In Germany, Oktoberfest is an annual multi-day food and drink tradition. Fortunately, you don’t have to travel across the Atlantic to celebrate one of the world’s largest and most popular culinary festivals. You can do it right at home with friends and family. Not sure what to prepare and serve? Here are some traditional German recipes to fill out your Oktoberfest celebration. 

Oktoberfest Traditional German Recipes

1. Beer Braised Brats

If you’re going to celebrate Oktoberfest, you can’t go wrong with “beer brats” topped with caramelized onions and anything else you fancy. Choose your favorite brats and beer to fix these up in no time flat. 

2. Bavarian Pretzels

This popular German snack food is super filling and easy to make. You need simple ingredients like dry yeast, sea salt, flour, and baking soda. These soft pretzels can be paired with cheese or Bavarian sweet mustard and your favorite German beer. 

3. Sauerkraut Soup

Also called Sauerkrautsuppe, this tangy soup is a favorite in Germany. It includes ingredients like sauerkraut, savory bacon, caramelized onions, and smoky paprika. You can put this recipe together and cook it in under 45 minutes. 

4. Oktoberfest Roast Chicken

This half-roasted chicken is a great dish for a family Oktoberfest celebration or dinner with friends. The chicken is basted in paprika marinade and then slowly cooked on a rotisserie grill until it is juicy and tender. 

5. Authentic German Potato Salad

You can’t have a true Oktoberfest without a side of authentic German potato salad. An ideal and hearty side dish, this one is made with vinegar, onion, and bacon, and it can be sold cold or warm. 

6. German Potato Pancakes

These crispy and delightful German potato pancakes are the perfect way to kick off your Oktoberfest celebration. Depending on the toppings and sides you choose to serve them with, they can be savory or sweet. They take less than 30 minutes to prepare. 

7. Beer Cheese Soup

This creamy German beer cheese soup is an excellent dish if you are celebrating Oktoberfest in chilly temperatures. It’s simple and fast to make with ingredients like potatoes, leek, German light beer, gruyere or sharp white cheddar cheese, and vegetable stock. 

8. Wiener Schnitzel

To make authentic German wiener schnitzel from scratch, you must take thinly pounded veal and deep fry it in clarified butter or lard after coating it with breadcrumbs. The dish is then garnished with lemon and served with your favorite German wine. 

9. Rye Beer Bread

This recipe for rye beer bread makes one loaf of dense bread that is sure to fill up your guests. It includes ingredients like beer, molasses, butter, caraway week, and bread flour. 

10. German Sauerbraten

Authentic German is a beef roast that is marinated and cooked until tender and then served with a rich, tangy gravy. This is a dish you can serve with potatoes and your favorite German wine or beer. 

11. Blaukraut

Blaukraut is something you either love or you don’t. It’s a staple in many German homes over the holidays, including for Oktoberfest. It’s red cabbage with apples, apple cider vinegar, and a few other ingredients that you serve as a side dish. 

12. German Apple Cake

This traditional German dessert is easy to make, and it looks amazing. The simple batter rises up around the sliced apples to create a yummy and impressive cake you can serve after dinner and even for a sweet breakfast treat. 

13. German Chocolate Cookies

These German chocolate cookies are chewy and soft because they are packed with melted chocolate pieces and sweet, shredded coconut. They also include pecans, which you can leave out if you wish. 

14. Bee Sting Cake (Bienenstich)

This German layer cake includes homemade cream filling with a slightly dense texture. Instead of frosting, a crunchy honey-almond topping is baked into the dough on top of the cake. The preparation and baking time is under 90 minutes. 

Get Your Oktoberfest Ingredients at Nick’s of Clinton

Now that you’re ready to celebrate a traditional Oktoberfest this year, it’s time to begin prepping and planning for your celebration. Nick’s of Clinton wants to be your go-to place for ingredients and ready-made products. We offer a wide variety of fresh ingredients, and our full-service meat counter is the centerpiece of our store. 

You’ll find everything you need at our family grocery store, from spices to produce to one of the largest selections of beer, wine, and spirits in the area. Whether you show up with a prepared list or need some assistance, we’re happy to help. Stop by our store today or give us a call at (301) 843-2825.