Bacon-Wrapped Brats
I’ve partnered with SocialStars and Johnsonville to share these Bacon-Wrapped Brats. Whether in your backyard or at a picnic in the park, these brats are perfect for summer grilling! #SausageFamily
This post may contain paid links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.

Then there was the time he convinced me that my great-grandmother dated Jesse James. (By the way, I still think there might be some truth in that legend.) When that joke started to fizzle out, dear old Dad started telling everyone that Davy Crockett is a distant relative. Who knows? Maybe he is. But I’m pretty sure my Dad made up that story, too. But there’s always just enough truth to a story to make it believable…
But one story I don’t believe is the fact that Paul McCartney is actually an impostor. On my way to pick up Robbie at daycare last week, the radio DJ was retelling a rumor that Paul McCartney actually died in a car wreck in 1966. Then a Scottish guy by the name of William Campbell won a look-a-like contest and replaced Sir Paul as a member of the Beatles. Say what??
The guy on the radio clearly didn’t believe this tale. But a bit of googling after I got home, and sure enough…a lot of people believe this rumor. If it’s true, that’s one of the biggest cover-ups in the history of music. I’d be more likely to believe that Elvis is still living somewhere outside of Las Vegas working as an Elvis impostor.
One thing that I definitely believe without question though? Bacon. Bacon makes everything better! Earlier this week, I picked up a package of brats at the store. Chipotle Monterey Jack Brats to be more specific. This is one epic flavor of Johnsonville sausage, and we love tossing those brats on the grill just by themselves. But this time I decided to incorporate some bacon in there. As in I wrapped those delicious brats with bacon to create even more delicious Bacon-Wrapped Brats.
I made these Bacon-Wrapped Brats smaller and served them on mini-skewers. And I used one more secret little trick. After wrapping the brats in bacon, I rubbed ’em with a bit of brown sugar and cayenne pepper. The brown sugar caramelizes on the grill to create a slightly sweet glaze, and the cayenne adds just a tiny bit of a kick. A little sweet. A little smokey. A little spicy. And a lot tasty!
Whether on your back porch or at a picnic, these Bacon-Wrapped Brats are perfect for summer grilling. I used the Chipotle Monterey Jack variety, but honestly any variety of Johnsonville brats would work well here. I’m thinking the Hot ‘n Spicy and/or Smoked varieties need to show up on my grill next week. Have a great weekend, y’all! As for me, I’ll be looking for sasquatch in the woods behind my backyard.

Bacon-Wrapped Brats
Ingredients
- toothpicks or small skewers
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- ¾ tsp smoked paprika
- 5 Johnsonville Brats see note
- 8 slices thick-cut bacon cut in half
Instructions
- Before making this recipe, soak toothpicks or skewers in a bowl of water for 30 minutes.
- Preheat grill to medium-low heat.
- In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, cayenne pepper and smoked paprika; mix until well combined.
- Slice each of the brats into 3 equally-sized pieces. Wrap each piece with a half slice of bacon and secure in place with toothpick or skewer. (Note: You will have one leftover half-slice of bacon. Toss it on the grill as a snack for the chef!)
- Place bacon-wrapped brats in bowl with spices; toss until evenly coated.
- Grill bacon-wrapped brats over medium-low heat, turning occasionally, until bacon is crispy and brats are cooked through and browned (~15-20 minutes).
Notes
This recipe was featured in CheapThriftyLiving’s collection of 30 Cheap BBQ Food Ideas for Your Summer Cookout!
Looking for more fun grilling ideas? Check out these other favorites, too:
Grilled Blackened Salmon Pasta
Wow…this is really a winning recipe. Perfect at any backyard barbecuing event.
Thanks so much, Karen! And the best part is this one is easy, too. I hope you had an awesome weekend! 🙂
These look delicious David! I bet how much flavor that sugar spice rub must have added!! Happy weekend friend 🙂
Thanks, Ami! You’re right…that brown sugar + spice rub is amazing…and super easy. I hope you had an awesome weekend yourself! 🙂
Hi David! You know how I feel about bacon, so you had me hooked immediately! And I love grilled bacon of course! How about a bacon party where everything gets wrapped in bacon…shrimp, sausage, hot dogs,veggies, dates, pineapple – the list is endless!!! And let’s not neglect candied maple bacon! 🙂 Have a baconlicious weekend!
Haha! Yes, you and I definitely share a love of bacon. (And I think a lot of other people share our love…but sshhh…we’ll pretend it’s our little secret, ok?) I think a bacon party is an excellent idea! I could most definitely get behind that plan. I hope you and Gary had a bacon-filled weekend down there! 🙂
This bacan brat is my need right now. This isnt fair david to put such delicioud brats in pics. And we stay miles away. The very first look at these brats made me hungry. I definitely would have prepared these if i get bacon. And getting bacon is impossible in mybplace. Ufff
Oh no! Well I happen to have some more bacon and brats here…so come on over, Smitha! 🙂
Hey David, did you know that if you packed these Bacon-Wrapped Brats up and droned them to me, then Nanny Mcphee and Mary Poppins will show up on your doorstep and take care of Robbie while you and Laura get a much needed break – what’d ya say? I mean how could you say no to that?! 🙂
Seriously, dude, I adore bacon (and think it makes everything better too) – but dang – pairing it with brats is like a babysitting team of Nanny Mcphee AND Mary Poppins, simply supercalifragilis ticexpialidocious!
Wait…Nanny Mcphee AND Mary Poppins will take care of the little guy if I ship a drone off to you? Well, consider it done, my friend. Endless drones packed with bacon-wrapped brats are on the way to you! 🙂 Haha! Thanks, Shashi!
This recipe is absolutely brilliant! My husband and my family thank you in advance too for sharing this! This is so perfect for summer and football season in the Fall!
Haha! I didn’t even think about it like that, Amanda…but these would indeed be perfect for tailgating season. Bite-sized anything rocks for tailgates, and bacon makes all things better. 🙂 Hope you guys had a great weekend!
Hi David, These are fabulous ! Only thing is I do not eat Bacon but we do get turkey bacon here, maybe I can try these with the turkey bacon 😉 Have a lovely weekend !
I bet these would be good with turkey bacon, too! The brown sugar + spice rub on the outside is super tasty. Now I’m curious what turkey bacon would taste like with these brats…guess I need to go figure it out! 🙂 Thanks so much, Ruwani!
You are gullible? Well, I would have said the Persians invented this, but bacon = not Halal so that fails.
Paul McCartney isn’t an imposter…he was on the Simpsons telling people he was a vegetarian. So he also can’t eat this. More for me 😉
Haha! I really do think Persians invented all the things. 🙂 Wait, was that really Paul McCartney on the Simpsons? Or was that his look-alike masquerading as Paul McCartney? Things that make you go hmmmm… I think I shall ponder this question while eating more bacon-wrapped brats!
Sounds really good, David. I’ll bet you could pull this off on the oven/broilEric if you had to, too.
Yup, I bet these would work in the oven. But then you wouldn’t get that tasty grilled flavor. Hmmm. Well, in the middle of the winter when we’re covered in snow, I might have to test out your theory. Thanks, Jeff!
I’m reading your post and staring at your clicks while having plain grits. I feel like crying right now, I want some Bacon Wrapped Brats 🙁
Hey! I do like grits, Muna…but I agree that bacon-wrapped brats are slightly more tasty than plain grits. 🙂
Oh My Gosh! I didn’t think there was a way to take a brat to the next level! You’ve done it! Bacon!!! Amazing!
Bacon makes everything better, Kathy! Plus, that brown sugar + spice rub is pretty darn amazing on these brats, too. 🙂
Yes bacon does make everything better! AND that Paul McCarthy story is outrageous!! I wonder if it could be true….
These bacon wrapped brats are definitely my kind of appetizer. These are dangerous when put in front of me! 🙂
Yeah, like any good rumor, there is just enough truth in that one to make it almost believable. But I still can’t go that far. Either way, I’m down for bacon! Wrap brats in bacon and then toss ’em in a brown sugar rub? That’s my kind of meal right there! 🙂