Looking for some easy German recipes to cook at home? There are so many great options! From Schnitzel, to German Potato Salad, Bratwursts and more! Here are 40+ of the BEST German dishes to try!
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Feeling the urge to indulge in some hearty, soul-warming goodness? Your taste buds are on the right track!
Today, we’re taking a trip to flavortown, German-style, with a drool-worthy roundup of dinner recipes that’ll transport you straight to a cozy Bavarian town.
From succulent sausages and schnitzels to creamy potato salads and braised wonders, we’ve got everything you need to whip up a feast that’ll satisfy even the most serious comfort food cravings.
PS – Be sure to check out these German Appetizers and 35+ German Desserts too!
Easy German Recipes to Try at Home
This delicious warm German Potato Salad combines tender potatoes with a warm bacon-mustard vinaigrette dressing. It’s tangy, creamy and the perfect side dish for the summer grilling season.
German Potato Salad
This mouthwatering Jaeger Sauce is a type of German mushroom gravy. Easy to make in about 20 minutes with everyday ingredients, the finished sauce is so creamy and has incredible layers of umami, herby, and savory flavors. Serve it with schnitzel, steak, veggies, and more!
Jaeger Sauce
Step up your sausage game with Air Fried Bratwurst! Cooking sausages in the air fryer is a hands-off method that delivers crispy on the outside and succulent on the inside brats in under 20 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights and effortless summer entertaining!
Air Fryer Bratwurst
This Oktoberfest inspired dish combines polska kielbasa sausage and sauerkraut, topped with emmentaler cheese and thin potato slices and baked until bubbly.
Sausage & Sauerkraut Skillet Bake
Baked German pancakes are soft, eggy, and custard-like in the center. The batter comes together in just a few minutes and puffs up in the oven before deflating!Recipe: Live Well Bake Often
German Pancakes
Pork Schnitzel with bacon mushroom gravy is an easy 30-minute weeknight dinner that is a family favorite! The pan-fried pork chops are crisp and golden on the outside, but tender enough to cut with a fork. This easy German jägerschnitzel recipe is perfect with mashed potatoes, egg noodles, späetzle, or rice and a veggie on the side. Recipe: House of Nash Eats
Pork Schnitzel
German onion pie (called Zwiebelkuchen in Germany) is what I need to make at least once every fall! I have perfected this popular onion cake recipe over the last 7 years for you, so you don't have to think twice about making it. Recipe: Dirndl Kitchen
German Onion Pie
Homemade Kartoffelpuffer, German potato pancakes! They're so good and bring up the best of memories eating them hot out of the pan at my grandmother's kitchen table.Recipe: Dirndl Kitchen
German Potato Pancakes
Cheese Spaetzle (Käsespätzle) is the German version of Mac and Cheese! Made with homemade German egg noodles and lots of Emmental cheese.Recipe: Plated Cravings
Cheese Spaetzle
Beef roulades are a traditional German main dish filled with onions, pickled cucumbers, and bacon.Recipe: Where Is My Spoon
German Beef Roulades
This easy, flavourful sourdough bauernbrot is made with a mix of rye and bread flour. A dream to shape and perfect for sandwiches!Recipe: The Baked Collective
German Farmer’s Bread
This authentic German Sauerbraten recipe makes the most tender and juicy roast beef and a wonderful sweet and sour gravy. The meat is succulent and tender—it’s so irresistible!Recipe: House of Nash Eats
German Sauerbraten
This traditional German recipe for Rotkohl makes an incredibly delicious sweet and sour side dish of braised red cabbage with apples, onions, and other simple ingredients.Recipe: The Peasant's Daughter
Rotkohl: German Braised Red Cabbage
This authentic and hearty recipe for nourishing German potato soup (Kartoffelsuppe) is full of root vegetables, bone broth, and smoky bacon. It is a delicious and comforting soup perfect for cold days. Recipe: The Peasant's Daughter
German Potato Soup
German Bread Dumplings, or Semmelknödel, is a simple but flavorful Bavarian side dish that is especially delicious when smothered in gravies or sauces. Recipe: The Peasant's Daughter
German Bread Dumplings
Healthy, delicious Pork & Sauerkraut recipe (aka German Pork Chops) with boneless pork chops, potatoes & sauerkraut, made in a Dutch Oven! Recipe: Cook At Home Mom
German Pork Chops
This vegan sauerkraut soup with mushrooms was inspired by German Sauerkraut Soup recipes with some influence from Ukrainian sauerkraut soup. Top with sour cream and pair with crusty sourdough bread for a perfect fall and winter meal.Recipe: Cultured Guru
German Sauerkraut Soup
These German stuffed cabbage rolls are called Kohlrouladen (pronounced kohl-roo-lah-den) in German and are an iconic German staple recipe!Recipe: Dirndl Kitchen
German Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Corned Beef Hash is one of the best ways to use up that leftover corned beef! Add grilled onions and potatoes, top with a sunny side up egg and you’ve got yourself a superbly delicious meal. Recipe: Lauren's Latest
Corned Beef Hash
These authentic German soft pretzels are made using food grade lye. You can make them in under 2 hours! Recipe: Yammie's Noshery
Authentic German Pretzels
These wild garlic potato noodles are popular during the short wild garlic season in Germany. They are easy to make and super delicious.Recipe: My German Table
Wild Garlic Potato Noodles
German cucumber salad is a refreshing side dish with crisp cucumbers and onions in a creamy dill and sour cream dressing.Recipe: The Blond Cook
German Cucumber Salad
This easy to make German goulash recipe makes a rich beef stew seasoned with paprika, caraway and onion. Great over buttered egg noodles.Recipe: Garlic and Zest
German Goulash
German-style brats with sauerkraut, an easy hearty dish, traditional comfort food as its best. Just two main ingredients, but so much going on!Recipe: Where Is My Spoon
Brats with Sauerkraut
A quick and easy recipe for traditional German Eggs in Mustard sauce – leftover hard boiled eggs in a creamy mustard sauce with dill.Recipe: Where Is My Spoon
German Eggs in Mustard Sauce
Sauerkraut Salad is tangy and sweet! This delicious salad recipe has crisp veggies, sauerkraut tossed in a sweet dressing. Delish!Recipe: Simply Stacie
Sweet and Tangy Sauerkraut Salad
Soft sourdough pretzels are a wonderful bar snack that you can also make at home. Serve these with a German beer and sweet mustard to celebrate Octoberfest.Recipe: Karen's Kitchen Stories
Sourdough Soft Pretzels
German pancake soup (Flädlesuppe) is a simple combination of broth with pancake ‘noodles’ that’s tasty, comforting and perfect for a cold day.Recipe: Caroline's Cooking
German Pancake Soup (Flädlesuppe)
This creamy pub-style beer cheese dip is an easy appetizer recipe that’s ready in 15 minutes. Use lager-style beer or your favorite variety.Recipe: Sally's Baking Addiction
Beer Cheese Dip
German green beans feature crisp-tender green beans warmed in a sweet and sour sauce with bacon, onions, cider vinegar and brown sugar. It makes a delicious healthy low carb side. Recipe: Low Carb Maven
German Green Bean Salad
Try our easy, crispy and delicious Flammkuchen recipe topped with caramelised onions and smoked bacon. Perfect for a quick meal!Recipe: The Cinnamon Jar
Flammkuchen (French-German Pizza)
Pork beer brats, mustard, onion, Swiss cheese, fresh parsley & sauerkraut – rolled into balls then into panko breadcrumbs & fried until deep golden-brown. Recipe: Lovoni Walker
Beer Brat Sauerkraut Balls
Schinkennudeln is a simple German pasta dish with ham and scrambled eggs. An easy family friendly dinner idea – ready in under 30 minutes!Recipe: Maple + Mango
Schinkennudeln (German Ham and Egg Pasta)
Learn how to make German frikadellen! Delicious served hot or cold – perfect for dinner, picnics, Oktoberfest parties and more!Recipe: Maple + Mango
Frikadellen (German Pan-Fried Meat Patties)
Warm up from the inside out with this cozy homemade Glühwein recipe. Learn how to make a simple German mulled wine at home!Recipe: Maple + Mango
Glühwein (German Mulled Wine)
Pork Schnitzel is an easy and delicious weeknight dinner made of boneless pork chops that have been pounded flat, then breaded and fried until golden and crispy. Popular throughout Europe, particularly in Austria and Germany, it’s the perfect versatile comfort food loved by all ages.Recipe: The Forked Spoon
Pork Schnitzel
The recipe for these Brötchen is really foolproof. Once you make these you'll fall for them instantly and make them again and again! Recipe: In Jennie's Kitchen
Brötchen (Classic German Breakfast Rolls)
Red beetroot has an amazingly sweet and earthy taste. This beet salad is my favorite way to serve them. Healthy and nutritious, you will be amazed!Recipe: My German Table
Beet Salad (‘Rote Beete Salat’)
Bierocks (pronounced Bee-rocks) are fluffy yeasted buns filled with ground meat, onions, and cabbage, along with other savory ingredients. Recipe: Karen's Kitchen Stories
Bierocks (German Beef and Cabbage Stuffed Rolls)
Thick German waffles served with cherry sauce and whipped cream, this is one of the most popular German desserts.Recipe: Where Is My Spoon
German Waffles
How to Make Ahead and Store
Many of these German recipes can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for a few days or even in the freezer. Simply check the individual recipes for full storing instructions and details on how to make ahead.
Did you Make Any of These Traditional Recipes?
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40+ German Dishes to Try
Looking for some easy German recipes to cook at home? There are so many great options! From Schnitzel, to German Potato Salad, Bratwursts and more! Here are 40+ of the BEST German dishes to try! Start with this warm German Potato Salad. It combines tender potatoes with a warm bacon-mustard vinaigrette dressing.
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Servings: 6 people
Ingredients
- 2 pounds medium red potatoes
- 4 strips bacon (cut into ½” pieces)
- 1 red onion (diced)
- ½ cup minced celery (including some leaves)
- 1/3 cup cider vinegar
- 1 ½ Tablespoons coarse or stoneground German style mustard
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
Instructions
- Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with water by 2 inches .Season the water generously with salt. Bring to a boil and cook for 10-15 minutes, until just tender. Drain.
- While the potatoes are still warm, peel and slice, or cube them, into a large serving bowl.
- Meanwhile, cook the sliced bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until browned, about 5-6 minutes stirring occasionally. Transfer the bacon to a plate topped with paper towels to drain. Pour out all but 2 tablespoons bacon fat from the pan.
- Add the onion to the bacon fat. Season with a pinch of salt and cook for about 3-4 minutes, until softened.
- Stir in 1/4 cup water, vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt and pepper.
- Bring to a boil and pour over potatoes. Toss to coat. Add the bacon, celery and parsley. Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!
Equipment
Nutrition
Calories: 181kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 328mg | Potassium: 789mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 259IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg
