Brats and Potatoes

You know why some people love a fine meat and potatoes dish? Because they have taste buds. This simple and delicious brats and potatoes recipe is hearty comfort food that you’ll make again and again. It is perfect to serve on a chilly winter night but will also be welcome at a summer cookout. There’s never a bad time for a bratwurst and potato skillet meal.

And while this recipe is portioned out for two people, it’s easy to scale this dish to serve an entire crowd of hungry folks. You can also put plenty of original twists on the recipe, making it your own however you’d like. But first, let’s make it our way.

Brats and Potatoes Ingredients

• Vegetable oil: You can use any vegetable oil you’d like, or try avocado oil or even olive oil if you want some added flavor and healthier fats.
• Red potatoes: Two medium red potatoes, cut into 1/4-inch slices, are ideal for this brats and potatoes recipe, but you can use other potatoes cut down to size if that’s what you have in the pantry.
• Bratwurst links: Use two fully cooked brat links cut into 1-inch pieces. Precooked bratwurst saves a lot of time and effort here.
• Onion: This recipe uses one small chopped onion, or you can use half a larger onion. It can be a white or a yellow onion.
• Green pepper: The chopped green pepper adds flavor, texture and a nice pop of color to this dish.
• Soy sauce: Use a low-sodium soy sauce if you have it, or a regular soy sauce, tamari sauce or soy sauce substitute.
• Orange juice: It might sound a bit crazy adding orange juice to a brats and potatoes recipe, but believe us, it works!
• Dried basil: The dried basil adds a lovely earthy, herbal framing to the rich, savory flavors of the meat and the soy sauce.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the potatoes

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In a heavy skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat, then add the potatoes. Cover the skillet, and cook the potatoes for six minutes or until they are browned and crisp-tender. Be sure to stir the potatoes occasionally.

Step 2: Add the sausage, onion and pepper

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Add the bratwurst, onion and green pepper. Cook, stirring often, for five minutes or until the meat is heated through and the vegetables are crisp-tender.

Step 3: Combine and add the other ingredients

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In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, orange juice, basil, salt and pepper, then add the blend to the skillet. Cook and stir for one to two minutes longer or until the meat and vegetables are evenly coated.

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Brats and Potatoes Variations

• Use a different sausage: Brats are great, but so are Polish sausages, Italian sausages or any other favorites, which you can use here.
• Spice things up: Adding 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes when you add the liquid ingredients will bring the heat in the best possible way.
• Go vegan: You can follow this same brats and potatoes recipe with vegan sausages. Just make sure they have been browned and crisped, as they won’t be precooked.

How to Store Brats and Potatoes

You can store leftovers of this meal in the fridge in an airtight container for up to three days. And while you could quickly reheat the leftovers in the microwave with a bit of added broth, it’s best to heat things up again in a skillet.

Can you freeze these leftovers?

Potatoes don’t take too well to freezing, so it’s best to eat this dish fresh or as leftovers within a few days.

Brats and Potatoes Tips

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What should I serve with brats and potatoes?

Because you’ll have the meat and the starch covered, we recommend a crisp green salad to accompany this hearty meal.

What else can I add to this dish?

To make a one-pot meal, you can add a few handfuls of shredded kale to the skillet a few minutes after you add the onions and peppers.

What is the safe internal temperature for sausages?

When cooking or reheating bratwurst (or other sausages), you should aim for an internal temperature of 160ºF.