German Food Recipes: 23 Classic Dishes (2024)

By: The Editors of RecipeLion.com

German Food Recipes: 23 Classic Dishes (1)

German food is some of the best on the planet. If you're thinking about trying out a new ethnic cuisine, consider some of these great German Food Recipes. These 23 classic German dishes are hearty, delicious and have stood the test of time. Your family is sure to love these traditional German food ideas and they may just become part of your regular weeknight routine. If you love potatoes and goulash, just to name a few ingredients, these recipes are a great introduction to the world of German cooking from an American standpoint.

Table of Contents

  • German Appetizer Recipes
  • Traditional German Main Dishes
  • German Potato Salad Recipes
  • German Dessert Recipes

German Appetizer Recipes

  • All Day German Beef StewLoaded with veggies and delicious spices, this All Day German Beef Stew is just what you want to eat after a busy day. As much as we love the flavor of this hearty stew, what we love even more is how easy it is to prepare.
  • Omi's German Bologna SaladThis classic German recipe is an easy side dish to throw together, requires no cooking, and is bursting with flavor. Omi's German Bologna Salad combines ring bologna, red pepper, onion, tomato, and cheese in an oil and vinegar dressing.
  • Sweet and Sour Cabbage with BaconSweet and Sour Cabbage with Bacon is full of finger-licking flavors. The combination of tangy cider vinegar, salty soy sauce, sweet onions, and smoky bacon makes this German side dish absolutely addictive.
  • Ada's Hearty German Bean SoupThis ham-and-bean soup is simple but satisfying. Great comfort food for a rainy night! There's nothing like great bean soup recipes to satisfy.
  • Old Country Sauerkraut SoupIf all soups were as flavorful as this Old Country Sauerkraut Soup, we'd be in heaven! Taking cues from traditional German cooking, this awesome soup recipe features smoked sausage, sauerkraut and a tasty blend of spices.
  • Slow cooker soups are comforting dinners. Slow Cooker Beef Dumpling Soup is an easy slow cooker soup recipe that serves six people.

Traditional German Main Dishes

  • Slow Cooker German SoupGerman food recipes are always warm and comforting, and this slow cooker soup recipe is no exception.
  • Crazy German Applesauce MeatloafThere are three reasons why this meatloaf recipe is "crazy." It's crazy easy to make, crazy delicious and includes a crazy ingredient: applesauce!
  • German Stuffed RollsIf you love traditional German food, you're going to flip for German Stuffed Rolls. The filling is a combination of ground beef, cabbage, and onion, and it's put inside a fluffy homemade dinner roll for the perfect meal.
  • Dad's German GoulashMade with ground beef, veggies, and macaroni, this ground beef goulash is one hearty dinner. It will be ready in just over 30 minutes, so you can make this great dinner during the week.
  • German Pot Roast (Sauerbraten)"Sauerbraten, also known as German Pot Roast, is a traditional dish of this European country. It's usually served on various holidays, such as Christmas but can be enjoyed any day."
  • German Slow Cooker BeefThis recipe is a version of the classic German Sauerbraten with Spaetzle noodles. However, it has a little twist. The gravy on top of the beef is actually made with ginger snaps to lend it a surprisingly sweet and spicy flavor.

German Potato Salad Recipes

  • Grandma Frances' Wisconsin German Potato SaladFor a truly amazing potato salad recipe, Grandma Frances' Wisconsin German Potato Salad is a front runner.
  • Oma's German Potato SaladThe most delicious potato salads are the ones that are made with love, and my oma definitely infused her brand of love in this potato salad recipe!
  • Potato Salad BitesIf you love everything about a traditional-style potato salad, then get ready to enjoy this modern twist recipe for Potato Salad Bites.
  • Old Fashioned German Potato SaladWhen you want a real taste of childhood, make Old Fashioned German Potato Salad. This is the classic potato salad recipe that you've been waiting for.
  • Hot German Potato Salad"Hot German Potato Salad is a scrumptious side dish that everyone will love with its' warm bacon potato goodness with just the right sweet tang makes this potato salad delicious.

German Dessert Recipes

  • Elegant Black Forest CakeThis lovely multi layered cake is a classy but simple dessert. Elegant Black Forest Cake is made with chocolate cake, cherry filling, and dark chocolate frosting.
  • German Butter Pound CakeIf you're looking for a good old-fashioned German recipe, this may be one of the best. German Butter Pound Cake is a cake recipe from scratch that makes the moistest pound cake you'll ever eat.
  • German Apple CakeGerman Apple Cake is as authentic as it gets. This apple cake recipe has been translated all the way from Germany so we all have a chance to make it ourselves.
  • German Chocolate Ice Cream PieThis ice cream pie is a chocolate lover's dream. It's a perfect frozen dessert for any occasion but especially for the Christmas season. Even though it might not be as traditional as some other German dessert recipes, it's still a total win in our books!
  • German Chocolate BrowniesFor a perfect "anytime" dessert, whip up a batch of these German Chocolate Brownies.
  • German Apple CobblerMom's German Apple Cobbler is the perfect dessert for fall, but once you taste it, you'll want to make this easy apple cobbler recipe all the time.
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German Food Recipes: 23 Classic Dishes (2024)

FAQs

What is a classic German dish? ›

Of all these regional and national dishes, Germany is most famous for Currywurst, sausages, pretzels and Black Forest Gateau, but as you can see, there is plenty more to German cuisine than just these.

Which of the top 5 German foods is considered to be 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 is the number 1 food in Germany? ›

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 most important meal in Germany? ›

Lunch in Germany

Lunch (or Mittagessen) is the most important and filling meal of the day in Germany and is usually warm. This typically includes some sort of meat, served with the country's favorite side dish: potatoes and vegetables.

What are 5 traditional foods in Germany? ›

A quick guide to German food for expats
  • 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 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 three main meals in Germany? ›

First of all, we'll take a look at Germany's three main meals in the day: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

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 popular junk food in Germany? ›

Fast food in Germany
  • German fast food is much more than just burgers and fried chicken! ...
  • Die Bratwurst (grilled sausage) ...
  • Die Currywurst (sausage in curry sauce) ...
  • Die Pommes (chips) ...
  • Ein halbes Hähnchen (half a grilled chicken) ...
  • Der Döner (doner kebab) ...
  • Did you know? ...
  • Links.

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. Guten appetit!

What is Germany's favorite drink? ›

Most purchased and consumed beverages in Germany 2021-2023

Mineral water is by far the most purchased and consumed beverage in Germany. Around 86 percent of the population bought it in 2023. Germans are known for their preference of fizzy drinking water.

What do Germans eat on a daily basis? ›

This is because German families tend to eat their main meal during lunch. A typical Abendessen consists of a selection of whole-grain bread, cheeses, deli meats and sausages, and mustards and pickles (gherkins are very popular). The evening meal is accompanied by a salad and/or soup, depending on the season.

What do Germans drink for dinner? ›

Besides beer and good Riesling, Germans also love many cocktails that I pair with my German recipes such as Schlammbowle for summer (an ice cream punch) or Eierpunsch for the winter (a warm egg and wine cocktail).

What do German eat on Christmas? ›

At the centre of a German Christmas evening spread you'll usually find a roasted goose, turkey or duck, traditionally served with lovely plump bread dumplings – the classic round ones, or one great big festive loaf-shaped one, known as a Serviettenknödel (pictured sliced, above), plus braised red cabbage or stewed kale ...

What is a classic 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 is German stomach dish? ›

Saumagen ([zaʊ̯ˈmaːɡŋ̩], "sow's stomach") is a German dish popular in the Palatinate. The dish is similar to a sausage in that it consists of a stuffed casing; however, the stomach itself is integral to the dish.

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