Crack open a cold beer and dive into this crunchy, messy pile of Bratchos with Pretzel Chips piled high with juicy crumbled bratwurst and molten beer cheese. This fun and easy dish is the ultimate ode to all things savory, perfect for game day entertaining and begging to be enjoyed with your favorite brew. Don’t forget the extra napkins!
Skip dipping pretzels into the beer cheese and instead, ladle it on.
These bratwurst nachos are a celebration of textures from the crisp bite of pretzel chips to the silky smooth cheese sauce. Rich, salty, tangy, and a little spicy, they will instantly cure any snack attack.
We’ve got the recipe for the creamy Beer Cheese Sauce, don’t you worry!
Why This Recipe Works
Bratwurst. Beer Cheese. Nachos. C’mon!
- Easy Process – If you’re looking for a recipe that is mostly about assembly and just having too much fun using a pile of chips as your canvas, these beer cheese nachos are it. If you have leftover beer cheese from smoked brats with beer onions, this is a great way to give both the beer cheese and onions a new twist. All you have to do is brown up some fresh bratwurst and build your nachos. It couldn’t be easier!
- Customizable – Not only can you customize the flavor profile of your warm beer cheese sauce for this recipe but you can have fun with the toppings. Top these off like you would your favorite smoked brat burgers.
- Party Friendly – It is just as easy to make a huge tray of these pretzel nachos as it is a single serving. Added bonus: both the beer cheese and the cooked crumbled bratwurst can be made a day or two in advance. All you have to do is warm them up before assembling.
Variations for Bratchos
- Add your favorite bratwurst toppings such as peppers and onions and drained sauerkraut.
- Use other fresh German sausages such as knockwurst or weisswurst. You want a fresh sausage that you can remove from its casing and crumble while cooking, giving you that balance of bronzed crispy bits and juicy meat.
- Not pretzel crisps? No problem. These would be equally delicious on top of more traditional corn chips.
- Want to make these extra decadent? Bake up a batch of crispy tater tots and make Bratcho Totchos.
- Bring some sweet heat and tang by adding Pickle de Gallo.
- Swap the Smoked Pickled Jalapenos for chopped Sweet and Spicy Pickles.
- Want something completely over the top for game day? Fill Smoked Potato Skins with all of the bratwurst nacho toppings for a hearty bite that’s a total touchdown.
- For a low-carb option swap the pretzel chips out for pork rinds and use a low-carb beer for the beer cheese.
- Gluten-Free pretzel crisps can be used as the base for these bratchos. Use a gluten-free beer when making the cheese sauce.
How to make Bratchos
- Make the creamy beer cheese sauce. You can make this several days in advance and simply warm it up on the stove on low, stirring until silky smooth and melted. It will last up to five days in the refrigerator.
- Mix together the seasonings for the bratwurst. While bratwurst already has incredible flavor, the combination of bright dill, earthy paprika, and pungent ground mustard is going to intensify the savory flavors even more.
- Remove the bratwurst from the casing. Use a sharp knife to slice the sausage down the middle and peel the meat away from the casing.
- Cook the bratwurst. Heat a large skillet or even your griddle over medium heat and allow the oil to heat through until shimmering. Break the sausage up with your hands into the skillet and spread it out into an even layer. You not only want the sausage to cook through but you also want those brown crispy bits for flavor and texture.
Let it sear for several minutes before using a spatula to break it up into even smaller pieces. Sprinkle the seasoning over the sausage and continue to allow it to cook, stirring occasionally. Once cooked, taste for seasoning and adjust as needed. Transfer the cooked sausage to a paper towel-lined plate. - Build your bratcho masterpiece. Spread the pretzel chips out into a single layer on a tray or plate. Top with caramelized onions. Pour on the beer cheese making sure each chip gets some of that liquid gold. Sprinkle the crumbled bratwurst over the top.
Finish off the pretzel nachos with smoked pickled jalapenos, pickled mustard seeds, and a little fresh dill, because vegetables. Pop the top on a cold beer and serve immediately!
Important Tips
- These bratwurst nachos are all about a balance of textures, flavors, and temperature with cool toppings, warm beer cheese, and crumbled sausage. To ensure these stay crispy make sure to serve them immediately. Don’t assemble in advance. No one wants cold, soggy nachos!
- These nachos are rich, decadent, savory, and lean towards the salty side. Have fun pairing these with beers that both complement and balance the flavors. A light, crisp, and fruity kölsch would balance the richness along with a refreshing Helles. A brown ale, Dunkel, or bock with their robust profiles would accent the bold flavors of this dish.
- Don’t skip the step of seasoning the bratwurst. Yes, sausage is already seasoned but this combination of spices and herbs enhances the flavors even more and builds depth.
- All forms of nachos including bratchos are about fully loaded chips. Make sure the pretzel chips get a little bit of everything for the perfect bite.
- To make this recipe extra fast, make your beer cheese ahead of time. It easily reheats on low on the stovetop. Just continue to stir it until it’s smooth and creamy again.
Bratchos with Pretzel Chips
Crack open a cold beer and dive into this crunchy, messy pile of Bratchos with Pretzel Chips piled high with juicy crumbled bratwurst and molten beer cheese. This fun and easy dish is the ultimate ode to all things savory, perfect for game day entertaining and begging to be enjoyed with your favorite brew. Don’t forget the extra napkins!
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: About 3-4 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 fresh bratwurst, removed from the casing
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 batch Beer Cheese Sauce
- 8 ounces of pretzel chips
Recommended Toppings
Instructions
- Prepare the Beer Cheese Sauce. Keep warm on low heat, stirring as needed.
- Slice open the fresh bratwurst and remove them from the casing. Break up the meat with your hands, which will be cooked in a skillet.
- Warm a skillet or large pan on medium heat with the oil until shimmering. Add the crumbled bratwurst, and allow it to sear for a minute before breaking it up with a spatula. Sprinkle in the seasonings and continue to cook for a few minutes until the sausage is fully cooked. Taste and adjust as needed. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towel to drain.
- Set a plate out with the pretzel chips. Top with the caramelized onions if using, and pour on the cheese sauce. Add the crumbled bratwurst and the rest of the toppings. Serve immediately.
Notes
- To make this recipe extra fast, make your beer cheese ahead of time. It easily reheats on low on the stovetop. Just continue to stir it until it’s smooth and creamy again.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Pork
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Appetizer, Snack
Keywords: bratchos, bratwurst nachos, brat nachos, beer cheese sauce
Recipe Card powered by
