Touchdown Brat Sliders (Printable version)

Juicy bratwurst patties with beer cheese sauce, caramelized onions, and pickles on soft slider buns.

# Needed ingredients:

→ 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 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onions with a pinch of salt and sauté, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and caramelized, approximately 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a separate container.
03 - Combine bratwurst meat, black pepper, and smoked paprika in a bowl and 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 until cooked through and lightly browned.
05 - Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly add beer while whisking constantly until smooth. Reduce heat to low and 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, 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.
08 - Bake assembled sliders for 7 to 8 minutes until buns are toasted and cheese is bubbling. Serve hot.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Every component can be prepped ahead and assembled right before kickoff.
  • The beer cheese sauce tastes like the best ballpark nachos you ever had.
  • Sliders mean no utensils, no mess, just pure handheld joy.
  • They stay warm in the pan long enough for second and third helpings.
02 -
  • Don't skip the parchment paper, brat fat can make a real mess on bare metal.
  • Whisk the beer into the flour mixture slowly or you'll end up with lumps that won't melt out.
  • Assemble the sliders right in the baking dish to keep everything contained and easy to transport.
03 -
  • Use a kitchen scale to portion the patties evenly so they all cook at the same rate.
  • If the cheese sauce thickens too much while waiting, whisk in a tablespoon of beer at a time until it's pourable again.
  • Brushing the bun tops with butter and adding sesame seeds makes them look bakery-level fancy with almost no effort.
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