This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate, and a King Arthur Baking affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Being Lutheran with German heritage on both sides of my husband’s family, we enjoy lots of German food. Which means, we eat a lot of cabbage and sausage! Every year, our church holds a celebration of food for Oktoberfest – German Food Recipes.
(Post modified on 9/10/23.)
What is Oktoberfest?
Oktoberfest is a 16-18 day folk festival held each September in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It started out as a wedding celebration in Bavaria when Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxony in October 1810.
Nowadays here in America, you can expect to see community celebrations in parks with small tents, hear Polka music from Oompah bands, see folks walking around in traditional costume such as men in lederhosen and women in dirndls. Oh, and maybe an alpine hat or a Viking helmet or two.
Our Favorite German Food Recipes
As for foods, you might see lots of pork, sausage, and bratwurst, soft pretzels, and dumplings. Expect large quantities of cabbage and sauerkraut, cheese spreads, kuchens, and strudels. And of course, German beer. Here are a few of our family’s favorite German recipes.
Snacks or Appetizers – Lets Get the Party Started!
We love Sourdough Pretzels with Mustard Dip at any time of year–not just during baseball season. They are best served warm, fresh from the oven
Sourdough Pretzels with Mustard Dip We love these soft pretzels at any time of year. They are best served warm, fresh from the oven, but they’re also good hours later warmed in a toaster oven or even the next day. But trust me, they won’t last long. Check out this recipe
Beer-Battered Onion Rings are so delicious and surprisingly simple to make. Light and crunchy with thick slices of sweet onion. And the dipping sauce is pretty amazing, too!
Beer-Battered Onion Rings Beer-Battered Onion Rings are so delicious and surprisingly simple to make. Light and crunchy with thick slices of sweet onion. And the dipping sauce is pretty amazing, too! Check out this recipe
A Few Side Dishes – Can you say Cabbage?
Red Cabbage with Apples– Red cabbage is a traditional German recipe that you will see at nearly every Oktoberfest. The addition of apples compliments this cabbage dish quite well.
Red Cabbage with Apples Here's a delicious recipe that my mother-in-law makes. It's the perfect accompaniment to any German or Holiday fare. Enjoy! Check out this recipe
German Style Cabbage Salad – This is anice alternative to the creamy coleslaw recipes that abound in summer.
German Style Cabbage Salad This cooked cabbage salad is a nice alternative to the creamy coleslaw recipes that abound in the summer. Perfect for your next German Oktoberfest celebration! Check out this recipe
German Spaetzle with Cabbage – We’ve been making spaetzle in our home for many years. This German pasta Spatz means Little Sparrows. You won’t want to celebrate Oktoberfest without this side dish.
German Spaetzle with Cabbage Being Lutheran with German heritage on both sides of my husband’s family, we enjoy lots of German food. Which means, we eat a lot of cabbage and sausage! Here are our favorite Oktoberfest – German Food Recipes. Check out this recipe
This German Cabbage with Bacon recipe is a tangy, delicious side dish to serve your family, especially good with a pork or corned beef dinner. Filled with cabbage, onion, bell peppers, and bacon, it’s perfect for your next Oktoberfest celebration!
German Cabbage with Bacon
This German Cabbage with Bacon recipe is a tangy, delicious side dish to serve your family, especially good with a pork or corned beef dinner. Filled with cabbage, onion, bell peppers, and bacon, it's perfect for your next Oktoberfest celebration!
Check out this recipe
German Main Dishes and Soups
Pork Schnitzel with Cream Sauce – Pork Schnitzel is one of our favorite comfort dinners. It works well for a Sunday dinner or for your next Oktoberfest celebration.
Pork Schnitzel with Cream Sauce Here's a delicious recipe to try for your next Sunday Dinner or Oktoberfest celebration. Check out this recipe
Bierocks with Sausage and Cabbage – Unlike most bierock recipes, this one uses sausage instead of ground burger. I like to serve them with Country Potato Soup or Creamed Cabbage Soup.
Bierocks with Sausage and Cabbage Here is a fun recipe to make for Oktoberfest, with a substitution of sausage for the usual hamburger. I like to serve this with Country Potato Soup or Creamy Cabbage with Bratwurst Soup. Check out this recipe
Bratwurst with Roasted Vegetables (and Gnocchi) is loaded with roasted potatoes, green peppers, onions, zucchini, mushrooms, brussels sprouts, and delicious potato gnocchi.
Bratwurst with Roasted Vegetables
Bratwurst with Roasted Vegetables (and Gnocchi) is an amazingly easy sheet pan dinner to prepare for your family. Packed with vegetables, it's loaded with roasted potatoes, green peppers, onions, zucchini, mushrooms, and brussels sprouts. Plus it has the added bonus of crisp, yet chewy and oh, so delicious potato gnocchi.
Check out this recipe
German Venison Rouladen is fabulously flavorful and possibly my new favorite German food. If you’re not familiar with this recipe, think thin slices of venison rolled up around bacon, onion, and cornichons (German pickles), then slow-cooked in wine until they are fall-apart-fork-tender. Delicious!
German Venison Rouladen
This dish is fabulously flavorful and possibly my new favorite German food. If you’re not familiar with Rouladen, think thin slices of venison rolled up around bacon, onion, and cornichons (German pickles), then slow-cooked in wine until they are fork-tender. Delicious!
Check out this recipe
This recipe for Stuffed Cabbage Rolls is another favorite and is a great choice for a potluck dinner. Similar to stuffed peppers with a beef and rice base, then enveloped inside cabbage leaves and topped with a spiced tomato sauce.
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls is a favorite family recipe and is a great choice for a potluck dinner. Similar to stuffed peppers with a beef and rice base, then enveloped inside cabbage leaves and topped with a spiced tomato sauce.
Check out this recipe
German Style Meatballs – Flavorful meatballs in a sweet and sour sauce, loaded with sauerkraut and cranberries.
German Style Meatballs Many people celebrate Oktoberfest with German food. Here is a family favorite we make for our annual German Dinner at church. Great with Bierocks and/or Spaetzel. Check out this recipe
Kielbasa Potato Skillet Dinner – A one-pot, quick and easy meal, sure to please your entire family! We love the combination of kielbasa, potatoes, and cabbage. And we love the sweet and sour flavors often found in German Cuisine.
Kielbasa Potato Skillet Dinner Here's a quick and easy recipe for you to try, sure to please your entire family! Check out this recipe
Creamy Cabbage and Bratwurst Soup is a recipe I made when I had some cabbage sitting in my refrigerator. Although creamy, there is a lightness to it that seems perfect for a cool evening. Serve with a hard crusty bread such as myTangy Sourdough Bread.
Creamy Cabbage and Bratwurst Soup
I made this soup last spring when I had some extra cabbage sitting in my refrigerator. Although creamy, there is a delicious lightness to it that seems perfect for a cool evening.
Check out this recipe
Time for Dessert – Apples, Fritters, and Kuchens
Fried Apples – Fried apples are so delicious and the perfect comfort food to welcome in the autumn season.
Fried Apples Here's a recipe that reminds me of apples served at Cracker Barrel. Enjoy! Check out this recipe
Blueberry Kuchen – A moist dessert, filled with a pint of fresh, plump blueberries and topped with a streusel topping.
Blueberry Kuchen Here's a yummy German coffee cake to serve to your family! Check out this recipe
Traditional Apple Crisp – I have been baking this apple dessert for years. It is an old family recipe I hope you’ll enjoy.
Traditional Apple Crisp Here is an old family recipe I hope you'll enjoy. Serve with a heaping scoop of vanilla ice-cream. Check out this recipe
Make this Twisted Apple Speculaas Bread when you want to impress your family or friends. It’s the perfect bread to serve during the holiday season, as it makes two delightful loaves that are so pretty with their twisted form.
Twisted Apple Speculaas Bread
Here's a delightful recipe to try when you're craving apples, raisins, and fall spices.
Check out this recipe
Apple Pie with Crumb Topping – Amix between a Dutch Apple Pie and an Apple Crisp. Tart apples in a sweetly spiced filling, topped with a crunchy oat crumb.
Apple Pie with Oat Crumb Here's a recipe that is a mix between a Dutch Apple Pie and Apple Crisp. Very sweet, but quite delicious with some whipped cream or ice-cream. Check out this recipe
Apple Cider Fritters is a delicious recipe we enjoy in the fall that I make using my dad’s fresh apple cider. I’m not sure there is a better way to welcome in Autumn than by enjoying one of these lovelies.
Apple Cider Fritters
Here's a delicious recipe we enjoy in the fall that I make using my dad's fresh apple cider. So good!!
Check out this recipe
If you have the opportunity, I encourage you to attend at least one Oktoberfest in your life–and be sure to try some of these recipes.
See more German Recipes HERE.
