Celebrating Oktoberfest is a delicious way to welcome early fall, with hearty German dishes, warm pretzels, comforting sides, and apple-filled desserts made for gathering around the table.
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With German roots in my family, these are recipes I especially love to share. This collection brings together German classics and German-inspired favorites, including bratwurst and sauerkraut, chicken schnitzel, spaetzle, German potato salad, homemade soft pretzels, and traditional apple desserts.
Munich's Oktoberfest takes place September 19 through October 4 in 2026. If you're celebrating closer to home, these easy recipes make it simple to bring some of that Bavarian-inspired tradition to your own table.
Planning a larger gathering? My Easy Oktoberfest Food Ideas for Hosting has menu ideas, make-ahead tips, and simple ways to turn these recipes into a festive celebration.
Oktoberfest may be celebrated in Munich, but its hearty Bavarian flavors are wonderfully suited to an early fall table anywhere. Think savory sausages, roast chicken, tender schnitzel, warm potato dishes, cabbage, freshly baked pretzels, and apple desserts fragrant with cinnamon.
Below you'll find German classics along with a few German-inspired favorites for creating your own Oktoberfest feast. Choose a hearty main, add a couple of traditional sides or homemade pretzels, and finish with something sweet.
Traditional Oktoberfest Mains
Hearty main dishes are at the center of an Oktoberfest table. Bratwurst and sauerkraut are perennial favorites, while roast chicken, schnitzel, Sauerbraten, and other comforting German dishes make a festive meal for family or friends.
1
Sheet Pan German Bratwurst, Potatoes and Cabbage
Sheet Pan German Bratwurst, Potatoes, and Cabbage is an easy, delicious dinner that's perfect for Oktoberfest or anytime you're craving German sausage, potatoes, and cabbage. And the easy Mustard Sauce is an absolute must!
"This pan-seared schnitzel is a lightened up version of the favorite fried cutlets, yet is just as tender and yummy as its counterpart. And… it's an under 30-minute fix."
Make a delicious one pot dinner with this pork chop recipe. Juicy chops simmered with butternut squash, kale, and apples in a cinnamon-infused apple cider sauce.
This easy Grilled Sausages with Sauerkraut recipe comes together with just 3 simple ingredients and 15 minutes. A quick, flavorful meal perfect for summer grilling, Oktoberfest, or any busy weeknight.
This delicious German Cabbage and Noodles recipe with sausage combines tender cabbage, noodles, and a flavorful mustard sauce for a perfect one-pot meal.
"This Sauerbraten recipe (traditional German pot roast) is made in the slow cooker it's tender it just falls apart. Marinated in vinegar, wine and simple spices it's perfect for your own authentic Oktoberfest party!"
The famous Bavarian "Eisbein" is a roasted pork knuckle with crispy skin and juicy meat inside, on a bed of seasoned sauerkraut, served with a pretzel, mustard and/or Bavarian bread dumplings and gravy
The sides may be my favorite part of a German feast. Tangy potato salad, spaetzle, red cabbage, sauerkraut, cucumber salad, and warm cabbage dishes pair beautifully with sausages, chicken, and pork while bringing plenty of variety to the table.
12
German Potato Salad Recipe
This easy German Potato Salad recipe is a warm, tangy side dish made with tender potatoes, savory bacon, fresh parsley, and a simple vinegar-mustard dressing. Perfect for summer cookouts, BBQs, Oktoberfest, and holidays.
This Creamy Cucumber Salad with Greek Yogurt is a salad you'll fall in love with. Distinctly crisp, refreshingly... and almost sweet. It's similar to tzatziki, which often accompanies spicy dishes.
German Krautstrudel is an easy savory cabbage strudel filled with tender sautéed cabbage, smoky bacon, onion, red bell pepper, and caraway seeds, all wrapped in crisp, flaky phyllo dough.
This Hot Slaw recipe with Bacon Dressing is a quick and easy side dish. And a perfect complement to heftier favorites like pork, sausages, or, of course, chicken. Whether it be fried, grilled... or pulled!
Looking for crispy authentic German potato pancakes? These fried and hearty pancakes are loaded with potato and best served hot with sweet or savory sauces! Take your brunch game to the next level!
Authentic German Austrian Spaetzle with Caramelized Onions
An authentic Austrian-German Spaetzle with Caramelized Onion is an easy to make at home treat you'll find yourself making often. A great addition to any Oktoberfest celebration!
"Blaukraut is an authentic German dish and it's super simple to make. My mother used to make this blaukraut recipe for my family growing up. Now, it's become one of our most popular German sides in our restaurant, Bavarian Inn!"
Few foods say Oktoberfest quite like a warm soft pretzel. Along with classic Brezeln, savory German-inspired bakes like Krautstrudel and Bierocks are delicious additions to an Oktoberfest spread and especially nice for casual gatherings.& Pretzels
20
Easy Homemade Soft Pretzels (Brezeln) Recipe
These homemade soft pretzels are quick, easy, and incredibly delicious. Made with just 6 ingredients, they bake up golden and chewy in about 30 minutes.
These German Bierocks are handheld savory meat and cabbage "pies" that are utterly delicious. Filled with cooked and seasoned ground beef, shredded cabbage, and onions, then baked until the pillowy dough is golden and delicious. An updated family recipe we love!
End your Oktoberfest meal with something sweet and seasonal. Apples, cinnamon, buttery pastry, and German-style cakes are especially at home on an early fall table, whether you choose an easy apple strudel, German apple kuchen, or a simple Käsekuchen-inspired dessert.
23
German Apple Kuchen
"A quintessential German dessert… an easy recipe that delivers delicious seasonal flavor!"
This Easy Apple Strudel recipe, or Apfelstrudel, is a centuries-old classic made easy with store-bought pastry. Perfect for entertaining, bake sales, or simply inviting the neighbors over for tea... and strudel.
These Quark Mini Cheesecakes or German Käsekuchen are delightful and surprisingly easy desserts. Perfect for brunch, afternoon tea, or dinner guests. Topped with fresh seasonal berries, they are incredibly delicious.
German Cinnamon Apple Streusel Muffins. Deliciously moist with fall flavors of vanilla and cinnamon, crunchy, with a buttery streusel topping. Delicious!
Oktoberfest began in Munich in 1810 as part of the festivities surrounding the wedding of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. A horse race held on October 17 in honor of the royal couple helped begin a celebration that would become an enduring Munich tradition.
Today, Oktoberfest is held on Munich's Theresienwiese and is known as the world's largest folk festival, celebrating Bavarian culture, tradition, food, music, and hospitality. In 2026, Oktoberfest runs from September 19 through October 4.
If you can't attend Oktoberfest and wear your favorite lederhosen or dirndl dress, here are some favorite German street food and festival recipes to make at home!
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Stephanie Wilson
Cookbook Author, Food Writer, and Chef
Stephanie Wilson is the founder of 31Daily.com, where she shares seasonal recipes, weekly meal plans, and teatime favorites to help readers gather around the table with joy. A certified private chef, cookbook author, and longtime event planner, she brings over 20 years of experience in catering, food writing, and media production—including network television work as a producer, director, and writer. Her work has been featured by Today.com, The Kitchn, Parade, and more.
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