Question 1

How do you make smoked bratwurst burnt ends on a Pit Boss pellet grill?

Accepted Answer

I smoke the whole brats first at 250°F for about an hour, and I’m watching for 160°F internal temp. Then I rest them a few minutes, slice them into bite-size pieces, and put them in a pan with BBQ sauce, brown sugar, hot honey, and butter. I cover with foil for about 30 minutes, then uncover to let the sauce tighten up.

Question 2

What temperature do you cook bratwurst burnt ends at in a smoker?

Accepted Answer

I ran my Pit Boss at 250°F the whole cook. The first stage is about an hour on the grates, then the pan stage stays at 250°F too. It’s an easy temp to manage and it lets the sauce set up without burning.

Question 3

How long does it take to make bratwurst burnt ends?

Accepted Answer

My cook was roughly 1 hour smoking the brats, then about 30 minutes covered in the pan. After that I left it uncovered and checked it around 15 minutes later to tighten the sauce. So you’re looking at around 1 hour 45 minutes total, plus a quick rest and slicing time.

Question 4

What rub did you use for bratwurst burnt ends?

Accepted Answer

I used Meat Church Honey Hog on these brats. It’s a really good rub and it fits the sweet-and-spicy direction I wanted. For Meat Church, Honey Hog is top two or three for me—Holy Cow is still my number one.

Question 5

Do you need a binder for seasoning brats before smoking?

Accepted Answer

I used mustard as a binder so the rub sticks better. In my experience, the binder doesn’t really come through in the final taste. I’ve also heard of people using Worcestershire as a binder, and I want to try that too.

Question 6

Why add brown sugar to burnt ends if BBQ sauce is already sweet?

Accepted Answer

I used to think the same thing and I normally didn’t add brown sugar. On this cook I decided to do it, and now I get it—the combo of BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and Mike’s Hot Honey is just really good. After tasting these, yeah, I’m adding brown sugar to my burnt ends going forward.

Question 7

What goes in the pan for bratwurst burnt ends?

Accepted Answer

I mixed the sliced brats with Lilly’s BBQ sauce, about a half cup of brown sugar, Mike’s Hot Honey, and about half a stick of butter. Then I wrapped the pan in foil to let everything melt and coat. Once it’s bubbling, I uncover it so the sauce can tighten up.

Smoked Bratwurst Burnt Ends! Pit boss pellet grills recipes

About This Video

Frequently Asked Questions

🎬 More from Beginners BBQ Outdoors