Bratwurst Soup

This bratwurst soup recipe is a Wisconsinite’s dream: bratwurst and cheese? Yes, please! With plenty of chopped veggies, beans and jalapeno peppers, our soup with brats is hearty, savory and filling. Crumbling the sausage is key to the soup’s texture (like with the always-popular cheeseburger soup recipe), but you can use sliced cooked sausage if you have it. Bratwurst soup is always a crowd-pleaser at football parties, tailgates, poker nights or deer camp.

Bratwurst Soup Ingredients

• Bratwurst links: This recipe calls for one pound of uncooked bratwurst links with the casings removed. But if you have leftover cooked brats from your cookout, use them! Simply slice the cooked sausages into rounds and add them to the Dutch oven after the onion and carrots.
• Onion: White or yellow onion is best for this soup with brats recipe.
• Carrot: Chopped carrots add a slightly sweet flavor and pop of color to this soup. You don’t even need to peel the carrots if you don’t want to.
• Navy beans: Navy beans are small, oval-shaped white beans that have a mild flavor.
• Pickled jalapeno slices: Chopped pickled jalapeno slices add a kick of spice to the soup.
• Pepper: There are a lot of salty ingredients in this soup, so you only need a bit of black pepper for seasoning. Use freshly cracked black peppercorns for the best flavor.
• Chicken broth: Chicken broth provides a savory base for the soup. Use reduced-sodium broth to control the overall salt content in the soup; any of the best chicken broth brands will do.
• All-purpose flour: Flour thickens the soup. Cornstarch or arrowroot can be used as a gluten-free alternative.
• 2% milk: Milk adds creaminess to the soup. You can use whole or nondairy milk instead.
• American cheese: The meltability of American cheese makes it perfect for in this bratwurst soup recipe; it gives the soup a smooth and velvety texture and ultra-cheesy flavor.

Directions

Step 1: Saute the bratwurst, onion and carrots

In a Dutch oven, cook and crumble the bratwurst with the onion and carrot over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink, five to seven minutes, then drain the grease.

Step 2: Add the beans, jalapeno and broth

Stir in the beans, jalapeno, pepper and broth. Bring them to a boil.

Step 3: Thicken the soup

Whisk together the flour and 1/2 cup of milk until they’re smooth. Stir the flour mixture into the soup. Bring the soup to a boil, stirring constantly. Continue to cook and stir until it’s thickened, about five minutes. Gradually stir in the remaining 1 cup of milk.

Step 4: Add the cheese

Add the cheese. Cook and stir the soup over low heat until the cheese is melted. If desired, garnish the soup with additional pickled jalapenos.

Bratwurst Soup Variations

• Swap the cheese: Use 2 cups of shredded mild or sharp cheddar instead of the American cheese.
• Switch up the sausage: You can use other sausage instead of the bratwurst, such as kielbasa, smoked beef sausage, Italian sausage or chorizo.
• Vary the veggies: For more flavor and texture, add chopped bell pepper, diced potatoes, celery or garlic to the mix.
• Go hot, hot, hot: To make the bratwurst soup spicier, stir in hot sauce, cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes to taste.
• Add beer: Deepen the soup’s flavor by stirring in 12 ounces of your favorite beer (a light-bodied beer like a pale ale or lager would work well in this bratwurst soup recipe).

How to Store Bratwurst Soup

Store leftover bratwurst soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Can you freeze bratwurst soup?

Dairy-based soups such as this one are not ideal for freezing. The soup can have an unpleasant grainy texture when reheated due to the milk solids separating. However, you can still give freezing soup a whirl if you don’t find this texture off-putting. To do so, first allow the soup to cool completely. Then transfer it to a freezer-safe storage container and freeze it for up to three months. Thaw the bratwurst soup in the refrigerator before reheating it.

What’s the best way to reheat bratwurst soup?

The best way to reheat bratwurst soup to ensure even heating is on the stovetop. Transfer the soup to a pan and reheat it over medium heat until it’s heated through, stirring regularly. Add more broth to thin out the soup as needed.

Bratwurst Soup Tips

What’s the best way to crumble bratwurst?

The best way to crumble bratwurst is in the pan while cooking it. Place the uncased sausage links in the heated skillet with oil. Use the edge of a wooden spoon to chop the sausage into crumbles as it browns. Browning the meat first adds flavor to the soup and ensures that it’s fully cooked.

What can you serve with bratwurst soup?

Serve a lighter side dish with this hearty soup, such as a large green salad with homemade salad dressing. Slices of crusty French bread or fluffy dinner rolls would also pair well with this soup; you’ll definitely want to sop up all that cheesy goodness. And don’t forget something to drink! An ice-cold brewski (with or without alcohol) is the perfect complement to this bratwurst soup.