Beer Brats and Kraut - This German's Go-To EASY Low-Carb Dinner

I don't think it's fair to call this a "recipe."  In all honesty, it my cultural identity making a lovechild with my low-carb weeknight needs.

This?  Folks, this is SO easy.  And delicious.  And filling while still being low-carb!  It's SO low-carb that it's even allowed in Atkins Phase 1!

I've been a Phase 1 frequent flier, but there's no need to discuss my past pant-sizes now.

Anywhatzits, you need 4 things.


I'll go over them slowly so you don't miss them.

Beer.

Brats.

Sauerkraut.

Mustard.

Bam!  Who's ready for dinner?

Okay, to be fair, here's how we make this in the Pihl house (while burning an inordinate amount of candles to combat the gassy kraut smell)...

Preheat the oven to 400 F.

Freak out when you realized that you left the cast iron skillet in the now preheating oven.  Remove said cast iron skillet.

Cut open a bag of sauerkraut, throw it in a colander, and allow it to drain by the will of gravity until further instruction.

Grab three cans of beer.  Crack them open.  Pour one in a glass for your self.

Okay, so this particular beer isn't even close to being categorized as low in anything (carb, calorie, or otherwise) but I'm invoking my right of selective hearing.

Pour the other beers into a pot and chuck in the brats.

Boil on medium-low heat for 30-40 minutes.

Go do something for 30-40 minutes.  Braid your bird's feathers.  Do some laundry.  Watch 24 and curse the concept of a cliff-hanging ending.

Come back and line a baking sheet with foil.  Reach into the colander of smelly goodness and arrange the semi-drained sauerkraut over half(ish) of the sheet.

Using tongs or some other cooking utensil, remove the brats from the pot and arrange in the remaining space of the baking sheet, like so:

Throw the whole pan into the oven for 25 minutes, or until the sauerkraut begins to look a little toasty on top and the brats have browned up.

Then share the same "after" picture you posted as the "before" picture because you forgot to take a "before" picture.

Remove all mainstream condiments from your fridge and assess their merits as you decide which to use for your precious brats.

For the record, I used all three mustards blended into one glob of deliciousness.  It was my inner German expressing herself.

And it was good.

*Burp.