Dr Pepper fans are pretty used to surprises like weird limited editions, dessert crossovers, and even the occasional milkshake collab. But this latest Dr Pepper collab is truly a first-of-its-kind.
At this year’s National Association of Convenience Stores show, Johnsonville unveiled what might be the strangest food partnership of 2025 – a Dr Pepper sausage. Yes, sausage.
Photos from the event show standard brat-style links, the kind you’d toss on a grill beside a cooler full of actual Dr Pepper. Only this time, the soda’s already infused in the meat.
Jamie Schmelzer, Johnsonville’s VP of Marketing, told Allrecipes that they’re “We’re mixing up something special – a flavor-filled, first-of-its-kind sausage with the iconic taste America knows and loves.”
The product is expected to hit both grocery stores near you and Amazon Fresh next spring.
Still, it’s not all as wild as it sounds. Dr Pepper’s deep, caramel-spice flavor has been somewhat of a quiet kitchen trick for decades. We’re talking about cola-braised ribs, slow-cooked pulled pork and even brisket marinades that use soda for sweetness and depth.
And there’s precedent: Jack Link’s has already tested the waters with a Dr Pepper beef jerky that fans swear by.
So maybe Johnsonville’s Dr Pepper sausage experiment isn’t so far-fetched after all. Maybe we’re all about to discover that the line between tailgate drink and tailgate food was thinner than we thought.