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Celebrating Oktoberfest at home? Check out our favorite, traditional Bavarian recipes that are classic Oktoberfest foods and easy to make at home.
One of the most important parts about the Oktoberfest besides the beer is the food! My husband and I love going to the Wiesn. We even lived in Munich for many years so you can definitely say we are experts on Bavarian food. The Oktoberfest is an annual 2 week-long festival that takes place in the same spot, called the Theresienwiese, it starts in September (because the weather is nicer) and ends on the first Sunday in October.
The food that is served at the festival is classic Bavarian cuisine, from Brotzeitplatten, roasted chicken (Brathendl), pork hox (Schweinshaxn), to Kaiserschmarrn and Apfelstrudel. If you like comfort food you will be in heaven!
So without any further ado, go ahead and check out our recipes, give them a try, come back and let us know how much you loved them! O’zapft is!
Appetizers and Snacks
You can get pretzels everywhere! They make a great snack and you can even get massive ones which you can share with the family. They’re also part of one of the favorite Oktoberfest foods of the locals: Brotzeitplatten which consist of a selection of deli meat, sausages, radish, Obatzda, and pretzels or other baked goods. This would make a great thing to make at home for guests!
Another favorite snack is Bratwurst (Sausages) served on a crispy bun with mustard or ketchup. Nürnberger Bratwurst is my favorite, you can often get three small sausages on a bun – so tasty!
5 from 20 votes
Bavarian Beer Cheese Spread (Obatzda)
Obatzda, a flavorful German Beer Cheese Spread, is a beer garden classic made with camembert cheese, butter, and beer! This easy cheese dip can be made ahead and makes a delicious appetizer or snack with pretzels or rustic bread. Perfect for your next Oktoberfest party!
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4.74 from 23 votes
Bavarian Pretzels Recipe
These Bavarian pretzels are a very popular snack in Germany and perfect for your next Oktoberfest party! They taste delicious dipped incheese sauce and are easy to make at home with simple ingredients. This authentic German Pretzel Recipe makes enough for a crowd as an appetizer.
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Sides and Salads
Lots of differents sides and salads to choose from! Spaetzle, bread dumblings, and potato dumblings are usually served with saucy dishes like roasts with gravy. Schnitzel is always served with fries or potato salad and often comes with a side salad or cucumber salad.
4.94 from 162 votes
Easy German Spaetzle Recipe
Easy German Spaetzle are ready in only 15 minutes and make a great side for all dishes served with a sauce!
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4.97 from 91 votes
German Potato Salad
My German Potato Salad is made with vinegar, bacon, and onion and can be served warm or cold. A perfect hearty side dish for any occasion, from holiday dinners to BBQs!
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5 from 4 votes
Bread Dumplings (Semmelknoedel)
German Bread Dumplings are a perfect side dish for anything with gravy! This traditional Bavarian recipe made from bread can be rolled into balls or a log.
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4.95 from 52 votes
German Cucumber Salad Recipe
German Cucumber Salad is a refreshing summer salad made with simple ingredients that are a staple in most kitchens! This recipe is easy to make, budget-friendly, and perfect for a potluck, family dinner, or summer cookout.
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4.97 from 30 votes
German Red Cabbage (Rotkohl)
German Red Cabbage (Rotkohl) is a popular German side dish that is very easy to make from scratch! It tastes so aromatic with a distinctive sweet and sour flavor and makes a perfect side for a roast dinner together with spaetzle or potato dumplings. This recipe for braised red cabbage with apples is a family favorite!
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5 from 2 votes
Bavarian Sausage Salad with Cheese
Bavarian Wurst Salad with Cheese is a perfect summer dish! Made with sliced ring bologna, Emmental cheese, and pickles this popular beer garden dish is sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
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Main Dishes
There are lots of different main dishes served at the Oktoberfest. Some tents are famous for one special dish like the Ochsenbraterei which serves grilled ox. Other classic foods besides the ones I linked below are Schweinebraten (pork roast), Brathendl (roasted chicken), and Steckerlfisch (fish grilled on a stick).
4.94 from 46 votes
German Pork Hock (Schweinshaxe Recipe)
German Pork Hock, also known as roasted ham hock or Schweinshaxe, is a traditional Bavarian dish that’s popular notonly during the Oktoberfest but all year round. This easy pork knuckle recipe takes a few hours butcooks without too much effort on your part and rewards you with crispy pork crackling and tender meat.
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5 from 4 votes
Hungarian Goulash
Hungarian goulash is so easy to make! Loaded with tender beef and veggies this slow-cooked stew is perfect for cold days and also known as German Goulash.
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4.93 from 13 votes
Cheese Spaetzle Recipe
Cheese Spaetzle (Käsespätzle) is theGerman version of Mac and Cheese! Made with homemade German egg noodles and Emmentalcheese. This Bavarian dish is special enough for an Oktoberfest party but so easy that you can make it every day!
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5 from 22 votes
Schnitzel
Schnitzel pan-fried to golden perfection with a crispy breading just like at your favorite German restaurant!
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5 from 8 votes
Jagerschnitzel
Jagerschnitzel are crispy breaded schnitzels topped with an easy creamy mushroom bacon gravy. Learn how to make this classic German recipe!
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Sweet Treats
My favorite part of the Wiesn are the desserts, cakes, and treats you can get! There are even tents at the festival that have a bakery set up so everything is freshly baked and you can enjoy warm apple strudel, croissants, and so many cakes. Kaiserscharrn is probably the most ordered dessert and comes with fresh fruit, preserves, and apple sauce – so yummy!
You can also buy lots of sweet snacks and treats outside of the tents, like candied nuts, fruit covered in chocolate, and the famous Lebkuchenherzen, heart-shaped gingerbread with cute messages on them.
4.87 from 61 votes
Easy Cinnamon Candied Almonds
Easy Cinnamon Candied Almonds are sweet, crunchy and make your house smell amazing! They can be made in less than 10 minutes and make a great snack for your next holiday party.
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5 from 32 votes
Kaiserschmarrn
Kaiserschmarrn (Scrambled Pancake) is an Austrian dessertthat's also very popular in Bavaria!
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4.92 from 86 votes
Apple Strudel Recipe
Apple Strudel is much easier to make from scratch than you think and tastes amazing dusted with powdered sugar! Everyone will love this traditional Apfelstrudel that has a flaky crust and is filled with juicy spiced apples.
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About Julia Foerster
Hi, I'm Julia! Born in Germany, I call Canada now my home and love to share my favorite dishes with you! Here you'll find hundreds of recipes, all made from scratch, with lots of tips and detailed step-by-step instructions.
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