Bacon Beer Brat Bites With Scorpion Onion Dip

Inspired by my friend Cabezon BBQ, these Bacon Beer Brat Bites take an easy game-day appetizer to another level. Beer brat pieces are wrapped in bacon, seasoned with Blazing Star BBQ Pork’n Rub, and cooked until the bacon is rendered and crispy. Serve them hot with a creamy onion dip made with beer, Dijon mustard, Fireshire, cream cheese, and Blazing Star BBQ Scorpion Rub.

Recipe Details

Servings	6 to 8 servings
Prep Time	10 minutes
Cook Time	30 minutes
Total Time	40 minutes
Cooking Temperature	350°F

Ingredients

Bacon Beer Brat Bites

• 1 package beer bratwursts
• 1 pound regular-cut bacon, each strip cut in half
• 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons Blazing Star BBQ Pork’n Rub, or enough to season the wrapped brat bites

Scorpion Onion Dip

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 4 ounces beer
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon Bear & Burton’s Fireshire
• 1 tablespoon Blazing Star BBQ Scorpion Rub
• 1 block cream cheese, 8 ounces, softened

Instructions

1. Prepare the brat bites. Cut the beer bratwursts into bite-size pieces. Cut each strip of bacon in half.
2. Wrap and season. Wrap each brat piece tightly with a half-strip of bacon. Season the outside with Blazing Star BBQ Pork’n Rub.
3. Cook the brat bites. Preheat the smoker or grill to 350°F. Arrange the bacon-wrapped brat bites with the bacon seam facing down and cook until the bratwurst is cooked through and the bacon is rendered and crispy, approximately 25 to 30 minutes.
4. Sauté the onion. While the brat bites cook, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened.
5. Add the beer. Pour 4 ounces of beer into the saucepan and allow it to simmer for a couple of minutes so it reduces slightly.
6. Finish the Scorpion Onion Dip. Stir in the Dijon mustard, Fireshire, Scorpion Rub, and softened cream cheese. Reduce the heat and continue stirring until the dip is completely smooth and creamy.
7. Serve. Transfer the warm Scorpion Onion Dip to a serving bowl and serve it immediately with the hot Bacon Beer Brat Bites.

Mike’s Notes

• Regular-cut bacon renders more easily around the brat pieces than thick-cut bacon.
• Place the wrapped bites bacon-seam-side down so the bacon stays in place while cooking.
• Allow the beer to reduce slightly before adding the cream cheese so the finished dip is not watery.
• Keep the heat low after adding the cream cheese and stir continuously until the dip is smooth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the beer bratwursts need to be precooked?

No. Cut the uncooked beer brats into bite-size pieces, wrap them in bacon, and cook them at 350°F until the bratwurst is fully cooked and the bacon is rendered.

What type of beer should I use?

Use a beer you enjoy drinking. A lager, pilsner, or other balanced beer works well without overpowering the onion, mustard, Fireshire, and Scorpion Rub.

How spicy is the Scorpion Onion Dip?

Scorpion Rub gives the dip a serious kick, while the cream cheese, butter, onion, and beer provide a creamy, savory balance.

Can the dip be prepared ahead of time?

Yes. Refrigerate the finished dip in a covered container and reheat it slowly over low heat while stirring. Add a small splash of beer if needed to restore its creamy consistency.

Shop the Flavor

Shop Pork’n Rub Shop Scorpion Rub Shop Blazing Star BBQ on Amazon

More Game-Day Recipes

• Game-Day Beer Brats With Scorpion Mustard
• Bacon Bratwurst Pinwheels With Scorpion Mustard
• Pigs in a Blanket With Beer Cheese