Wild Rice Brats: The Most Minnesota Bratwurst You've Never Tried

Ask most people outside of Minnesota what makes for an unusual bratwurst and they'll say jalapeño, or maybe some kind of cheese blend. Ask a Minnesotan, and they'll tell you about wild rice brats.

Wild rice is one of the most Minnesota things that exists. It grows in the lakes and rivers of the north, it's been harvested by Ojibwe communities for centuries, and it shows up in soups, casseroles, and yes — bratwursts — in a way you simply won't find anywhere else in the country.

At Stittsworth Meats, our Wild Rice & Cheddar Brats are one of our most requested products. Here's everything you need to know about them.

What Is Wild Rice?

Wild rice (Zizania palustris) is a long-grain aquatic grass native to the Great Lakes region of North America. Despite the name, it's not actually rice — it's a grain related more to oats than to the Asian rices you're probably familiar with. It has a distinctly nutty, earthy flavor with a slightly chewy texture when cooked.

Northern Minnesota — particularly the area around Bemidji, Leech Lake, and the surrounding watershed — produces some of the finest wild rice in the world. The lakes here have the exact combination of shallow, clear water and organic lake-bottom sediment that wild rice needs to thrive.

For the Ojibwe Nation, wild rice (manoomin — "the good berry") isn't just a food. It's a cultural cornerstone, and the lakes of northern Minnesota are still hand-harvested by tribal families using traditional canoes each fall.

How Wild Rice Works in a Bratwurst

The challenge with incorporating wild rice into a sausage is texture. Wild rice doesn't just blend in — it has structure. If you use too much, the brat becomes grainy. Too little, and you lose the whole point.

Our Wild Rice & Cheddar Brat uses cooked wild rice worked into the spiced pork blend at a ratio that gives you a distinct nuttiness and subtle chew in every bite — without overwhelming the flavor of the smoked pork. The cheddar rounds it all out, adding a creamy, mild dairy note that ties the grain and the meat together.

The result is something that's unmistakably a bratwurst, but with a dimension of flavor you'd never get from a standard pork and spice blend. It's genuinely one of a kind.

What Does a Wild Rice Brat Taste Like?

Here's the best way to describe it:

• The initial bite tastes like a well-seasoned, hardwood-smoked bratwurst
• As you chew, the wild rice adds a subtle nuttiness — almost like toasted grain
• The cheddar provides a mild, creamy counterpoint to the smoke
• The finish is earthy and distinctly "north woods"

People who try these for the first time almost always say the same thing: "I didn't know what to expect, but I'd order these again."

How to Cook Wild Rice Brats

Like all Stittsworth smoked brats, our wild rice brats are fully cooked — which means you're not trying to cook them through, you're developing texture and building caramelization on the casing.

Best Method: Grill + Beer Bath

1. Preheat grill to medium (325-350°F)
2. Grill for 12-14 minutes, turning every 3-4 minutes, until the casing is deep golden-brown
3. Transfer to a foil pan with half a can of Minnesota craft beer, sliced onions, and a pat of butter
4. Let them steam for 8-10 minutes before serving

The beer bath is optional but strongly encouraged. The sweet, caramelized onions pair beautifully with the wild rice and cheddar in the brat itself.

Serving Suggestions

Wild rice brats pair well with:

• A toasted hoagie bun (more surface area for toppings)
• Whole-grain or Dijon mustard (complements the earthiness)
• Caramelized or pickled onions
• A cold Minnesota craft lager
• Campfire-roasted corn on the side

A Taste of Minnesota Heritage

Stittsworth Meats has been a Minnesota institution since Mychal's father and uncle opened the original shop in Bemidji in 1993 — and before that, the family's meat tradition stretches back to 1940. Wild rice brats feel like a natural expression of that history.

We're based in Turtle River, Minnesota — surrounded by the same lakes and forests where wild rice has been harvested for generations. Incorporating it into our bratwurst isn't a marketing gimmick. It's a genuine connection to the place and the community we call home.

Order Wild Rice Brats Online

Our Wild Rice & Cheddar Brats are available for nationwide shipping directly from our smokehouse in Turtle River. They're one of the few products you simply can't find anywhere else — no other national brand makes these.

Order wild rice brats here or call us at 218-586-2149. Free shipping on qualifying orders.

True Minnesota flavor, shipped anywhere in the country.