes so fat can drain away while air circulates.
Can You Cook Frozen Brats In The Air Fryer?
Yes, you can cook frozen brats straight in the air fryer, which makes how do you make brats in the air fryer even more handy on busy nights. You just need to extend the time and add one extra step early in the cook.
Stage 1: Loosen The Links
Place the frozen bratwurst in the basket at 320°F for five minutes. This early stage softens the outer layer so you can separate any links that are stuck together without tearing the casing.
Stage 2: Finish At Normal Temperature
Once the brats are separated, raise the heat to 360°F and cook for another 10–13 minutes, flipping once. Start checking the internal temperature after 10 minutes and keep cooking until the center reaches 160°F.
Frozen Pre-Cooked Brats
Frozen pre-cooked brats take a shorter second stage. After the first five minutes at 320°F, bump the heat to 360°F and cook for about seven to nine minutes until steaming hot and browned.
Toasting Buns And Warming Toppings
If you like bratwurst tucked into a toasted bun, your air fryer can handle that too. You just need to keep the bread in for a brief time at a slightly lower temperature.
How To Toast Brat Buns
Set the air fryer to 320°F. Place sliced brat buns or small hoagie rolls cut side up in a single layer. Toast for two to three minutes until the edges feel crisp but the center is still soft.
Easy Toppings To Prep While Brats Cook
While the sausage browns, you can prep toppings on the stove or in the microwave. Classic options include sautéed onions, peppers, sauerkraut, mustard, grainy mustard, or a little barbecue sauce.
Common Air Fryer Brat Mistakes And Fixes
Even simple recipes can misbehave. If your air fryer sausage turns out uneven, dry, or greasy, these quick checks help you correct the next batch.
| Problem | What Likely Happened | Easy Fix For Next Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pale casing, no browning | Air fryer not fully preheated or basket crowded | Preheat longer and cook fewer brats per batch |
| Dry, tough sausage | Cooked too long past 160°F internal temperature | Start checking temp earlier and lower heat slightly |
| Casing split wide open | Heat too high or links pricked too many times | Use moderate heat and limit piercing to one light poke |
| Grease smoking in the kitchen | Drip tray missing or foil too close to the element | Keep drip tray in place and line only the basket |
| Center still pink and cool | Links very thick or crowded basket | Add a few minutes and space links farther apart |
| Uneven browning on different sides | Brats not flipped during cooking | Flip halfway through and rotate the basket |
Quick Reference For Air Fryer Brats
On busy nights, skim this reference first.
- Preheat the air fryer to 370°F for raw pork brats.
- Cook raw brats 12–15 minutes, flipping once, until they reach 160°F in the center.
- Use 360°F and a shorter time for pre-cooked or smoked brats.
- Handle frozen brats in two stages: five minutes at 320°F, then finish at 360°F.
- Dry the casing, space the links, and rest the sausage for five minutes before serving.