Cheddar Brat Burgers
Brat Burgers:
8 Cremer’s homemade Brat patties
8 strips of bacon, cooked crisp
2 tbsp. butter
8 slices cheddar cheese
Onion or Pretzel buns
Beer Cheese Sauce
3 tbsp. butter
3 tbsp. flour
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. dry mustard
½ tsp. garlic powder
¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup beer (lager, like Budweiser, Coors, Pabst)
¾ cup half and half
4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Caramelized onions:
1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 tbsp. butter
Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, cooking until onions are soft. Once all onions have been added to the skillet, cook and stir 10-15 minutes until onions are caramelized. Remove from heat and set aside.
For Beer cheese sauce: In a medium size saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk or stir frequently for about 3 minutes, until flour and butter have thickened. Add spices and stir to combine. Stir in beer and half and half. Continue to whisk until mixture starts to lightly boil. Reduce heat to low and gradually add shredded cheese, about 1 cup at a time. Stir until cheese is melted and blended into the sauce, and keep adding cheese until you reach the desired thickness. Keep sauce warm, on simmer while you prepare the brat patties.
Grill brat patties over medium-low heat until cooked through, flipping once, about 4-5 minutes per side. Assemble the brat burger. To bun, add one brat patty, a slice of cheddar cheese, top with some cooked bacon and caramelized onions. Drizzle some of the beer cheese sauce over the brat patty and top with bun. Serve!
