The Best Oktoberfest Recipes: 21 Delicious German Recipes for the Oktoberfest Season by 30Seconds Food

Oktoberfest is typically celebrated in Bavaria, which is Germany's largest state – the capital of which is Munich. At the annual Oktoberfest fairgrounds in Munich, the typical menu includes grilled chickens, pork shank, weisswurst (white veal sausages typically eaten in the morning), bratwurst, leberkase (baked pork meatloaf), sauerkraut, fried potatoes, knodel (dumpling). 

In addition to these Bavarian specialties, if you want to celebrate Oktoberfest at home, you can try some of these other typical (and not so typical) German recipes from all across Germany.

1.  Maultaschen: Maultaschen, or German filled dumplings, is a traditional dish that originated in Swabia, a region of southwestern Germany. They are basically dumplings with a filling that are boiled. If you like perogies, you need to try this recipe.

2.  Rouladen: Rouladen, a popular dish in Germany, is steak rolls filled with bacon, mustard and onions. This dish is often served with potatoes and red cabbage.

3.  Cheesy German Spaetlze: Italians love their pasta and Germans love their spaetzle. Have you tried it? Spaetzle is the perfect resting place for roasted meats or as a side dish, like this easy recipe.

4.  Wiener Schnitzel: Never tried the national dish of Austria? Don't let the schnitzel scare you! Wiener Schnitzel is quick and easy to prepare – and perfect for a busy weeknight meal.

5.  Spinach Spaetzle With Cheese Sauce: Spaetzle is to Germans what pasta is to Italians. This spaetzle recipe gets its green color from spinach and is topped with a two-ingredient cheese sauce. Crisp prosciutto or bacon would be a nice garnish.

6. Königsberger Klopse: Meatballs cooked in a white gravy with capers? Yes, please. This German dish is named after the former East Prussian capital of Königsberg. Serve with boiled dill potatoes or your favorite German side dish.

7.  Rollmops: Rollmops are pickled herring that's stuffed with mustard, pickles and onion, rolled into a cylinder and brined. These fish rolls are a staple in Germany and Poland. Serve as an appetizer or with potatoes and bread for dinner.

8.  Käsespätzle: Käsespätzle, or cheesy spaetzle noodle casserole, is comfort food Germany style. If you don't want to make the spaetzle homemade, skip this step and substitute store-bought spaetzle.

9.  Black Forest Cake Cupcakes: Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, or black forest cake, is a mouth-watering German dessert. Instead of making a whole cake, try these easy black forest cake cupcakes.

10.  Bratkartoffeln: Bratkartoffeln are German fries that are usually cooked with bacon and onion. These crispy German potatoes will make you rethink the french fry.

11.  Sauerkraut: Sauerkraut is cabbage that goes through a fermentation process to become a tangy condiment.Sauerkraut has many health benefits and is packed with healthy vitamins and minerals. Here's a quick sauerkraut recipe that's made in a mason jar.

12.  Sauerbraten: Sauerbraten is regarded as the national dish of Germany, and is meat that has been marinated and then slow cooked. The meat in this recipe marinates for two days, so plan accordingly.

13. Beer and Brats: Beer and bratwurst is a cookout crowdpleaser! Serve on hot dog buns with desired toppings, on top of a bed or sauerkraut or just eat them out of the pot.

14. Pinkel mit Grünkohl: Don't let the name of this German recipe scare you off. Pinkel mit Grünkohl is just kale and sausage. Serve with German potatoes, boiled potatoes or even mashed potatoes.

15. Currywurst: Currywurst is a fast food dish from Germany that's sausage covered in a curry ketchup. Currywurst is usually served with french fries, but would also be delicious over mashed potatoes or hash browns. Why not serve this easy German recipe at your Oktoberfest get-together?

16. Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage: Sweet and tangy, this simple cabbage side dish goes well with so many proteins – from beef to pork to chicken. If you attend an Oktoberfest celebration, you're sure to find this sweet and sour red cabbage recipe being served.

17. Flammkuchen: Flammkuchen (pronounced flam-KOOK-en), sometimes called tarte flambée, is a German-style pizza that's super crisp and topped with crème fraîche, onions and bacon.The Germanrecipe comes from South Germany and the Alsace region of France.

18. Döner Kebab (German Gyros): Döner kebab is a seasoned meat kebab that's made on a rotisserie. The meat is stacked, slow cooked and shaved. The shaved meat is used to make sandwiches that are popular street food in Turkey and Germany.

19. Curry Ketchup: Flavorful curry ketchup originated in Germany in the 1940s when it was used on a German fast food called currywurst. You're sure to find curry ketchup at any Oktoberfest celebration.

20. Whole Grain Beer Mustard: Not only can you dunk that pretzel, this easy beer mustard recipe was made for bratwurst and other sausages, sandwiches, pigs in the blanket, hotdogs or whatever you like to use mustard on. Bavarian whole-grain mustard is the final touch on a perfect Oktoberfest menu.

21. Oktoberfest Sheetpan Dinner: The mustard sauce is sweet and tangy, and cuts through the richness of the bratwurst. The cabbage is tender with hints of sweetness, a little heat and tang from the mustard. The potatoes are moist on the inside and slightly crisp on the outside. The combination is köstlich (delicious). Happy Oktoberfest!

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