Breanna StarkJuly 28, 2022

SmokedBBQSource is supported by its readers. We may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you if you buy through a link on this page. Learn more.

Jump to Recipe

What’s better than a bacon-wrapped bratwurst? A bacon-wrapped bratwurst that’s stuffed with CHEESE and then smoked!

I firmly believe that cheese and bacon make everything better and this recipe is no exception. It’s low-carb, keto-friendly, and takes less than an hour to cook.

So what is a bratwurst?

Originating in Germany, bratwurst is a type of fresh sausage:

Brät: finely chopped meat

Wurst: sausage

In the United States, bratwurst (commonly nicknamed “brats”) is especially popular in the Midwest. They can be served on a bun like a hot dog, sliced and incorporated into another dish, or just by themselves.

How to make Bacon Wrapped Cheddar Brats

bacon wrapped cheddar brat ingredients on a wooden chopping board — This recipe only takes four ingredients, making it a perfect choice for simple summertime grilling.

1. Make a cradle

You want to take your knife and slice the bratwurst lengthwise to create a little cradle for your cheese. DON’T slice through to the other side – you want to aim to cut about ¾ of the way through the sausage.

a black gloved hand holding a hollowed out brat — You want to ensure you don’t cut down the whole length of the sausage casing either.

Once you’ve sliced the brat, push the meat filling to the side to create space for the cheese.

2. Stuff that brat

You can use almost any type of cheese for this recipe. I’m a fan of sharp cheddar. I also prefer to cut from a larger block of cheese because I find it melts better.

Cut brat and slice of cheddar on wooden board — Another option is to use a pre-cut mozzarella string cheese stick or pre-cut cheddar cheese sticks.

Take your block of cheese and cut it into five small rectangles. You want it to be about a half-inch shorter than the bratwurst on both ends.

3. Seal that brat

Lay the cheese into the center of the sausage, then roll the sausage around it and seal the edge by pushing it together with your fingers. Sealing the edge is essential, so your cheese doesn’t leak out while cooking.

4. Wrap the brats with bacon

Once the bratwurst is stuffed with cheese, wrap the entire thing in a slice of thick-cut streaky bacon.

You can use two slices of bacon if you prefer, but I like to stick to one, so I don’t end up with undercooked bacon on the inside of the wrap.

5. Season with bbq rub

The finishing touch is a sprinkle of your favorite barbecue rub.

raw bacon wrapped brats, seasoned, on a wooden chopping board — Make sure you get all sides covered in the BBQ rub.

For this recipe, I used the PS Seasoning Notorious P.I.G. rub. It’s a blend of sugar, salt, chili pepper, and garlic – slightly sweet with a little kick of spice at the end.

PS Seasoning Notorious P.I.G. Pulled Pork Rub

Check Latest Price

If you prefer to whip up your own rub at home, check out these Delicious Dry Rubs for Pork.

6. Fire up the smoker

Now just fire up your smoker to 250°F. I smoked these on my Camp Chef Woodwind 24 pellet smoker with Bear Mountain Bourbon BBQ pellets.

BEAR MOUNTAIN Premium BBQ WOODS Premium All Natural Bourbon

Check Latest Price

When your smoker is preheated, just place the brats directly on the grates.

Let them smoke for about one hour, or until the internal temperature of the sausage is up to 165°F with an instant-read meat thermometer like the ThermoPro TP19.

Once the sausage hits at least 165°F internal and the bacon is crisped to your liking, they are ready to enjoy!

How to serve Bacon wrapped Cheddar Brats

These brats are delicious on their own, but you can also make a Bacon-wrapped Cheddar “Brat-dog”! Place the bacon-wrapped brat onto a hot dog bun and top with spicy brown mustard for an epic handheld dish.

Here are some great sides that pair perfectly with these brats:

bacon wrapped cheese stuffed brats on serving board

Bacon Wrapped Cheddar Brats

Bratwurst sausages stuffed with sharp cheddar cheese and wrapped in thick cut bacon.

Be the first to leave a rating

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 1

Total Time: 1 15

Servings: 5

Author: Breanna Stark

Ingredients

19 oz bratwurst 5 sausages
8 oz cheddar cheese block
5 slices bacon thick cut
2 tbsp barbecue rub

Instructions

Pre-heat your smoker to 250°F.
Take each bratwurst and slice it lengthwise down the middle to create a cradle for the cheese. Do not cut all the way through to the other side – aim to cut about ¾ of the way through the sausage.
Using your fingers, push back the meat filling to create a cradle in the center of the sausage.
Slice your cheese into rectangles that are about half an inch shorter than the bratwurst on both sides.
Place the sliced cheese in the center of the bratwurst and push the edges together to seal the sausage around the cheese.
Wrap each cheddar-stuffed bratwurst in a slice of thick-cut bacon.
Season the bacon on all sides with your barbecue rub.
Place the bacon-wrapped brats directly on the grates of your smoker and let cook for 1 hour, or until the internal temperature of the sausage reaches 165°F. Serve immediately and enjoy!