21 Traditional German Recipes You Can't Miss (2024)

These authentic, traditional recipes are packed with all the rustic flavors of German cuisine!

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21 Traditional German Recipes You Can't Miss (1)

Get in touch with your German heritage with our take on 21 Traditional German Recipes You Can't Miss. Whether you're looking for an Oktoberfest favorite or just want that signature German cake recipe to bake for your family, our selection of easy German recipes will have you asking for more. Plus, these traditional German recipes are quick and easy, so you can have them on the table in no time. Or teach them to the rest of the family, so everyone can appreciate their heritage!

Table of Contents

  • German Breakfast Recipes
  • German Side Dish Recipes
  • German Main Dish Recipes
  • German Dessert Recipes

German Breakfast Recipes

Rise and shine! These German breakfast recipes are the best way to start your day. They sure know how to do dessert for breakfast right in Germany.

Blueberry Dutch Pancake

Imagine the aroma coming from your oven when you bake our recipe for a Blueberry Dutch Pancake. This German pancake recipe is packed with antioxidant-rich blueberries which add a burst of freshness to every bite.

Belgian Berry Waffles

Inspired by the traditional Belgian waffles in Germany, our recipe for Belgian Berry Waffles makes waffles so fluffy, they taste gourmet! To make 'em even better, we top 'em off with a sweet and tangy berry compote and a dollop of whipped cream!

Hootenanny Pancake

They sure know how to get everyone out of bed for breakfast down on an Amish farm. Perfect pancake recipes like a Hootenanny Pancake which look as good as they taste and are a cinch to make, will guarantee that your gang won't be snoozing through the alarm clock.

German Pancakes

Not your traditional pancakes, our German Pancakes are sure to wake everybody up to a sweet aroma that'll bring 'em running! This easy German pancakes recipe is simple and delicious -- the gang will be begging you to make it time and again!

German Side Dish Recipes

These German side dish recipes are perfect for a potluck. They're warm, flavorful, and hearty, so you'll know they are crowd pleasers that are great for serving large groups of people. Your friends and family will be coming back for second helpings of these traditional German sides.

Mustardy Cabbage

This is one of our Oktoberfest favorites. Serve our Mustardy Cabbage alongside some brats, or any main dish, for some authentic German flavor!

Special Spaetzle

The tiny, delicate German noodle known as spaetzle is more popular than ever! Our easy recipe for Special Spaetzle will make your gang feel special, because you made it from scratch. It's such an authnethic German recipe!

German Potato Pancakes

We use real potatoes in our German Potato Pancakes to make sure we get that classic potato pancake taste we know and love. Whether you serve these up for a family breakfast or serve 'em on the side of dinner, we know the gang'll go crazy for them!

Old-Fashioned German Stuffing

Are you looking for the perfect side dish to pair with your favorite pot roast or German sausages? Try our Old-Fashioned German Stuffing! This hot and hearty stuffing is loaded with fresh sauerkraut, crumbled bacon, and rye bread, so you know it's got an authentic taste!

German Sauerkraut Potato Balls

In every region of Germany, folks love to sit down to homemade potato dumplings and sauerkraut, which is why we came up with this recipe that combines these two traditional German favorites. Our German Sauerkraut Potato Balls are full of comforting German-style flavors!

German Potato Salad

German Potato Salad isn't creamy like some of the traditional American potato salads you may be used to, but that doesn't mean it isn't as delicious! Our German Potato Salad has a sweet vinegary base and includes tasty ingredients like bacon, onion and fresh parsley.

German Main Dish Recipes

These German main dishes will steal the show. They're the centerpieces of the meal for a reason, after all. These recipes are meat filled and bursting with flavor that will make you savor every single bite.

Sauerkraut Beer Brats

Four easy ingredients are the key to this hearty German-style recipe for Sauerkraut Beer Brats. When the weather permits, grill 'em outdoors, otherwise enjoy these tasty brats cooked on the stovetop or in the broiler.German recipes never sounded so good, or easy!

Slow Roasted Country Ribs

Slow Roasted Country Ribs get their German-inspired flavor from none other than sauerkraut. With an old world combo of tastes; that hearty dish is a true change of pace, making it one of our favorite traditional German recipes.

Sauerbraten with Ginger Gravy

Our take on this traditional German pot roast uses tender cubed steak that's covered in a flavorful ginger gravy. It's a tasty comfort food you'll wanna eat over and over again.

Oktoberfest Patties

Celebrate Oktoberfest by sitting down to a meal with an authentic Old World taste. Our Oktoberfest Patties are extra-meaty and go great alongside some potatoes, cabbage, and a stein full of your favorite German beer!

Sausage Bake

Heat up your Oktoberfest celebrations with Sausage Bake. It's a meaty delight your guests are sure to love!

Pork Schnitzel

Traditional German schnitzel is typically made with veal, but our version is made with budget-friendly and just-as-flavorful pork chops. Breaded, fried, and topped with a lemon-butter based sauce, our Pork Schnitzel makes for a sensational German-style dinner!

German Dessert Recipes

Last but not least, these German dessert recipes are great for that special someone who has a big sweet tooth. Finish off your authentic German meal with one of these recipes for a complete experience that will make you feel like you're on a mountain in Bavaria.

Apple Strudel

This Old World classic will make you feel like you're on a cruise along a winding European river! With all the traditional taste of a German-style strudel, our recipe for Apple Strudel uses a few shortcuts, like store-bought puff pastry, so you can get to enjoying in no time!

German Wave Cake

Donauwellen is a classic German dessert that's often called the "German Wave Cake." That's because the layers in this cake look like the waves of the Danube river. Our version starts off with a box of cake mix, to make it really easy, and features all of the classic flavors, including chocolate, vanilla, cherries, and pudding.

Bee Sting Cake

This dessert is sure to create a lot of "buzz" with your gang! Our German Bee Sting cake is based on the traditional German "Bienenstich," which is basically a honey-glazed cake with a layer of creamy vanilla custard. One bite and you'll understand what makes this cake so buzz-worthy.

Cherry Kuchen Bars

Looking for a sweet way to celebrate German culture with your gang? Bake up a batch of our Cherry Kuchen Bars! These German-inspired dessert bars will have everyone going back for more, and wondering what other German treats you'll cook up for them next time!

Black Forest Cake

Off-the-shelf all-American ingredients like devil's food cake mix and cherry pie filling are your passport to our version of this German classic Black Forest Cake recipe. It's a rich and decadent dessert that'll make you look like a pastry chef!

If you loved these traditional German recipes, then you'll love these Crazy Good Oktoberfest Recipes!

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oliverschaeffer 22 17025

Jun 03, 2018

I stumbled by coincidence onto this website, and must say, I as a German am amazed to learn some (almost all "German" marked) "traditional German" recipes I have never heard of! And if (I assume by coincidence or plain luck) the name of a dish is right, the ingredients or preparation (or both combined) make me cringe and give me goosebumps or they are simply wrong (in almost all recipes). I have to give one star in the rating because it is not possible to give 0.PS If I think about the one star is OK for being so fanciful and creative

21 Traditional German Recipes You Can't Miss (28)

RachelAnne

Feb 24, 2017

I love German recipes! I'm SO glad I found this. Can't wait to ask my Grandma about some of them )

21 Traditional German Recipes You Can't Miss (29)

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21 Traditional German Recipes You Can't Miss (2024)

FAQs

What is the most traditional German meal? ›

Sauerbraten is regarded as one Germany's national dishes and there are several regional variations in Franconia, Thuringia, Rhineland, Saarland, Silesia and Swabia. This pot roast takes quite a while to prepare, but the results, often served as Sunday family dinner, are truly worth the work.

What is the national dish of Germany? ›

Sauerbraten (pronounced [ˈzaʊ̯ɐˌbʁaːtn̩]) is a traditional German roast of heavily marinated meat. It is regarded as a national dish of Germany, and is frequently served in German-style restaurants internationally.

What food is unique to Germany? ›

These German recipes celebrate some of the dishes Germany is most known for: crispy fried schnitzel, robust sausages, chewy pretzels, and all manner of mustard-tinged delights. We've even included a handful of items on the sweeter side, too, like a tangy apricot kuchen and a berry-studded German pancake.

What is a typical German lunch? ›

The main meal of the day is das Mittagessen, or lunch. The tradition is to have a hot meal during lunch. Sauerbraten, snitzels, Frikadellen (German meatballs), potatoes (such as Kartoffelsalat), green beans, soups, and stews are frequently served for lunch.

What are the top 3 German dishes? ›

Top 5 foods in Germany
  • Schnitzel. You can find these everywhere in Germany from classy restaurants to street food vendors. ...
  • Spätzle. For a country that is big on their meat, one of the most famous German dishes is Spätzle; which is completely vegetarian. ...
  • Bratwurst. ...
  • Stollen. ...
  • Kartoffelpuffer.
Oct 17, 2016

What is the most common German breakfast? ›

But the breakfast is pretty basic. Bread rolls (we call them Kaiser rolls in New Jersey, ha-ha), cheese, cold cuts, butter, a boiled egg and coffee. There's also marmalade, quark, Nutella, liverwurst and jams for the bread. There's also müesli if you prefer.

What food is mostly eaten in Germany? ›

Whilst there are regional variations in food culture, most German recipes focus heavily on bread, potatoes, and meat, especially pork, as well as plenty of greens such as types of cabbage and kale. Cake, coffee, and beer are all highly popular elements of German cuisine too - which will be good news to most!

What do Germans eat for Christmas? ›

Treat guests to a traditional German Christmas dinner with classic dishes like roasted goose legs, braised red cabbage. and dumplings, and don't forget the mulled wine and platter of gorgeous, festive cookies.

What is a German sausage called? ›

Bratwurst (German: [ˈbʁaːtvʊʁst]) is a type of German sausage made from pork or, less commonly, beef or veal.

What is the most eaten meat in Germany? ›

In Germany, the most consumed meat is pork. Germans are known for their love of pork, and it is a staple in many traditional dishes. Some popular examples of pork dishes in Germany include schnitzel, which is a breaded and fried pork cutlet, and bratwurst, a type of sausage made from pork, veal, or beef.

What foods do Germans love? ›

Throughout Germany you can enjoy Pork and Potatoes. Schnitzels served with a variety of sauces and Potatoes, They also enjoy a variety of Wurst such as Bratwurst or Rindswurst served with Sauerkraut or Red Cabbage. Breakfast is normally cold.

What is the best German food to try? ›

10 dishes you have to try in Germany
  • Bratkartoffeln. ...
  • Schnitzel. ...
  • Rouladen. ...
  • Maultaschen. ...
  • Fischbrötchen. ...
  • Flammkuchen. ...
  • Rote Grütze. Why not follow your hearty main with a delicious dessert? ...
  • Bienenstich. Bienenstich or bee sting cake is a delicious soft yeast dough filled with vanilla pastry cream and topped with honey and almond.

What do Germans say before eating? ›

Etiquette Rules when Dining Out in Germany

You'll find that most Germans begin the meal with a hearty Guten Appetit! Similar to Bon Appetit, it is an elegant way to phrase "Let's eat!". More informally, especially at lunch, you can expect an exclamation of "Mahlzeit!".

What time do Germans sleep? ›

Most people in Germany start the day at 6–7 and get to sleep around 23. Most people take a shower, breakfast and then go to work / study about 8–10 hours in total (ways to drive included). People normally drive by car or public transportation depending on the situation. (Should be possible and make sense.)

What is bread called in Germany? ›

Bread (Brot) is a significant part of German cuisine. In Germany about 600 main types of breads and 1,200 different types of pastries and rolls are produced in about 17,000 dedicated bakeries and another 10,000 in-shop bakeries.

What is German traditional dinner for one? ›

“Dinner for One,” is a short black-and-white sketch about ten minutes long that is played on all the big German television networks on New Year's Eve. It was first broadcast in Germany by Norddeutscher Rundfunk, or NDR, in 1962.

Do Germans eat three meals a day? ›

Mealtimes: When and what do Germans eat? People in Germany generally have three or four meals a day: breakfast, a midday meal, an evening meal, and possibly Kaffee und Kuchen (we'll get to this in a minute) in the afternoon.

Is Döner German or Turkish? ›

You can trace German döner back to the traditional Turkish version, served sliced on a plate and accompanied by lavash bread. It was this döner that Turkish “guest workers” brought to Germany in the 1960s when they immigrated to help the country meet its post-war labor needs.

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