Costco Bratwurst - How to Cook + Calories (Kirkland Signature)
Kirkland Signature Bratwurst at Costco
Summer season is coming up, so I was looking for some great Costco finds to throw on the grill, and I couldn’t help but pull the trigger on these Kirkland Signature bratwursts.
I had these last summer, but they were absent at my local Costco these past few months, leading me to believe they are a seasonal summer item.
The bratwurst contains no preservatives, no msg, and no artificial flavors or colors. The bratwursts are also gluten-free.
Have You Tried Costco Bratwurst?
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Costco's Bratwurst vs. Other Sausages
What exactly is the difference between Bratwurst and Other Sausages at Costco?
Costco carries several different sausage options ranging from traditional mild Italian sausage to all chicken sausage and even flavored sausages. The bratwurst sausage is a German sausage that is usually spiced quite heavily.
Costco’s version of the bratwurst doesn’t include many of the traditional bratwurst spices such as ginger, paprika, sage, cumin, or nutmeg. From the ingredient list, it looks closer to just a regular sausage than a bratwurst.
Costco Cost Comparison
How Much Are Costco Brats?
Costco sells 3.5-pound box of their Kirkland Signature Bratwurst for $11.49; each box contains 14 links (¼ pound each). The price per pound for the Costco brats is $3.28, and each bratwurst link costs $0.82. For reference a quarter pound grass fed beef sausage at Costco cost $1.45.
This is a fair price for any type of sausage, but I will point out that Costco has increased the price quite significantly since last year. Last year, the same 14-pack of Kirkland Signature bratwurst was $8.49 or $2.42 a pound. The price increase this year is nearly 35%!
Original Bratwurst Taste Test
I’m a big fan of brats, and I was able to cook these up a few different ways. They were great on the skillet as well as when I cooked them up with some bell peppers and onions. (Recipe included)
The bratwurst were juicy, delicious and very flavorful. The sausage was slightly fatty and oily, but I didn’t mind it too much. They are really easy to eat, and I had no problem taking down 2 or 3 of these bratwurst.
My one complaint is that the flavor was great, but I couldn’t really tell what made this “bratwurst” rather than just a traditional generic mild sausage with a slightly sweet flavor you might randomly find in the grocery store. I didn’t taste much to differentiate it, and I think Costco can do a lot better with that.
How to Cook The Bratwurst
Costco provides three cooking options for their Kirkland Signature bratwurst. You can grill the bratwurst, cook them on the stovetop, or broil them.
Grill
- Preheat the grill.
- Place Links on the grill over medium flame for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Use tongs to turn links often until golden brown and the internal. temperature reaches 165°F using a meat thermometer.
Stovetop
- Heat pan to medium heat
- Add 6 TBSP water and place links in a pan. Cover the pan, continue heating for 10 to 12 minutes.
- Turn links often
- Remove cover and continue cooking for 5 to 7 minutes or until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F using a meat thermometer.
Broil
- Place links on the broiler rack at least 7 to 9 inches below the heating element
- Broil until golden brown (about 10 to 12 minutes on each side) and internal temperature reaches 165°F using a meat thermometer.
General Cooking Tips
It is imperative to heat these to 165°F as these bratwurst sausages contain raw pork. Costco also includes a sausage and bell pepper onion recipe on the packaging, which I include below as well.
Also, make sure not to cook them on too high of heat using any of the above cooking methods. The brats can pop open, which will let a lot of the flavor and juices flow out.
Kirkland Signature Bratwurst Calories and Nutritional Information
One serving of Costco Pork Bratwurst Sausage is 1 Link and contains 290 calories. The 290 calories come from 22 grams of fat, 3 grams of carbs, and 18 grams of protein. The full nutritional label is listed below.
- Serving Size: 1 Grilled Link
- Calories: 290
- Total Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
- Sodium: 580mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 3g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Total Sugars: 2g
- Added Sugar: 2g
- Protein 18g
This is a standard nutritional label for a sausage or bratwurst. I am doing keto, so the 3 grams of carbs was a little more than I expected for a sausage like this. I like to eat at least 2-3 per meal, so those carbs will add up quite quickly for those doing keto.
For other keto followers, check out our Costco Keto Foods Shopping List.
Costco Food Database User Reviews
I did not find the cooking instructions specific enough. When I cooked them in the pan first covered, then uncovered the water dissipated, and the bottom of the pan started to burn. And following the instructions as written, the sausages were still pink in center, so I had to cook longer in the microwave. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am glad these brats are not spicy, because I am sure many people can not eat spicy, but they could have used more flavor. One thing I do love is the casing is not chewy like a lot of them usually are. Thank you.
Originally from Wisconsin so I know brats. These are consistently outstanding! Kudos for taste and very minimal shrinkage. The only problem is they are not available all year.
Originally from Wisconsin so I know brats. These are consistently outstanding! Kudos for taste and very minimal shrinkage. The only problem is they are not available all year.
I got these on sale for $.99 a packkage. I bought 5, took them home and vacuum packed as the expiry date was the day I purchased. These are nothing short of fantastic. Even at the regular price I would gladly purchase again, though I’ll keep looking for a crazy sale like that again.
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Costco Bratwurst With Peppers And Onions
Ingredients
- 6 Costco Bratwurst
- 1 Green Bell Pepper
- 1 Red Bell Pepper
- 2 Large Onions
- 1 lb Sauerkraut (optional)
- 2 Cans Beer
Instructions
- Cook brats according to the package instructions. Any method will work.
- After brats are cooked, evenly disperse in an aluminium baking pan.
- Add beer, onions, peppers and sauerkraut (optional) to the pan
- Cook on grill over medium and bring to a simmer
Greg Lansing is the founder and managing editor of Costco Food Database, the premiere site for honest takes on all things Costco food. A self-proclaimed Costco super-fan since childhood, Greg turned his obsession in a mission to properly rate and review all of Costco’s delicious buys. When he’s not busy navigating Costco aisles, you can find Greg smoking Kirkland Signature meats, meal prepping, or perfecting his homemade jerky recipes.