This Oktoberfest inspired meal has the flavors of fall and is an easy, no-fuss dinner that can feed a crowd. 
I love this time of year! All things fall make me giddy!
For me, it all starts with the seasonal decor…I have a tendency to overbuy mums and pumpkins and ghords to make my outdoor space festive (just ask my husband). We even host an annual Fall Bash get-together with friends and neighbors just to celebrate this spectacular time of year outdoors.
Then there’s the food! It is the start of comfort food season where warm savory dishes and steaming hot soups are perfect for the cool crisp air.
Fall also means though, that our hectic back to school schedules are revving up and our after school time is spent at soccer, cross country, and dance practices. Meals need to be easy and that is why sheet pan dinners are here to save the day!
What is better than tossing a bunch of ingredients on a baking sheet and roasting a complete meal? Not much!
I’m feeling inspired by my friend’s recent Oktoberfest celebration and the centerpieces I created, so I’m roasting up some of my favorite vegetables with some hearty bratwurst sausage. Vegetables, when roasted, deliver their sweetness and flavor even more. I could cook all my veggies this way for the ease alone, but the taste is where it’s at! It is big flavor with little fuss.
Oktoberfest wouldn’t be right without some rich brews! I am getting these brats started by cooking them in a hot lager bath. The beer flavor gets infused into the meat and keeps them from drying out when I finish the cooking in the oven.
For this sheet pan meal, I am cranking up the Oktoberfest vibe and coating these veggies in a sweet mustard sauce. This sauce would make my mom, Jude, proud because I’m slamming all that vinegar-y flavor with a heaping amount of brown sugar. It’s a fabulous combo of tangy and sweet that allows the vegetables to caramelize even more.
I’m also adding some fresh apple slices to this for an unexpected sweet bite.
To top this sheet pan dinner off, I’m sprinkling caraway seeds all over it! Caraway seeds are it! I love them! 
And because I’m letting this sheet pan and my oven do all the work, I’m going to go ahead and add some hearty rye marble bread cubes to the top. They get toasty and give the dinner a crispy, crunchy texture!!
In just an hour, my family can enjoy an easy to make, easy to clean, hearty weeknight dinner that makes this mama want to clang a beer stein and give a toast! Prost!
What is your favorite fall sheet pan dinner?
- 8-10 Bratwurst sausages
- 1 bottle of lager
- 4 garlic cloves roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup lager beer
- 3 tbsp whole grain mustard
- 2 tbsp yellow mustard
- 4-5 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 1/2 lbs fingerling potatoes
- 5-6 carrots peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 vidalia onion sliced
- 3 cups or two containers brussel sprouts, trimmed and cut in half
- 2 apples sliced
- 1-2 tbsp caraway seeds
- Rye marble bread cut into large cubes
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Preheat over to 425 degrees.
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Pierce the sausages with a sharp knife. Add to a pan with the garlic. Pour the beer over it and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
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Reduce heat and cook for 5 minutes. If the beer evaporates too soon, add a little water to the pan. Remove from heat and set aside.
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Combine all the ingredients for the sauce and stir until the brown sugar has completely dissolved.
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In a large bowl, combine the vegetables and the mustard sauce. Toss until the vegetables are well coated.
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Transfer the vegetables to a large baking sheet. Keep the vegetables in one layer. (You may need more than one sheet pan)
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Place the brats and the garlic on top of the vegetables. Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon (or more if desired) of caraway seeds over the top.
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Cook for 50-60 minutes, tossing the vegetables and turning the brats about halfway through.
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In the last 5-10 minutes of cooking, sprinkle the bread over the top and allow to toast.
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Serve immediately.
Try adding butternut squash or sweet potato cubes too.
This recipe will feed a crowd. Halve it for a smaller family dinner.
Such a perfect Octoberfest dinner! Thank you for sharing. I never think of using brats in the fall.
My husband is a huge fan of German food and loves October. This is a great recipe1
Hi, Sarah! We feel the same way in our house about German food! Thanks for the feedback!
Yum! The look so good. I always do my brats on the grill, but definitely trying your way next time. Thanks!
I love grilled brats but this was an easy way to cook everything at once. Enjoy!
This looks delicious! I love adding apple into roster meals like this. And the caraway seeds just add an extra great flavor. I really want to try this one!
Thanks, Lisa! I hope you try it and love it like we do!
Yum! Brats are a staple in our house year round. Grandpa has been making his own for years!
Love it! Would be so fun to make your own!
wow that looks so easy and different! Ive never used caraway seeds… hmmm I also cannot believe its Oktober already!
I can’t believe it’s almost October either! Caraway seeds on awesome, especially if you like that hearty flavor of rye bread.
Wow, this looks great! I’m kinda new to sheet pan meals but this includes everything I enjoy so I should give it a try
You can’t go wrong with throwing everything and anything on a sheet pan!
YUM! You made such a simple meal look gourmet! Pinning this for later.
Wow! Thanks, Leah!
I’m thinking my husband would really enjoy this since he’s a big fan of potatoes and brats!! Not sure he would want the brussel sprouts, so I would have to substitute something in place.. lol Great recipe!!
You can add anything to a sheet pan! I love adding butternut squash or sweet potatoes here too!
I NEED TO MAKE THIS! The apple slices and the rye pieces really make it unique over just a normal sheet pan roast – sounds seriously delicious girl!
Thanks, Clarissa! Go for it…easy dinner in between all that wedding planning!! lol
Looks amazing. I love the apple addition and caraway seed. I am a mustard head, so brats are a fall favorite! My family will love this recipe.
Great! I hope they love it!
Oh my goodness, my husband would LOVE this!!
My husband is a big fan too!
This sounds like such an awesome, comforting meal. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Emily! It was definitely comfort food!
This looks so yummy! I love being able to use my oven as much a possible once fall comes around and this is a perfect way to do that. With a house full of carb lovers, the addition of the rye marble bread cubes, this will definitely be a hit with my family.
Awesome! The rye cubes were an unexpected surprise…we all loved the crunch it added!