This Brat and Beer Cheese Dip was born out of my love for this German fare and for hosting Super Bowl parties. Honestly, I have no clue about how football is played—I just love any reason to have a party.
Keeping Brat and Beer Cheese Dip Warm
This dip comes together so quickly—just cook the sausages and the onions on the stovetop, then mix with the cheese in the slow cooker and let everything melt together. Set out some chips or pretzel bites for serving, and you’re done! This dip also keeps exceptionally well on the warm setting of the slow cooker. You can hold it for hours without compromising its velvety texture, which makes it perfect for what I like to call “party grazing.” If you happen to have leftovers, it also reheats in the microwave surprisingly well.
Picking the Best Brats
Look for beer brats, which are made with actual beer. They give some added flavor of beer without watering down the dip. If you can’t find them, regular bratwurst would be a great substitute without compromising flavor. I prefer to stay true to the theme of this dip by using only European cheeses. If you can’t find them in your local food market, cheddar and Swiss are acceptable to use instead. A little-known fact about being stationed on military bases overseas: You don’t always see the same commercials from American television programming. Since cheesy Super Bowl ads are what many of us look forward to the most, we were really left wanting! Military communities abroad make a big deal out of the Big Game, but without the commercials, I always felt like there was something left to be desired. Now that I’m back stateside, I’m thankful that I can enjoy my beer, brats, and Super Bowl commercials . . . especially since I still have no idea how the game is played.
Regular bratwurstChicken sausageTurkey sausageItalian sausageAndouille sausageBeef kielbasaTurkey kielbasa
How long can brat and beer cheese dip be stored?
Store tightly covered brat and beer cheese dip in the refrigerator for up to two days. Reheat it slowly in a nonstick pot, stirring frequently until it’s slightly bubbly. Or reheat it in the microwave on high until it’s slightly bubbly, stopping every 30 seconds and stirring.
5 More Slow Cooker Party Recipes to Try
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Tortilla chips
Pretzels or pretzel bites
Cooked brats cut into 1-inch pieces
Remove the casing from each of the bratwurst and discard. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the browned sausage to your slow cooker. Leave the fat behind in the pan; you will use it for the next step. Bring the liquid to a boil and let it bubble for about 2 to 3 minutes, until slightly reduced. (This also cooks off the alcohol.) Once the beer has reduced, carefully pour the cornstarch mixture into the skillet, whisking constantly. Increase the heat to medium and bring the mixture back to a boil. It should thicken quickly. Once the mixture has the consistency of gravy and the whisk leaves a ribbon when pulled through the sauce, remove the pan from the stove and carefully pour the sauce into the slow cooker. Stir in the drained, diced pimentos. This dip will keep (on warm) for up to 4 hours. Give the dip a stir every half hour or so to prevent a skin from forming on the top. If you feel like it’s getting too thick, stir in a little milk to thin it out again. Leftovers can be stored in a food storage container in the refrigerator for up to two days. To reheat: Heat on high for 1 minute in the microwave. Stir the dip and reheat at 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until warmed through.
