Utah's Best Smoked Bratwurst on the Arteflame

Introduction

Nothing beats the juicy, smoky flavor of perfectly grilled bratwurst, and with the Arteflame Grill, you’ll create Utah's best bratwurst with steakhouse-level sears and slow-grilled perfection. This unique grilling method enhances the bratwurst flavor while cooking everything else on the flat-top griddle in one go, making this a backyard favorite you’ll want to share over and over.

Ingredients

• 6 high-quality bratwurst sausages
• 2 tablespoons butter (for cooktop)
• 6 bratwurst buns
• 1 yellow onion, sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon stone-ground mustard (for garnish)
• 1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard (optional)
• 1/2 cup sauerkraut (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Step 1: Fire up the Arteflame Grill

1. Pour a bit of vegetable oil on three paper napkins and place them in the bowl of the Arteflame Grill.
2. Stack your hardwood firewood over the oiled napkins.
3. Light the napkins to ignite the firewood. Wait about 20 minutes until the grill is hot and the center grill grate reaches over 1,000°F.

Step 2: Caramelize the onions and peppers

1. Add some butter to the flat griddle cooktop near the center.
2. Add sliced onions and bell peppers to the butter and season with salt, pepper, and brown sugar.
3. Grill slowly, stirring occasionally until they are caramelized and tender (about 10 minutes).

Step 3: Sear the bratwursts

1. Place bratwurst sausages directly on the center grill grate to sear them at over 1,000°F for about 1–2 minutes per side to lock in juices.

Step 4: Slow grill the bratwursts

1. Move the seared bratwursts to the outer zone of the flat-top cooktop.
2. Let them cook slowly, turning occasionally until they reach an internal temperature of 150°F — remove them from the grill once they hit 150°F as they will continue cooking off the grill.

Step 5: Toast the buns

1. Place brat buns on the cooler part of the flat-top griddle for 1–2 minutes until warmed and lightly toasted.

Step 6: Assemble and serve

1. Place bratwursts in the toasted buns.
2. Top with caramelized onions, peppers, stone-ground mustard, and sauerkraut if desired.

Tips

• Use hardwood like oak or hickory for extra smoky flavor.
• Move ingredients around the cooktop to find the optimal heat zone.
• Never walk away from the grill when cooking at high heat over the center grill grate.
• Use butter on the flat top for richer flavor and ideal searing without burning.
• Let bratwursts rest for 5 minutes after removing from grill before serving.

Variations

1. Cheese-Stuffed Bratwurst: Use bratwursts stuffed with cheddar or gouda for a melty surprise inside.
2. German Style: Add pickled red cabbage and Dijon mustard, serve on pretzel buns.
3. Spicy Jalapeño: Grill jalapeño slices on the griddle and top the bratwurst with spicy mustard.
4. Apple-Onion Brat: Grill apple slices alongside onions for a sweet-savory twist.
5. Southwest Style: Garnish with grilled corn, diced avocado, and chipotle aioli.

Best pairings

• Grilled corn with lime butter
• German potato salad
• Coleslaw with apple cider vinegar
• Crispy pickles or grilled pickled veggies
• Cold lager or root beer

Conclusion

With the Arteflame Grill, you can bring Utah-style smoked bratwursts to life with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Thanks to the high heat sear and flat griddle cooktop, every brat comes out juicy, smoky, and perfectly cooked. Whether it’s game day or a summer cookout, this will be your new go-to recipe.