Refreshed for 2025

Succulence and smoke guaranteed.

He wouldn’t. He shouldn’t. He did.

He being me, and I found a revolutionary new way to grill bratwurst. It’s about to make you and your next tailgate party succeed like a million bucks!

From the beginning of time (or a least bratwurst), people have grilled this traditional German sausage directly over the fire.

Even the name suggest direct grilling: braten is the German word for to roast or grill.

Direct grilling bratwurst and other fresh sausage has benefits and risks. Get it right, and you wind up with a crisp smoky casing and sizzling meat. Get it wrong and the bratwurst will split and the fat will gush onto the fire, turning your grill into a conflagration. Or one side will come out charred; the other side raw, which is an equally unhappy result.

But what if there was a way to grill brats without these fiery risks? There is and I discovered it a few years ago when I suddenly had to cook 60 brats for a book signing and my assistant was a no show.

Indirect grilling bratwurst

So I set up my grill for indirect grilling and lined up the brats on the grate. Then, in a moment of inspiration, I added hickory wood to the coals. The result was astonishing. Indirect grilling kept the casings and juices intact, which meant brats that were 30 percent juicier than the sausage I grilled using the direct method.

And the smoke flavor made the brats off the charts delicious. (Think bratwurst channeling barbecue.)

Best of all, the method works for all manner of fresh wurst, from chorizo to Italian sausage.

Brats are indispensable for any self-respecting tailgate party. Use my indirect grilling with wood smoke method for the best brats you’ve ever tasted.

How to do it

1. Set up for indirect. Two-zone fire (coals/burners on one side only). Aim for 350–375°F in the indirect zone.
2. Add wood. Place a fist-size chunk of hickory (or a handful of chips) over the hot side.
3. Cook gently. Arrange brats on the cool side, lid down, vents open. Cook to 155–160°F internal, 20–30 minutes, rotating once.
4. Optional crisp. Roll brats over the hot side for 30–60 seconds to blister the casing.

Time & temp cheatsheet

• Grill temp (indirect zone): 350–375^°F
• Wood: Hickory (oak or apple also fine)
• Target internal temp: 160°F (USDA for fresh pork)
• Typical time: 20–30 min indirect + 1 min crisp

Bratwurst Recipes

• Bratwurst “Hot Tub”
• Bratwurst with Curry Sauce (Currywurst)
• Mile-Long Smoked Bratwurst Sandwich
• Smoked Bratwursts

Check out our 1000+ Recipes section here on Barbecue Bible.Com

Also, sign up for our Up in Smoke newsletter so you don't miss any blogs and receive some special offers! PLUS get Raichlen's Burgers! PDF for free!

Follow Steven on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Reddit, and Pinterest!

Check out our store powered by BBQGuys!

The post A Revolutionary New Way to Cook Bratwurst appeared first on Barbecuebible.com.

Charcoal Grilled Ribs

If you love your ribs to have a grill flavor – this is the recipe for you! They cook fast, they stay juicy and the flavor is better than the best grilled pork chop you’ve ever had. Plus you can get creative with this one – use whatever rubs you like, use whatever mop you like and just get to burning and turning some ribs!

WHAT MALCOM USED IN THIS RECIPE:

• Killer Hogs Hot Rub
• BBQ Gloves
• Thermoworks Thermapen
• 12″ Slicing Knife 
• Primo Grills

Charcoal Grilled Ribs

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

• Author: Malcom Reed

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

This method cooks some FIRE ribs really fast. We use the charcoal and the grill to impart some serious flavor – and we baste the ribs the entire cook so they come out juicy, tender and oh so delicious!

---

Ingredients

• 2 slabs St. Louis Cut Spare Ribs
• 1/4 cup Killer Hogs Hot Rub
• 28oz apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup fine sea salt (feel free to add less salt to suite your taste)
• 1/4 cup ground cayenne pepper
• juice from one lemon

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Trim the excess fat and remove the membrane from each slab of ribs.
2. Season the ribs on both sides with a light coat of Killer Hogs Hot Rub.
3. Prepare a charcoal grill for 2 zone cooking at 300°F.
4. Place the ribs over the direct heat side of the grill – the cool zone is just in case you need to get them away from the fire. These ribs cook over the direct heat side the entire cook.
5. Combine the vinegar, salt, cayenne pepper, and lemon juice in a quart mason jar. Shake it well.
6. Flip the ribs every ten minutes keeping the grilll temperature steady at 300°F.
7. Once the outside begins to dry out start mopping with the basting liquid using a bbq mop.
8.  Continue to flip and mop until the internal temperature reaches 198-200°F.
9. Move the ribs over to the indirect heat side for 5-10 minutes.
10. Cut the ribs into individual bone pieces and serve with additional mopping sauce for dabbing.

Malcom Reed
Connect on Facebook
Follow me on TikTok
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
Follow me on Instagram

The post Charcoal Grilled Ribs appeared first on HowToBBBQRight.