Grilled Yuengling Bratwurst and Peppers

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Smithfield®. The opinions and text are all mine.

Suns out, buns out! Or something along those lines, right?! We busted out the buns, brats, and the grill this weekend to put together the most delicious grilled bratwurst and pepper sandwiches.

Summer is here and no one wants to get stuck cooking inside a hot kitchen; so, hello grilling season! Grilled brats and veggies are one of my all-time favorite combos! Add some bread and you’ve basically got yourself a complete meal!

I discovered Smithfield® Craft Collection™ Yuengling® Traditional Lager Bratwurst while shopping at Kroger recently, and knew I had to grab them and give them a try! They’re available in the meat case, and made with premium cuts of pork with a blend of sweet and savory spices.

Yuengling Traditional Lager was one of those items we missed terribly while we lived in Hawaii. Soldiers would literally bring back suitcases of it when they travelled back from the mainland. Precious commodities, y’all! It’s so nice to have it conveniently available at the grocery store now!
Typically, we like to marinate our brats in beer, but these Smithfield bratwursts come already infused with real Yuengling Traditional Lager, from America’s oldest brewery. Yum!
To really amp up the flavor in this meal, I wanted to marinate the peppers and onion in beer. Yuengling infused Smithfield Bratwurst + Yuengling marinated vegetables + a cold Yuengling in hand sounds like a win to me! The similar flavors help to really bring the meal together and round out the flavors.

Making the marinade was so incredibly easy. All it took was a 12 oz. of Yuengling Traditional Lager, minced garlic, and salt. Usually, I prefer to use regular old garlic powder, simply out of convenience. Let me tell you though, using the real stuff really makes a noticeable difference! Especially when you’re a garlic lover like me!

I started by first slicing the peppers and onion and tossing them into a plastic zipper bag. You’re probably going to want to use the freezer bag variety, as those tend to be thicker and less prone to leaking. Then, in a large measuring cup (or bowl), I combined about 8 cloves of garlic and some salt. Next, you’ll want to crack open two Yuengling Traditional Lagers. One to drink, and one to pour into the measuring cup with the garlic and salt.

With the beer and seasonings combined, pour the marinade directly over the peppers and onion inside of the plastic bag. The garlic will likely get stuck near the top, so seal the bag and give it a little shake to make sure everything is combined well. Allow the vegetables to marinate for at least 4 hours in the refrigerator before grilling, but overnight is ideal. The scent that will hit you when you open the fridge door the next morning is intoxicating.

Since the vegetables will take slightly longer to cook through, it’s best to get those started first. We have a vegetable grilling basket for our grill, but something like a disposable aluminum tin should also work perfectly. As a little extra something, I like to toast the buns as well. Just add a thin smear of butter and stick them open side down on the top rack of the grill for the last few minutes of grilling.

With just a tiny bit of time and minimal effort, these Smithfield Yuengling Traditional Lager Bratwurst and marinated vegetables come together to create a simple summer meal perfect for feeding a crowd!

If you’re looking to try a tasty new grilling recipe this summer, be sure to pick up some Smithfield Yuengling Traditional Lager Bratwurst at your local Kroger.