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Oktoberfest Food: 20+ delicious recipes to create a traditional German menu

Oktoberfest is a traditional Bavarian feast of beer and good German food. Take a look at our easy Oktoberfest menu ideas by choosing from sauerkraut, brats, potato recipes and delicious German desserts to kick off your themed party.

By Cookist
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Oktoberfest is a traditional Bavarian feast full of beer and food that has played a part in spreading German food around the world. Although the name includes the word October, this festival is held every year from mid-September until the very first days of October in Munich in honor of crown prince of Bavaria's wedding. In fact, the dates of the festivities were brought forward over the years due to weather issues, making sure that everyone enjoyed the last warm days of the season.

Therefore, every year lovers of beer and good food gather at the fairs in order to dance, sing and enjoy tasty recipes served in the beer tents and stalls around Theresienwiese.

On the other hand, if you can't fly all the way to Germany to take part in the festivities, you can always throw an Oktoberfest-themed party at home with family and friends by creating your own Oktoberfest menu. We have come up with 20+ traditional German recipes that are easy to make, and be sure to get sauerkraut, brats, roasted pork and lager. Remember to always serve tasty snacks, main dishes that transport you to Bavaria, typical desserts and lots of German beer.

Easy Oktoberfest Recipes for your Menu

Oktoberfest Appetizer and Snack Ideas

1. Homemade Pretzel: the fantastic recipe for traditional Bavarian-style pretzels
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Homemade pretzel (pronounced pret-sl) is a delicious baked bread-like pastry shaped into a knot and flavored with salt. It is inspired by the traditional Bavarian-style pretzels. Also known as Brezel (German) or Bretzel (French), it has a salty, slightly sweet, buttery flavor, while the texture is chewy, soft on the inside, but crisp on the outside.

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2. Obatzda: the mouthwatering recipe for Bavarian beer cheese dip to serve at parties
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Also known as Bavarian obatzter or obazda, obatzda is a simple-to-make German beer cheese dip from Bavaria. It's made from white aged soft cheese like Camembert or Brie mixed with butter, dark or wheat beer, onion, and paprika. It's rich and creamy, with a wonderful cheese flavor.

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3. Potato Pancakes: the easy recipe for a crispy, potato comfort food dish
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If you're a fan of hash browns, you'll love these easy potato pancakes. Made from potato, onion, flour, and egg and pan-fried to gorgeous golden brown perfection, potato pancakes are a fantastic appetizer or side dish to serve with just about anything. They're similar to hash browns, but are less loose; the egg and flour bind the ingredients together like a pancake, hence the name.

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4. Soft Pretzel Bites: the best recipe for buttery pretzels
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Homemade soft pretzel bites are an amazing easy-to-make snack that the whole family will love. These bite-sized treats are easier to make, since there's no fussing around trying to form that classic pretzel shape, and there's very little active cooking time. Whether you opt for the delicious butter and salt combo or make sweet versions, these buttery pretzel bites will rival anything you'll buy at a store. They're a perfect baking project for a lazy afternoon.

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5. Spicy Bavarian Beer Mustard: a very delicious German recipe
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This spicy German mustard is made with dark beer, spices and mustard seeds, and you can put it in jars to keep or give away.

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Traditional Oktoberfest Main Dishes

6. Beer Brats: the ultimate recipe for juicy, smoky, flavorful sausages
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If you're looking for an easy, ultra-delicious dish that tastes great any time of year, you'll love this phenomenal recipe for beer brats. These succulent bratwursts are gently simmered with thinly sliced onions and beer, then finished on the grill to give them that irresistible smoky char.

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7. Sauerbraten: the best recipe for one of the tastiest traditional German dishes
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Made from rump roast marinated in an aromatic sweet-tangy marinade and cooked to melt-in-your-mouth perfection, sauerbraten is one of German‘s most delicious national dishes.

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8. Currywurst: the effortless recipe for a popular German street food
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Made from perfectly cooked, juicy, thick-sliced bratwurst smothered in deliciously seasoned curry ketchup, currywurst is one of Germany‘s most famous street foods. Traditional currywurst can be found at Imbissbuden (concession stands), beer gardens, and restaurants throughout German, especially in Berlin, where the dish was first created.

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9. Sauerkraut Balls: a must-have appetizer for your Oktoberfest party
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Fried sauerkraut balls are one of the classic German beer garden appetizers that no Oktoberfest party can do without. Very popular in Ohio too since the 1950s, these mouthwatering bite-sized appetizers are super easy to make. They have a beautifully crispy golden brown exterior surrounding a savory, soft filling made from bratwurst, onion, cream cheese, sauerkraut, herbs, and spices.

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10. Roast Chicken: the flavorful main dish recipe for a juicy, tender whole roast chicken
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Roast chicken is a classic main dish recipe everyone should know how to cook. With a delicious crispy skin, whole roast chicken is juicy, tender on the inside and rich in flavor thanks to butter and aromatic herbs such as rosemary, sage and thyme. Perfect for a family dinner as well as for a special occasion, this recipe is so tasty and easy to make that will beat any rotisserie chicken.

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11. German Potato Salad: an amazing side dish for your summer parties
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Planning the menu for your next summer barbecue? This easy German potato salad is the perfect side dish for your next backyard bash! Great for potlucks, picnics, cookouts and even Oktoberfest, German potato salad has it all.

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12. German Spaetzle: comforting dumplings to replace weeknight pasta
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German Spaetzle are doughy little dumplings made with flour, eggs, yogurt, and milk. They’re shaped and boiled like pasta but have a soft, pillowy texture. Spaetzle originates in Swabia, Germany, and they’re still proudly made and enjoyed there today. This traditional Eastern European recipe features tangy yogurt, whole milk, and a dash of cayenne pepper for a very subtle kick. You can add more or less cayenne depending on your preferences and tolerance for spice, but all of the dairy and flour does a good job of masking any heat from the pepper.

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13. Sauerkraut Strudel (Krautstrudel): an easy German recipe
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Sauerkraut strudel, or simply Krautstrudel, is a German recipe you can serve as an appetizer or main dish. It's a savory variant of the classic apple strudel, made with phyllo dough and enriched with a delicious filling based on sauerkraut, smoky bacon, onions, peppers and spices.

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14. German potato dumplings: the delicious dumpling recipe
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German potato dumplings are a lovely treat in itself and when served with the brown butter sauce, you will be drooling over this delicious delight!

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15. Rotkohl: the sweet, tangy recipe for German red cabbage side dish
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If you're in the mood for a highly nutritious, eye-catching side dish that goes great with everything from sausages to burgers, roasts, and more, you have to try this easy rotkohl recipe. Also known as Blaukraut, rotkohl (pronounced “rote-coal”) is a traditional German side dish made from red cabbage, apples, and onions simmered in apple cider and spices until perfectly tender. It's sweet and sour, so it's a perfect side for many main meals.

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16. Flammkuchen: a tasty recipe for German pizza that you can make in no time
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Flammkuchen is a sensational main dish that's perfect when you need an easy, delicious dinner you can whip up in no time. It's similar to a pizza or flatbread and traditionally topped with bacon, onion, and crème fraiche, although you can easily customize flammkuchen however you like. It's deliciously savory, with a slightly smoky flavor and a beautifully crispy thin crust.

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17. Sauerkraut Soup: a delicious, healthy German soup recipe for Sauerkrautsuppe
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This autumn, when you're in the mood for a delicious, hearty, nutritious soup to keep the cold at bay, why not make a batch of sauerkraut soup? Called Sauerkrautsuppe in German, this exquisite soup is both incredibly tasty and healthy. German sauerkraut soup has it all – it's tantalizingly tangy, thanks to the sauerkraut, with mouthwatering pieces of savory bacon, and smoky paprika.

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18. Oktoberfest Strudels: the beautiful and tasty savory version
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If you think strudels are only made with sweet ingredients, then think again! These fabulous savory strudels are made with bratwurst sausage, sauerkraut, caraway seeds, Dijon mustard and muenster cheese.

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19. Cucumber Salad: the refreshing, healthy recipe for a classic German salad
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This summer, serve this fast, healthy cucumber salad at your next barbecue or picnic. Made with cucumber and onions tossed in a lightly sweet yet tart vinaigrette, cucumber salad is a refreshing, easy-to-make side dish to serve at any get-together.

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Oktoberfest Desserts

20. Krapfen: the amazing recipe for easy German jam doughnuts
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There's nothing like biting into the jam-filled center of a freshly made krapfen. This delicious doughnut is a classic German treat that's usually enjoyed during Carnival (also called Fasching in parts of Germany) throughout Europe.

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21. Bavarian Cream: the classic dessert recipe from Germany
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This beautiful set dessert is a classic that comes from Bavaria, Germany. It can be piped into doughnuts or other pastries, and is often served with a fruit sauce or by itself.

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22. Apple Strudel: the original recipe of the traditional Austrian dessert
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Apple strudel is a traditional Austrian dessert made with a very thin, flaky crust that's rolled and filled with apples, raisins, pine nuts and cinnamon. Tasty and very fragrant, you can enjoy it at breakfast, as a dessert or snack together with a cup of hot tea and with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of semi-whipped cream or a simple sprinkling of powdered sugar.

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23. Donauwelle: the easy, decadent recipe for a German dessert
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If you’re German, changes are you’ll know the popular “Snow White Cake” (also known as the Danube cake). The name Donauwelle (pronounced Do-nau-wel-le) comes from the combination of two words: donau (a river) and welle (the German word for wave)—probably named after it’s marbled, wavy appearance.

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24. Black Forest Truffles: The most decadent chocolate dessert ever!
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These black forest chocolate truffles are the best treat you can give to anyone! They are so much better than the store-bought kinds and extremely simple to prepare. You just need a few ingredients, follow some simple steps, and in no time you will be relishing these decadent goodies.

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25. German apple cake: a must try apple and walnut cake recipe
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This is the most perfect recipe that combines the yummiest fruit and nut combination with the warm flavors of cinnamon! To top it all, you will be delighted to marry the soft and delicious slice of cake with the lovely and creamy frosting.

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