23 German Recipes for Oktoberfest

Discover 23 German Recipes for Oktoberfest and plan your own celebration at home. This annual festival showcases bratwurst, soft pretzels, and massive quantities of beer, but there are plenty of other ways to get in on the fun. Try authentic German potato salad, chicken schnitzel, chewy spaetzle, and even a Lemon Spezi, a fizzy, family-friendly drink made with lemonade and coke.

 

Meggan’s notes

Growing up in Milwaukee, the German influence is so prevalent that I didn’t even notice it. I just assumed everyone ate brats in the summer and Leberkäse at Christmas. We didn’t celebrate Oktoberfest specifically, though, because we at German food all year round.

Despite the name, Oktoberfest celebrations begin in late September to take advantage of the longer days and nicer weather. The festival runs about 16 days and ends in early October, and it’s marked by plenty of bratwurst, soft pretzels the size of your head, and massive quantities of beer.

My best Oktoberfest recipes are inspired by my Midwestern family’s German roots and recipes shared by our extended family still living in Neufahrn bei Freising, Germany. Feel free to take liberties to make these German recipes your own and create your own Oktoberfest menu. Prost!

Oktoberfest Bratwurst

1. Wisconsin Beer Brats

I grew up eating bratwurst in the suburbs of Milwaukee, and we always make them the same way: boil them in beer and sliced onion until they’re cooked through. When it’s time to eat, throw them on the grill for a little char, then serve them in buns with all your favorite toppings. Ketchup and mustard are classics, but so are grilled onions and sauerkraut.

2. Air Fryer Bratwurst

Skip the grill and fire up your air fryer instead. These delicious links cook up browned and sizzling fast right on your countertop.

German Main Courses

3. Chicken Schnitzel

Bread and fry thin chicken cutlets to bring a platter of traditional Chicken Schnitzel to the table in just 25 minutes. Like supersized chicken nuggets, this classic German dinner recipe is a super family-friendly meal!

4. Rouladen

Rouladen is a traditional German recipe made with long, thin strips of meat, often beef, stuffed with bacon (and maybe even pickles), and smothered in a rich gravy. Translation: This beef recipe is the epitome of comfort food, and ideal for warming up a cold winter day or any Oktoberfest feast.

5. Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Homemade Stuffed Cabbage Rolls are an ultra-cozy Dutch oven dinner idea. Learn how to make beef- and rice-Stuffed Cabbage Rolls on the stovetop, or see my variations for baked and slow cooker stuffed cabbage rolls.

6. Pork Schnitzel

Schnitzel is a classic German entree and you can make it with veal (wiener schnitzel), chicken, or pork. If you have extra fried cutlets, throw them on a bun with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise for an epic, Iowa-inspired pork tenderloin sandwich.

Oktoberfest Pretzels

7. Homemade Soft Pretzels

Homemade Soft Pretzels that are soft and chewy on the inside and crackly brown on the outside. Knot or twist your way to the BEST soft pretzels you’ve ever had!

8. Homemade Mustard

Master how to make mustard in just 15 minutes. To use in salad dressings, marinades, or as a sandwich spread, my homemade yellow mustard and homemade whole grain mustard recipes are so simple and affordable to DIY.

9. Homemade Cheese Sauce

This easy Homemade Cheese Sauce is ideal for appetizers, cooked vegetables, pasta, and baked potatoes. And it’s perfect with giant soft pretzels! It’s also ready in 5 minutes with just 3 ingredients.

Oktoberfest Salads

10. German Potato Salad

Crispy bacon and whole-grain mustard take classic potato salad on a trip to Germany. Growing up, my mom always made this for parties, potlucks, and weeknight dinners. It makes a hearty side dish on your next Oktoberfest menu.

11. Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing

My German grandma always made a crunchy green salad with a warm, sweet and salty bacon dressing. It’s absolutely divine! I’ve added a few halves of hard-boiled egg to complete this simple, satisfying side dish.

12. Creamy Cucumber Salad

This Creamy Cucumber Salad is a classic German recipe and an all-around summer favorite and an easy, tasty way to use up your cucumber bumper crop.

Oktoberfest Side Dishes

13. Spaetzle

My make-ahead Spaetzle noodles can be formed and boiled up to 3 days ahead. Try my Spaetzle-making trick using a colander if you don’t have (or want to invest in) special equipment to make this classic German side dish recipe.

14. Potato Pancakes

Crunchy Potato Pancakes are popular on German menus and with fish fries in the Midwest. Learn how to make Potato Pancakes, then top them with sour cream and chives or applesauce.

15. Braised Red Cabbage

Tender-crisp red cabbage transforms into a tangy and savory side dish recipe in this classic German Braised Red Cabbage. This is my twist on traditional Rotkohl, a sweet-sour cabbage dish often served alongside Rouladen and other German entrees.

16. Sauerkraut

Tangy, crunchy, and oh, so good for you, here’s How to Make Sauerkraut the old-fashioned way. All you need is salt, sliced cabbage, and time; you’ll be thrilled with just how delicious and easy it is.

17. Beer Bread

This Beer Bread Recipe is a yeast-free quick bread leavened with baking powder and beer or any other carbonated beverage like clear soda, ginger ale, or sparkling water. It’s soft, delicious, and perfect with butter or creamy dips and spreads.

German Dessert Recipes

18. Black Forest Cake

I’ll walk you through how to make a Black Forest Cake that will have everyone swooning over the rich chocolate, cherry filling, and rich, creamy frosting.

19. Apple Strudel

Learn how to make Apple Strudel, a classic Viennese dessert. Soft strudel dough bakes up as a flaky crust enveloping a warmly-spiced fruit filling topped with a simple powdered sugar icing.

20. German Chocolate Cake

Some German recipes aren’t even truly German. German Chocolate Cake, for example, is named after Samuel German who created a new kind of baking chocolate. The cake itself was created by Mrs. George Clay in Dallas and featured Sam’s chocolate. Despite the misnomer, the cake is divine and worth the splurge!

21. Lebkuchen

Somewhere between gingerbread cookies and sugar cookies, Lebkuchen are a traditional German cookie that are delicious any time of year. The glaze dries hard and crunchy just like authentic cookies.

22. Schaum Torte

Created by German immigrants in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a Schaum Torte is the German equivalent of a Pavlova. In this version, make 6 miniature tortes and top them with fresh fruit, whipped cream, or ice cream.

Oktoberfest Drinks

23. Lemon Spezi

The beverage of choice for Oktoberfest is, and always will be, beer.

But, if you’re more excited about the food than the beer, you might love a Lemon Spezi. This classic German drink is made with Coca-Cola and lemonade, similar to an Arnold Palmer (but without the iced tea).