Pasta and bratwurst might not be the first pairing that comes to mind, but trust me, it works. Combining these two ingredients creates a surprisingly delicious and satisfying meal, perfect for a busy weeknight when you want something quick and easy.
Bratwurst pasta is also incredibly versatile. You can customize it to your liking with different sauces, vegetables, and cheeses. Whether you prefer a creamy tomato sauce, a light pesto, or a beer-infused broth, there’s a pasta with brats recipe out there for you.
Bratwurst Pasta with Creamy Sauce: A Quick and Easy Weeknight Meal
This creamy bratwurst pasta recipe is a weeknight winner, coming together in about 30 minutes. It’s also great for using up leftover grilled bratwurst, so you can make the most of your cookout. The recipe is super customizable, too, so feel free to experiment with different additions and substitutions to suit your taste.
Key Ingredients and Flavor Profile
The creamy sauce is built on a base of cream cheese, diced tomatoes with garlic and onion, and chicken broth, all jazzed up with a blend of spices. Paprika, pepper, garlic powder, oregano, basil, thyme, and a pinch of cayenne create a warm, savory flavor profile that complements the bratwurst perfectly.
Cooking Instructions (Brief Overview)
Making this dish is a breeze. Simply cook your favorite pasta according to package directions. While the pasta cooks, brown the bratwurst in a skillet. Then, create the creamy sauce and combine everything together for a satisfying and flavorful meal.
Beer & Brats Pasta: A Flavorful Twist
If you’re looking for something other than a creamy pasta dish, you might want to try this beer and brats pasta recipe. Using beer in the sauce creates a complex, delicious, and unforgettable flavor profile.
Here are the ingredients you’ll need:
- Beer (Simpler Times Pilsner or Lager work well)
- Onions (TJ’s Jumbo Sweet Onions are delicious)
- Bell peppers (TJ’s Yellow Bell Peppers add a nice color)
- Garlic (TJ’s Garlic is always a win)
- Linguine (TJ’s Linguine is a good choice)
- Bratwurst (TJ’s Uncured Bavarian Bratwurst is perfect)
To prepare the dish, cook the onions and peppers until they’re soft, then brown the bratwurst. Next, simmer the mixture in beer until the sauce thickens to your liking.
Garnish with fresh parsley and a pinch of black pepper for added flavor and visual appeal. Enjoy!
Variations, Substitutions, and Serving Suggestions
The basic brat-and-pasta recipe is easy to customize, based on what you have on hand or what sounds good to you.
Adapting the recipe to your taste
Almost any vegetable would be delicious in either of these pasta dishes. Mushrooms, zucchini, yellow squash, brussels sprouts, peas, and diced broccoli would all be great additions. You can also swap out the pasta shape for whatever you like best. Penne, rotini, and farfalle would all work well.
Ingredient substitutions
If you don’t have chicken broth on hand, you can use some of the pasta water instead. For the creamy sauce, you can use heavy cream in place of the cream cheese.
Serving suggestions
Serve your pasta with a simple side salad and some garlic toast. A light beer or crisp white wine would be a great complement to this dish.
The Bottom Line
Bratwurst pasta is a versatile dish that’s easy to make, and you can adapt it to suit your taste. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different ingredients and flavors to create your own signature bratwurst pasta!
So, grab some bratwurst and pasta, and get cooking. Share your creations and variations with us – we’d love to see what you come up with. Guten Appetit!