German Recipes That Will Wrap You In Flavor

If you’ve been yearning for robust and fulfilling meals that burst with flavor, your culinary desires are about to be fulfilled. From schnitzels that orchestrate a dance on your taste buds to comforting stews that embrace your soul, our array of German recipes combines delightful flavors with surprisingly easy preparation. So, grab your apron, assemble your ingredients, and let’s embark on a journey into the savory delights of German cuisine. Beyond the dishes themselves, these recipes are an invitation to bring the warm, cozy ambiance of a German kitchen straight into your home!

Smoked Brats In Beer

Traditional German hot dogs with mustard and onions on a plate. — Smoked Brats In Beer. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Smoked bratwurst (or brats) in beer make a delicious German meal. Use your Traeger grill or pellet smoker to make smoked bratwurst in a beer bath and enjoy this delicacy with all your favourite sides. You only need 6 ingredients to make this brats on smoker recipe, along with mustard and buns to serve.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Brats In Beer

Classic German Rouladen

A traditional German recipe featuring a hearty plate of meat and vegetables, elegantly presented on a white plate. — Classic German Rouladen. Photo credit: Recipes From Europe.

If you want to make German Rouladen, you’re in the right place! This special meat dish is made from thinly cut and rolled beef stuffed with onions, pickles, mustard, and bacon. Served with delicious red wine gravy, beef Rouladen is a popular German dish that takes a few steps but is definitely worth the effort!
Get the Recipe: Classic German Rouladen

German Sauerkraut Soup (Sauerkrautsuppe)

A German stew recipe with meat and vegetables. — German Sauerkraut Soup (Sauerkrautsuppe). Photo credit: The Peasant’s Daughter.

This is a traditional recipe for German sauerkraut soup, a true eintopf one-pot meal featuring simple and tasty meatballs that are cooked directly in a broth full of sauerkraut, potatoes, and carrots. This hearty winter meal will warm you up in no time.
Get the Recipe: German Sauerkraut Soup (Sauerkrautsuppe)

Frikadellen (German Meat Patties)

A plate of German meatballs served with a bowl of dipping sauce. — Frikadellen (German Meat Patties). Photo credit: Maple + Mango.

Learn how to make German Frikadellen – a flavorful meat patty that is a cross between a meatball and a burger. This family favorite is so good and super versatile! Delicious served hot or cold which makes them great for dinner, picnics, Oktoberfest celebrations and more!
Get the Recipe: Frikadellen (German Meat Patties)

Milchreis (aka German Rice Pudding)

A German recipe for mashed potatoes served with a spoon. — Milchreis (aka German Rice Pudding). Photo credit: Maple + Mango.

Milchreis (aka German Rice Pudding) – a German comfort food classic! This creamy and delicious stovetop rice pudding is a simple dish loved by both kids and adults alike. Whip up a quick and easy dessert for the family with this recipe.
Get the Recipe: Milchreis (aka German Rice Pudding)

Bretzel Rolls | German Pretzel Rolls

German hot cross buns in a basket on a table. — Bretzel Rolls | German Pretzel Rolls. Photo credit: My Cooking Journey.

Bretzel Rolls are very similar to German pretzels, just with a different shape. German Pretzel Rolls have such beautiful colors and textures to them that make for a great snack with your coffee or tea. Make these crusty, dark, salt-speckled Bretzel Rolls anytime!
Get the Recipe: Bretzel Rolls | German Pretzel Rolls

Easy Instant Pot German Potato Soup

A German soup recipe featuring carrots and parsley. — Easy Instant Pot German Potato Soup. Photo credit: Two Kids and a Coupon.

If you are looking for a delicious warm soup recipe to make for your family this winter, this easy Instant Pot German-inspired Potato Soup is the perfect cold-weather comfort food. Taking only 15 minutes of prep time and 10 minutes to cook, it is a quick meal no matter the temperature.
Get the Recipe: Easy Instant Pot German Potato Soup

Traditional Liver Dumpling Soup

A German-inspired soup with meatballs and vegetables. — Traditional Liver Dumpling Soup. Photo credit: The Peasant’s Daughter.

Leberknödelsuppe or liver dumpling soup is a nourishing soup that you might just want to make every week. It’s prevalent in German, Austrian, and Czech cuisine, and guess what? It’s kid-friendly! This delicious and budget-friendly soup can be considered a ‘hidden liver’ recipe as it tastes very mild.
Get the Recipe: Traditional Liver Dumpling Soup

Rotkohl German Braised Red Cabbage Recipe

German-style red cabbage on a plate with a fork. — Rotkohl German Braised Red Cabbage Recipe. Photo credit: The Peasant’s Daughter.

This traditional German recipe for Rotkohl makes an incredibly delicious sweet and sour side dish of braised red cabbage with apples, onions, and other simple ingredients. Depending on the region in Germany, this side dish can be called rotkohl, blaukohl or blaukraut. It is an excellent accompaniment to roasted, grilled, and smoked meats.
Get the Recipe: Rotkohl German Braised Red Cabbage Recipe

German Potato Salad

German Recipe: A plate of potatoes with bacon and parsley. — German Potato Salad. Photo credit: Dinner at the Zoo.

This German potato salad is made of boiled baby potatoes tossed in a warm bacon and mustard dressing, then garnished with fresh herbs. Impress the crowd by bringing this unique, mayonnaise-free salad that’s great for parties and potlucks.
Get the Recipe: German Potato Salad

Pork Schnitzel & Mushroom Gravy (Jägerschnitzel)

German Recipe — Pork Schnitzel & Mushroom Gravy (Jägerschnitzel). Photo credit: House of Nash Eats.

Pork Schnitzel with bacon mushroom gravy is an easy 30-minute weeknight dinner! The pan-fried pork chops are crisp and golden on the outside, but tender enough to cut with a fork. This easy German jägerschnitzel recipe is perfect with mashed potatoes, egg noodles, späetzle, or rice and veggies on the side.
Get the Recipe: Pork Schnitzel & Mushroom Gravy (Jägerschnitzel)

Spaetzle

A German-inspired bowl of macaroni and cheese with pretzels on a wooden cutting board. — Spaetzle. Photo credit: Dish ‘n’ the Kitchen.

Learn how to make Spaetzle, the ultimate German comfort food side dish. These easy homemade flour and egg noodles are delicious with stews, in soups, and alongside roasted meats with gravy. Spaetzle are delicious fresh out of the pan, and they freeze nicely too so you can make them ahead of time to serve with quick weeknight dinners.
Get the Recipe: Spaetzle

German Sauerbraten

A mouthwatering plate of roast beef with German gravy. — German Sauerbraten. Photo credit: House of Nash Eats.

This authentic German Sauerbraten recipe makes the most tender and juicy roast beef and a wonderful sweet and sour gravy. The beef is richly marinated for a few days in a mixture of red wine, vinegar, and a mix of flavorful herbs and warm spices. Then, the meat is braised until succulent and tender. Irresistible!
Get the Recipe: German Sauerbraten

Sourdough Bauernbrot (German Farmer’S Bread)

A German loaf of bread sitting in a pan. — Sourdough Bauernbrot (German Farmer’s Bread). Photo credit: Baked Collective.

This easy, flavorful sourdough bauernbrot is made with a mix of rye and bread flour. The addition of rye makes for an excellent flavour, but keeping white bread flour makes for a good crumb. This loaf has a relatively small crumb, which means it’s perfect for sandwiches of all kinds because your toppings won’t fall off!
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Bauernbrot (German Farmer’s Bread)

One Pot Rustic German Goulash

A German-inspired bowl of pasta with beef in a sauce. — One Pot Rustic German Goulash . Photo credit: Garlic & Zest.

German goulash is a hearty beef stew seasoned with onion, paprika and caraway seed. It’s a simple but rich and comforting one-pot meal that’s great over egg noodles, mashed potatoes or spaetzle. Learn how to make this easy German goulash recipe in one pot with a Dutch oven, slow cooker or Instant Pot. It only takes 30 minutes of hands-on prep for a delicious, home cooked meal.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Rustic German Goulash

German Maultaschen

A close up of German dumplings in a bowl of soup. — German Maultaschen. Photo credit: Whisked Away Kitchen.

You can think of maultaschen essentially as German ravioli. They’re hearty homemade pasta pockets filled with a mouthwatering ground meat and spinach mixture! They’re bigger than your typical ravioli and often served in broth or pan-fried with sauteed onions.
Get the Recipe: German Maultaschen

German Cucumber Salad (Gurkensalat)

A close up of German cucumber salad, featuring cucumbers and onions in a bowl. — German Cucumber Salad (Gurkensalat). Photo credit: Turning the Clock Back.

German cucumber salad is a refreshing side dish that takes only a few minutes to make. Gurkensalat is basically just thinly sliced cucumbers and onions with fresh dill in a simple oil and vinegar mix. Make this German cucumber salad recipe to use up your cucumbers quickly!
Get the Recipe: German Cucumber Salad (Gurkensalat)

Berliner

German Recipes - A plate of donuts with jam and powdered sugar, a popular treat in Germany. — Berliner. Photo credit: Cooking Gorgeous.

These soft, fluffy, and incredibly delicious German Jam Doughnuts, also known as Berliner, are fried to a crisp, filled with jam, and dusted with icing sugar. They are among the most popular pastries in Germany, and you can easily find them in bakeries all across the country. However, if you want to make them right at home, this recipe is the perfect guide for you!
Get the Recipe: Berliner

German Potato Pancakes

A stack of German pancakes with syrup on a white plate. — German Potato Pancakes. Photo credit: Dishes Delish.

German potato pancakes, or Latkes, is a classic dish served in various forms for centuries. Not only do they make an incredibly tasty comfort food meal, but they’re also versatile and easy to prepare. If you haven’t tried making them yet, now is your chance to dicover how delicious potato pancakes can be.
Get the Recipe: German Potato Pancakes

German Lentil Soup

This German lentil soup recipe is a comfort food on a chilly day or evening. This amazing German dish made of lentils and broth is often served with a bratwurst or some other German sausage, a perfect addition to a full, home-cooked meal.
Get the Recipe: German Lentil Soup

Authentic German Apple Strudel (Apfelstrudel)

A German pastry with apples and powdered sugar. — Authentic German Apple Strudel (Apfelstrudel). Photo credit: House of Nash Eats.

This Apple Strudel (Apfelstrudel) recipe is easier than it seems and so much fun to make. The resulting strudel is a delicious, festive dessert just like the ones you would get in Germany – filled with sweet, spiced apples and raisins in a flaky crust that everyone will love!
Get the Recipe: Authentic German Apple Strudel (Apfelstrudel)

Black Forest Cake (Schwarzwälder Kirsch Kuche)

A German chocolate cake with cherries on top. — Black Forest Cake (Schwarzwälder Kirsch Kuche). Photo credit: If You Give A Blonde A Kitchen.

If you’re looking for a unique dessert that is as good as it looks, bake this authentic black forest cake. The light chocolate cake is made with a sweet yet tart cherry filling and rich whipped cream. This traditional recipe is a family favorite and great to serve on special occasions!
Get the Recipe: Black Forest Cake (Schwarzwälder Kirsch Kuche)

Franzbrötchen

A pile of German pastries on a piece of paper with recipes. — Franzbrötchen. Photo credit: Chocolates & Chai.

Franzbrötchen is a sweet cinnamon sugar-filled pastry roll native to Hamburg, Germany. Think of it as the lovechild of a croissant and a cinnamon bun. Traditionally, it’s made using a laminated pastry dough (called Plunderteig in German), but we’re taking a shortcut using store-bought puff pastry…because, well…it’s easier. This looks like it would be a weekend baking project, but with this little hack you can get it ready super quick, and hassle-free.
Get the Recipe: Franzbrötchen

Haselnussmakronen, German Hazelnut Macaroons

German cookies with nuts on a wooden cutting board. — Haselnussmakronen, German Hazelnut Macaroons. Photo credit: Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

Haselnussmakronen or German hazelnut macaroons are an incredibly easy, light and flavorful cookie. They pair well with a warm cup of coffee or tea on a chilly afternoon or evening. Treat you and your family to this wonderful snack or dessert!
Get the Recipe: Haselnussmakronen, German Hazelnut Macaroons

German Apple Cake (Kuchen)

A German apple cake recipe on a table with a spoon. — German Apple Cake (Kuchen). Photo credit: The Feathered Nester.

This authentic German kuchen is a soft, rustic cake filled with juicy apples. Make this impressive apple cake anytime, but especially as a sweet fall dessert! This cake is rich and wonderfully creamy, with hints of vanilla and cinnamon and thick slices of sweet, tender apples. It brings a lovely bit of comfort to the table, and is a must-make for your next family brunch or teatime.
Get the Recipe: German Apple Cake (Kuchen)