Planning an Oktoberfest party? Or just really, really love schnitzel and brats? YES. Me too. We are on the same team. You need sides that can keep up with those big, centerpiece flavors, and I am here for you.
We’re talking about the best, most delicious German side dishes that will make your meal a total showstopper. Let’s get into it!
1. Sauerkraut
This might just be the most famous German side dish ever. Yes, we’re talking about sauerkraut! It’s that tangy side made from fermented cabbage.
I’ll be honest, its pungent flavor is definitely an acquired taste, but it just works so well with meats and sausages.
It’s one of my go-tos for camping. I swear, it’s just as good with hot dogs as it is with veggie burgers. And get this: sauerkraut is also loaded with vitamins and has the same kind of good bacteria you find in yogurt. So good for you!
2. Kartoffelsalat (Potato Salad)
Let’s talk about Kartoffelsalat. This is that classic German potato salad, and it is a whole different world from the American potato salad we all know. How is it different? Great question.
First, you don’t even have to peel the potatoes. Love that. And forget that mayo base we’re used to. This one has a thick, tangy dressing. What’s in it? Vinegar and bacon grease. YES. It’s also served warm, not cold.
If you’re looking for the perfect thing to serve with bratwurst, this is your answer. Total perfection.
3. Gurkensalat (German Cucumber Salad)
Oh, Gurkensalat. This German cucumber salad is creamy *and* refreshing all at once. So what’s in it? Red or purple onions, sour cream, sugar, vinegar, dill, and the star of the show, thinly sliced cucumbers.
It is just a wonderful partner for meats like steak, chicken, and burgers.
Even though it’s a German dish, I love serving it at 4th of July BBQs. It’s just perfect for potlucks and picnics, too. And you guys, it is so easy to make. You just mix everything together. That’s it.
But here’s the key: you have to refrigerate it for at least 4 hours. This lets the cucumbers soak up all those flavors. Do not skip this step! It makes it the best-tasting gurkensalat.
4. Pretzels
The pretzel is a German pastry, famous for its shape. That distinct knot comes from twisting and intertwining a long strip of dough.
The two most common types are those long-lasting hard-baked pretzels and the soft pretzels, which are best eaten right away. YUM.
Pretzels are traditionally just flavored with salt, but modern versions use other seasonings. Think chocolate, cheese, caramel, sugar and cinnamon, glazes, nuts, seeds, and more. All of it is fair game.
5. Bratkartoffeln (Fried Potatoes)
Germans really love their potatoes. I mean, potatoes are a classic part of any German meal. German potatoes are a lot like red potatoes, which are smooth and creamy, not like Idaho Russet potatoes.
And Bratkartoffeln is such a popular side dish for meals at home and in restaurants. They’re usually served on the side of sausages, meat, fish, and eggs.
6. Rotkohl (German Red Cabbage)
Rotkohl! This is a side dish made with sauteed red cabbage, shredded apples, and onions. Then, all those ingredients get drenched in dark red wine, which reduces down to get a thick and tasty sauce. SO GOOD.
It has a similar flavor to sauerkraut but isn’t as tangy and pungent. This side dish tastes best with savory meats, sausages, and pasta.
7. Spaetzle (Pasta)
Spaetzle is a type of pasta that comes from Swabia, Germany. There are so many versions, but all of them use flour, eggs, milk, and salt. The shapes and sizes vary, from long and thin to short and fat.
In Swabia, the noodles are often made by pushing the dough through the holes of a colander and then dropping them in boiling water, which forms dumpling-sized pasta.
The noodles then get coated in butter for flavor. You can eat them just like that or top them with sauces, cheese, meats, and herbs.
8. Kartoffelpuffer (Potato Pancakes)
Kartoffelpuffer (which is just so fun to say) is a German potato pancake. This side dish is everywhere. It’s not just a staple at home, but it’s also super popular in restaurants and as street food.
These potato pancakes are made with shredded raw potatoes, flour, and eggs. Just like regular pancakes, the batter is shaped into round discs and pan-fried until golden.
Kartoffelpuffer is so versatile. It can be served as a side to meats, sausages, and stews, or be the star of the meal with sour cream, fruits, preserves, or applesauce.
9. Cheese Spread
Okay, so a cheese spread might not be *inherently* German. But this recipe makes such a wonderful topping for brats and pretzels! You just need cubed sharp cheddar cheese, beer, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper.
Just pulse all those ingredients together in a blender until you get a thick and smooth mixture. Yum!
10. Kroketten (Also Mashed Potatoes)
Okay, hold on. Kroketten. This is mashed potatoes, coated in breadcrumbs, and then deep-fried. I mean, from that description alone, you can already tell how rich and hearty this side dish is! YES, please.
11. Grüne Bohnen (German Green Beans)
This simple side dish is made with blanched German green beans and breadcrumbs fried in butter. I know it might sound like a weird pairing, but those fried breadcrumbs give the beans a rich buttery flavor and a crunchy texture. Winning.
12. Klösse (Potato Balls)
These savory, bite-sized potato balls are another popular German side. Klösse is made by combining shredded and mashed potatoes, which are then boiled and shaped into balls.
Pretty much every region in Germany has its own version of this well-loved side. One of them (the Thüringer Kloß) even has croutons in the middle.
Klosse are just the best with meat and gravy. They do an amazing job of soaking up all that gravy, which gives them even more flavor.
13. Salzkartoffeln (Also Boiled Potatoes)
This is basically a variation of pellkartoffeln. The potatoes are boiled with water that’s infused with salt and parsley.
This smooth and silky side dish is more often served with fish and other light main dishes.
14. Kartoffelbrei (Mashed Potatoes)
Next up is kartoffelbrei, or mashed potatoes. They don’t have the same level of fame as bratkartoffeln, but trust me, they are just as tasty. German mashed potatoes are whipped like crazy to get that smooth and silky consistency.
They are also loaded with butter and heavy cream for a super rich flavor. They’re sprinkled with chopped parsley for a pop of color and extra flavor. So good.
15. Pellkartoffeln (Boiled Potatoes)
Pellkartoffeln is another potato dish, and this one involves boiled potatoes with their skins still on. Leaving the skins intact makes the dish more flavorful and nutritious.
The potatoes are rinsed and scrubbed really well to get rid of any dirt before being boiled in salted water with bay leaves or caraway seeds.
You can eat them as is or mix them with lots of butter. They can also be paired with kräuterquark (a type of cheese with fresh herbs), Lachs Remoulade (salmon remoulade), heringssalat (red herring salad), leberwurst (liverwurst), or curry sauce. So many options!
Last, pellkartoffeln is also used as the base for other German potato sides on this list, like bratkartoffeln and kartoffelsalat.
16. Knödel (Dumplings)
Semmelknödel
Semmelknodel is probably the most common and versatile kind of dumpling. They’re made with stale bread, like rolls, pretzels, or baguettes.
The bread is softened with hot milk and mixed with egg, parsley, nutmeg, onions, and salt and pepper. You can serve them just like that or pan-fry them until golden brown.
They’re often served at Christmas or other special occasions as a partner to roasts, gravy, mushroom sauce, lentils, roulades, and goulash.
Kartoffelklöße or Kartoffelknödel
This variation of the knödel is most popular in Thuringia, Rhineland, and Bavaria. These dumplings are made with raw or cooked potatoes, or sometimes both.
17. Pommes (French Fries)
Pommes, or German French fries (or should I say German fries?) are the most popular street food side in Germany.
This crunchy classic is most commonly served on the side of schnitzel, which is a battered and fried meat.
18. Himmel und Erde (yet another version of Mashed Potatoes)
The name himmel and urde literally means heaven and earth. It’s another variation of mashed potatoes, where the creamy side is paired with apple sauce.
While it’s traditionally served as a side for blood sausage (in that case, it’s called himmel, erde, un höllen, or heaven, earth, and hell), other people also use it to go with different meat dishes.
19. Nudeln (Noodles)
Noodles are just as popular in Germany as they are in Italian and Asian cuisines. They’re called nudeln, and they’re typically served with sauces and meats.
