Germany serves amazing food. While beer gets the glory during Oktoberfest, the eats play a huge role too. I gathered 19 authentic recipes to bring the festival into your kitchen.
You will find savory dishes and sweet treats on this list. From schnitzel to soft pretzels, I covered all the bases. Whatever you crave, something here will suit your tastes.
1. Flammkuchen
People describe this dish with fancy words like tarte flambée or creme fraiche flatbread. Put simply, it is a delicious pizza with a thin crust. It features toppings like smoked bacon, onions, and creme fraiche.
You can adjust the toppings to your liking. American pizzas usually use tomato paste and cheese. This version skips those ingredients but still tastes amazing.
2. German Cucumber Salad
This salad is refreshing, tart, and sour. It remains popular at Oktoberfest despite being a summer treat. You mix impossibly thin cucumbers with sour cream, white vinegar, and dill.
Add salt, pepper, and a teaspoon of sugar to cut the sourness. Preparation takes just 15 minutes. Chill the dish for at least four hours before serving.
The unique taste complements schnitzel and brats perfectly.
3. Bavarian Apple-Sausage Hash
You might need greasy and hearty comfort food after a long night of drinking beer. This dish works perfectly for hangovers. It includes everything but the kitchen sink.
The ingredients list features apple chicken sausages, onions, Brussels sprouts, and walnuts. You also add apples, brown sugar, caraway seeds, and mustard.
This hash soaks up everything in your stomach.
4. Black Forest Cake
Chocolate and cherries make a fantastic pair. One bite of this cake will make you feel like you went to heaven. It is fluffy, moist, and entirely decadent.
You use two chocolate cake layers and a sweetly tart cherry filling. Cover it with whipped cream icing and chocolate syrup. Top it off with chocolate shavings and plenty of cherries.
5. Bratwurst and Sauerkraut with Apples and Onions
Fat juicy bratwursts lie on a bed of sauerkraut in this authentically German meal. The meat cooks until brown and buttery. The sauerkraut provides sour notes.
Apples, onions, potatoes, and apple juice add earthy heartiness and light sweetness. It is a very filling meal. Your stomach will stay full for a long time.
6. Potato Pancakes (German Kartoffelpuffer)
You can make eight of these thin, crispy pancakes in less than 30 minutes. They have a relatively mild taste. Top them with applesauce, sugar, or syrup for a sweet breakfast.
Pair them with gravy, cream cheese, or yogurt for a savory option. The toppings make them versatile.
7. Schnitzel
Pork schnitzels are essentially breaded pork chops. You season them with pepper, garlic, and paprika. The breading turns out crispy while the meat stays tender.
These succulent chops are perfectly seasoned. Serve them alongside lemon wedges for extra zest.
8. Oktoberfest Roast Chicken
Roast chicken is hugely popular in Germany. Known as wiesn hendl, it appears frequently in homes and restaurants during the festival.
The recipe requires just five ingredients including chicken, butter, and Italian parsley. You also need salt and pepper. The meat turns out tender, juicy, and buttery. Make sure you eat the scrumptious skin.
9. Traditional German Rotkohl (Sweet/Sour Red Cabbage)
Sweet and sour cabbage pairs perfectly with juicy brats. Most people celebrating Oktoberfest agree with that statement. Preparation takes just 15 minutes.
However, the cooking time lasts around two hours. The flavor profile is sour and slightly bitter with a touch of sweetness.
10. Homemade German Pretzels
These treats are properly called laugenbrezel. They appear at almost every German holiday. The outside gets lightly crispy while the inside stays warm and soft.
Brown sugar and pretzel salt create a balance of sweet and salty flavors. Dip them in beer cheese or mustard. They will delight your tastebuds.
11. Oktoberfest Casserole
This single-bowl meal combines your festival favorites. It includes hash browns, cheese, sauerkraut, and bratwursts. Add a splash of chicken broth.
Top it generously with beer cheese and pretzels. Preparation takes just 15 minutes. The result is creamy and crunchy.
12. Sauerkraut & Bratwurst Balls
You will love this new way to enjoy traditional staples. These treats stuff bratwurst and sauerkraut inside a crispy ball. They fry up to a perfect golden brown color.
This recipe provides everything you love about the classic dish in bite-sized form.
13. Radler
I cannot close this list without a beer-based drink. This beverage combines equal parts sparkling lemonade and light lager. It tastes light and refreshing with plenty of citrus ale flavor.
You need chilled German lager for the recipe. Add some ice cubes to the glass. Garnish it with rosemary and lemon slices for a beautiful presentation.
14. German Potato Salad
I consider myself a connoisseur of potato salad. This recipe ranks among the best I have ever tasted. It features tender red and gold potatoes mixed with garlic and onions.
Crunchy bacon takes it to the next level. You can eat it alone or pair it with meat.
15. Obatzda Recipe (German Beer Cheese Dip)
This Obatzda recipe is one of the best I have seen. Mix spreadable cheese with butter, wheat beer, and Camembert or brie. Add seasonings like paprika, caraway, pepper, and salt.
Fluff the mixture until it becomes velvety and thick. You must chill it overnight before mixing in onions and chives. The result is a creamy, cool dip.
16. Bratkartoffeln
The name translates directly to fried potatoes. Many people call them German cottage fries instead. You can make this dish in just 35 minutes with six ingredients.
Grab some potatoes, bacon, onions, and cooking oil along with salt and pepper. I like adding fresh herbs like rosemary and garlic. They taste smoky and delicious.
17. Oktoberfest Dessert “Beer Mug”
These cute Jell-O treats keep the party vibe going during dessert. You just mix yellow Jell-O with sugar, lemon juice, and gelatin. Top every glass with a blend of whipped cream and yogurt.
They look exactly like frothy German beers. The result is an alcohol-free tart shot with a sweet creamy topping.
18. Soft Pretzel Bites with Spicy Mustard Dip
Think of these as miniature soft pretzels. The spicy mustard dip is the true highlight here.
It packs plenty of heat. The flavor profile is tangy and just a little bit sweet.
19. Spaetzle
You can make this authentic side dish in 15 minutes. It tastes supremely buttery and slightly crispy. The recipe requires just flour, milk, eggs, and salt.
It reminds me of gooey macaroni and cheese. It is authentic German cooking at its finest.
