Bourbon baked beans, kraut and spicy mustard on a dog? Insanely good! Bourbon baked beans take your standard great dog and make it just fantastic. A little sweetness, then the crunch of the kraut, and the spicy kick from the mustard. Everything great in every bite. I could’ve eaten more of these German Cowboys dogs than I’ll ever admit online. Or admit even in person for that matter!
The German Cowboy dog is another great menu item I ran across from Duke’s Gourmet Hot Dogs. They have the most fantastic hot dog menu I’ve ever come across. Every single one makes you drool!
For years and years I have grilled my sausages after they spent some quality time in a ‘bath’ of beer and peppers and onions. And they are great, I admit it. But these kraut-stuffed sausages, well, they’re really beyond great. Tender, moist, and just packed with flavor. Such a wonderful texture in every single bite. I couldn’t stop eating them. Topped with plenty of mustard, these are now my only go-to grilled sausages.
You have to use the right kind of sausages to make these kraut-stuffed sausages. Get the fresh sausages, with casings. You need to be able to poke your finger inside to make a cavity for the fantastic (but easy) filling. If you don’t have casings to help keep the sausage together you might end up bursting them. Then what will you do? Cry. I would. And unless your fingers are really, really long, don’t get really, really long sausages!
I suggested to my wife that we try adding other things to the stuffing, such as chopped roasted jalapenos, or poblanos or the like and she gave me a dirty look. The “don’t mess with this” look. So I won’t.
These kraut-stuffed sausages, well, they’re really beyond great. Tender, moist, and just packed with flavor. Such a wonderful texture in every single bite. I couldn’t stop eating them.
1poundfresh sausagesItalian, Kielbasa, whichever you prefer, just make sure you get the sausages in casings. I used Johnsonville Italian sausages which come 5 to a pound
Using your fingers, make a hole down the center of each sausage, creating a cavity that runs the full length of the sausages.
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
Add the onion, kraut, and a bit of the juice from the kraut jar.
Stir and let cook until the onions are softened.
Remove from heat and let cool completely.
Stir in the cheese. It won’t melt but it will help bind the kraut mixture together.
Fire up your grill for indirect cooking.
Using your hands, grab some of the kraut mixture and force it into the cavity in the sausages. Just keep packing it in. Don’t worry about being all pretty and what-not, just get it in there. But don’t shove so hard that you have a blowout!
Place sausages over indirect heat on the grill and cook for 30 minutes until nice and dark and done.
Toast the buns.
Add cooked sausages to the buns and top with plenty of mustard.
I’m a sliced-corned beef Reuben kind of guy. Or I was. We recently ate at a little restaurant where a Reuben was on the menu. I’m a big fan of Reuben sandwiches, and I think they are a good test of the quality of the food a restaurant turns out. Tough corned beef? I’m not coming back. Well, to my surprise the Reuben at the restaurant had chopped corned beef mixed in with kraut. Slow cooker chopped corned beef Reuben??? I thought…. hmmmm… I’m not sure about this… but I took a bite and loved it! So I went home and made a big batch for the week’s lunches!
There’s nothing fancy about this slow cooker chopped corned beef Reuben. It’s your standard fare. Slow-cooked corned beef, tender, and then chopped. Mixed in with well-rinsed and drained kraut. Easy dressing, cheese, and rye. Done. Eat! For a fantastic twist, my spicy slow cooker corned beef really kicks up a Reuben sandwich. My sous vide version is also fantastic.
There’s nothing fancy about this Reuben. It’s your standard fare. Slow-cooked corned beef, tender, and then chopped. Mixed in with well-rinsed and drained kraut. Easy dressing, cheese, and rye. Done.
Add corned beef brisket and the spice packet that came with it.
Add lid and cook on low for 12 until the corned beef is about to fall apart.
Remove the corned beef and chop. Yes, you can slice it if you prefer. Return the beef to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
At this point you can add the Thousand Island to the slow cooker and stir, if you desire, or simply slather it onto the bread slices.
Spoon kraut and beef mixture onto the bread. Note: I like to transfer the mixture to a strainer first. I press down on it lightly to remove as much moisture as I can. This prevents me from having a soggy (bleh!) Reuben.
Wow, what a great sandwich. You know something is great when you both bite into them at the same time, then look up at each other, and smile. Noe one has to say a word. You know it. It’s the best sausage sandwich you’ve ever had. This cedar-planked sausage sandwich is it.
First, the Polish sausage is so tender and juicy, with just a hint of cedar. Then, there’s the sweet kraut that is full of caramelized onion flavor and also a hint of cedar. And finally, the kicker, the Sriracha mustard sauce brings the heat and seals the deal. This cedar-planked sausage sandwich is fantastic.
This was the first time I’d cooked sausages on cedar. I know some folks don’t like the aroma or flavor of cedar, but I’ve found that if you don’t over char the planks it’s not that overwhelming, adding that little something different to every dish you cook on it. I love it.
Wow, what a great sandwich. You know something is great when you both bite into them at the same time, then look up at each other, and smile. You don’t have to say a word. You know it. It’s the best sausage sandwich you’ve ever had. This cedar-planked sausage sandwich is it.
Soak cedar planks in water for at least 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large sauce pan over medium-high heat.
Stir in the sugar and let dissolve.
Add the onions, stir often, and caramelize, about 20 minutes. Do not rush them.
Add in the kraut, stir and let simmer 5-10 minutes.
Fire up your grill. Place the planks over the fire and let them get lightly charred on one side.
Flip planks and add the sausages and kraut.
Grill until the sausages are fully cooked, 15-20 minutes.
Lightly toast the buns, if desired. Top with the cooked sausages, kraut mixture, and a healthy serving of Sriracha mustard sauce. Add top bun and serve.
