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Home » Grilling and BBQ

Chicago-Style Brats Recipe

08/09/2017 Updated: 04/14/2020 By Karrie 7 Comments

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Turn on the grill for this Chicago-Style Brats Recipe!  All the fresh and tangy ingredients of ripe tomatoes, diced onions, kosher pickles, and spicy peppers on top of a grilled bratwurst that's perfect for sharing with family and friends.

Chicago-Style Brats Recipe

This Chicago-Style Brats Recipe is sponsored by Johnsonville, but all opinions are honestly and completely my own.

This may sound crazy, but a hot dog is not the first thing I think about putting inside of a hot dog bun.  I'm just not a huge fan of the frankfurter. 

You know what I am a huge fan of?  Bratwurst.

Love the rich, spicy, full on porky sausage goodness, all wrapped up in a natural casing that has a definite snap to it. 

Grilled, pan fried, or steamed in a nice hot bath of my favorite beer with lots of onions floating around for good measure. 

It doesn't matter how the brats are cooked, I love them every way possible!

What is a chicago-style hot dog?

In my travels, I will say if I'm ever going to eat a hot dog, I'm a sucker for a Chicago-style hot dog.  It's got a ton of awesome fresh ingredients with different tastes, textures and even temperatures.

Originating in Chicago, Illinois (of course!), the Chicago-style dog is an all-beef frank in a poppy seed bun and topped with:

  • yellow mustard
  • chopped white onions
  • bright green sweet pickle relish
  • dill pickle spear
  • tomato wedges
  • pickled sport peppers
  • dash of celery salt
Chicago-Style Brats Recipe

Recently I was given the opportunity to work with Johnsonville and their brats, so I jumped at the chance. 

I turned some inspiration into a little Midwestern mashup with this Chicago-Style Brats recipe. 

Plus, I'm always up for a good ol' bratwurst recipe or grilling recipe.

The slightly smoky, slightly spicy pork Johnsonville Brat is the ideal combination with all the fresh fixings.  Wisconsin meets the Windy City in this (not so) classic combination.

Chicago-Style Brats Recipe

A Chicago-Style Bratwurst Recipe

This brat recipe is the perfect compliment to celebrate Bratsgiving (aka National Bratwurst Day) that falls on August 16th of every year.  I love bratwurst so much, I already added this holiday to my "Favorite Holidays" list:

  • Thanksgiving (Lots of tasty food)
  • Halloween (Lots of scary movies and candy)
  • Christmas (Lots of presents)
  • Bratsgiving (Lots of Brats)
Chicago-Style Brats Recipe

Looking for an awesome side to serve with the brats?  Try my recipe for Mexican Street Corn Potato Salad for a deliciously different take on the classic side.

Nothing says lovin' like a big ol' plate of brats! So celebrate National Bratwurst Day by grilling up this easy Chicago-Style Brats Recipe for family and friends.

Chicago-Style Brats Recipe in a sandwich basket

Chicago-Style Brats Recipe

Turn on the grill for this Chicago-Style Brats Recipe! All the fresh and tangy ingredients of ripe tomatoes, diced onions, kosher pickles, and spicy peppers on top of a grilled bratwurst.
5 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Entree
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 5 servings
Calories: 147kcal
Author: Karrie | Tasty Ever After

Ingredients

  • 1 (19 ounce) Johnsonville Brats, any variety and Naturals line is preferred
  • 5 poppy seed hot dog buns
  • yellow mustard
  • sweet pickle relish
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1 medium ripe tomato, cut into 10 thin wedges
  • 5 kosher style pickle spears
  • 10 pickled sport peppers, or substitute a favorite pickled spicy pepper
  • celery salt
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Prepare brats according to package directions.
  • Lightly steam or grill the buns, then put a cooked brat in each bun, top with desired amount of the mustard, relish, and onions. Place two tomato wedges on one side of each bratwurst and place one pickle spear on the other side. Top with two sport or pickled spicy peppers and a dash of celery salt.
  • Enjoy immediately!

Recipe Notes & Tips:

• Unable to find sport peppers or poppy seed buns?  That's okay and don't let it hold you back from trying this recipe!  Just substitute regular buns and your favorite spicy pickled pepper.  
Nutrition Facts
Chicago-Style Brats Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 147 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Sodium 785mg33%
Potassium 273mg8%
Carbohydrates 27g9%
Fiber 3g12%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 625IU13%
Vitamin C 39.3mg48%
Calcium 112mg11%
Iron 1.9mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @tastyeverafter or tag #tastyeverafter
Chicago-Style Brats Recipe
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 ©  Tasty Ever After  All images and content are copyright protected, so please do not copy or claim my work as your own.  Please do not use any images or republish this recipe without prior permission.  If you want to reference this recipe, link directly back to this post.  Thank you.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mary

    August 21, 2017 at 3:20 pm

    5 stars
    I don’t eat meat BUT I will ditch my diet for a good dog. I’ve never had a Chicago style dog, loving the addition of jalapenos and tomatoes. I have a sneaky feeling that I would devour this dog in only a few bites without any guilt.

    Reply
  2. Dawn - Girl Heart Food

    August 15, 2017 at 11:00 am

    5 stars
    Second attempt at commenting... one of those days. You know I'm a huge fan of toppings and I probably have more toppings than the actual main component. #Truth I totally wish I had this for lunch instead of what I do have! P.S. Love your holiday list and did ya know that calories don't count on holidays or special occasions? That' my story....I think that's why I love them so much...hehehe

    Reply
  3. Katherine | Love In My Oven

    August 14, 2017 at 9:42 pm

    I am a HUGE fan of brat in a bun!!! That pickle looks just perfect in there. Super delicious looking!!

    Reply
  4. Karly

    August 11, 2017 at 10:15 pm

    YESSS! Of all the summer things, brats are one of my favorite. I mean, come on, something about them is just SO summer and so irresistible! Gotta try these!

    Reply
  5. Heather Wells

    August 10, 2017 at 10:21 am

    5 stars
    Yum. I love this recipe! So easy to make and it was perfect for our summer cookouts!

    Reply
  6. Thao @ In Good Flavor

    August 10, 2017 at 12:09 am

    Oh wow, Karrie! I have been avoiding bratwurst for years based on misconception! I thought all Brats had veal, and I don't eat veal. Do you mean that I could have been eating them all this time?! Looks like I have some catching up to do and would love to start with one of these Chicago Brats with pickles and the little bit of heat.?

    Reply
  7. Ben | Havocinthekitchen

    August 09, 2017 at 1:47 pm

    5 stars
    I don't eat hotdogs and burgers often (maybe once or maximum twice a year). Indeed, I'm not sure I even know the difference between a frankfurter and a brat:) Anyway, these hotdogs (Oh I'm sorry, I mean brats) look so good - well cooked, succulent, and screaming my name. Have you heard this? I clearly heard it said "Karrie, send us to Ben please"

    Reply

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