German Soup Recipes! We are bringing you 15 of our favorites!
I know that German cuisine usually means heavy meats and beer, but there is a whole world of soup here that you need to know about. Creamy buttermilk soup. Hearty beer soup. Classic matzo ball soup.
There is actually a wide variety here that covers everything from vegan-friendly options to bowls overflowing with hearty chunks of meat. The only thing they all have in common is that they are 100% delicious.
1. German Wedding Soup
German wedding soup, or hochzeitssuppe, is a bit of a labor of love, but trust me, it is worth every single second.
It takes a handful of ingredients and a little bit of effort, but the payoff is huge. We are talking about a broth loaded with fresh veggies, noodles, and the star of the show: tender, juicy meatballs made from a mix of sausage, ground beef, and breadcrumbs.
It’s traditionally served at weddings, but honestly? It makes for the most comforting dinner when the weather starts to dip.
2. German Lentil Soup
If you are a fan of soups that are loaded with chunky goodness, this German lentil soup is going to be your new best friend.
I love lentil soup in general, but this version is just elite. It is packed with lentils, bacon, onions, carrots, celeriac, leeks, and potatoes.
It takes about an hour to cook, plus a little prep time, but it is so filling that you will likely have leftovers for days. And we all know leftovers are the best kind of lunch.
3. German Crepe Soup
Okay, hear me out. This German crepe soup is simple, light, and requires fewer than ten ingredients.
If you swap in vegetable broth, it is totally vegetarian-friendly, too. It’s essentially a flavorful broth with thin strips of crepes or pancakes swimming in it for texture.
I know it might sound a little odd at first, but it is surprisingly yummy and satisfying.
4. German Goulash Soup
This soup is a flavor bomb. It takes about two hours to make, but it is packed with stewing beef, onions, potatoes, carrots, peppers, and garlic.
The real magic here, though, is the spice mix. We are talking sweet and hot Hungarian paprika, marjoram, parsley, bay leaves, and a touch of sugar.
That combo gives this soup a depth of flavor that is just hard to beat. Plus, it brings a little bit of heat, which is always a win in my book.
5. German Potato Soup With Sausage
This tasty soup might have a thinner broth, but don’t let that fool you—it is loaded with huge chunks of hearty meat and potatoes.
It comes together in less than an hour and combines thick, juicy brats, chunks of waxy potatoes, onions, celery, cabbage, and bay leaves.
It is incredibly filling and just perfect for those cold winter nights. Plus, it is surprisingly aromatic, so your kitchen is going to smell amazing.
6. Bavarian Bread Soup
This thick, creamy soup is definitely not for the keto crowd, but it is insanely delicious.
It has a deep, rich flavor profile with notes of onions, beef, garlic, nutmeg, and butter.
The bread, chives, and other toppings add such a nice crunch and texture. You don’t even need to serve sides with this one because the bread is already right there in the bowl!
7. German Sauerkraut Soup
If you want a real authentic taste of Germany, this sauerkraut soup is where it’s at. Even if you aren’t a huge sauerkraut fan, stick with me.
Unlike a standard cabbage soup, this one has a much more complex flavor profile. It’s got bacon, onions, tomato paste, garlic, and so many herbs that the sauerkraut just adds a subtle hint of tanginess in the background.
It’s rich, flavorful, and totally unique.
8. German Beer Cheese Soup
Okay, cheese lovers, gather round. This recipe takes a traditional beer soup and adds three cups of sharp cheddar cheese.
It is creamy, cheesy, and still has that nice beer flavor underneath it all.
I personally prefer this cheesy version over the plain beer soup, but you do you! Give them both a whirl and see which one speaks to your soul.
9. German Cabbage Soup
Here is the deal with this German cabbage soup: if you love fried cabbage, you are going to be obsessed.
There are other ingredients involved, sure, but the cabbage is definitely the main character here.
So if you are a fan of that savory cabbage flavor, you are going to want to save this recipe immediately.
10. Oma’s Matzo Ball Soup
Matzo ball soup is a classic Jewish dish that is also super popular in Germany.
It’s a simple soup that comes together in less than an hour with fewer than ten ingredients. The broth is warm and flavorful, and those matzo balls are thick and doughy in the best way.
Think of it like a chicken soup but with big, comforting cracker-like dumplings floating on top.
11. Oma’s Beef Noodle Soup
If you want to dip your toes into German soups without getting too wild, this beef noodle soup is a great place to start.
It features over two pounds of roast beef, chunks of carrots, celery, onions, and egg noodles.
It is hearty, healthy, and honestly just so tasty. It beats anything you can get out of a can by a mile.
12. Buttermilchsuppe
Buttermilchsuppe, or buttermilk soup, is a traditional favorite that people really love.
It is exceptionally creamy and balances the savory flavors of onions, chives, and bacon with the tart kick of lemon juice and buttermilk.
It’s mostly broth without many chunks, so you can sip it or spoon it. I love to dunk a piece of thick, dark bread in there to sop it all up.
13. German Onion Soup
This German onion soup is blowing all other onion soups out of the water.
It has a generous amount of caramelized onions, German brats, beer, and—wait for it—croutons made from pretzel rolls.
If you are already a fan of onion soups, you are going to fall in love with this one. The beer and pretzel roll croutons just take it to a whole new level.
14. German Borscht
This German borscht manages to be sweet, savory, and spicy all at once.
It features ham hock, but it’s mostly a rich vegetable soup loaded with spices.
I like to top mine with sour cream and scallions, but you can also use whole milk, apple cider vinegar, or cream. As long as you are into veggies, you will probably dig this one.
15. Beer Soup
You can whip up this smooth and creamy beer soup in less than an hour with minimal effort. It has a rich, spiced beer and broth flavor that is just delightful.
The brown sugar and crème fraiche add a nice touch of sweetness, and topping it with ham and cheese gougères makes it extra yummy.
You can eat this one hot or cold—it’s great for dinner or even cold over bread for breakfast the next day!
