Learn what and when Oktoberfest is while diving into this collection of authentic Oktoberfest food and German appetizers. With over 15,000 saves, these traditional recipes, inspired by my German heritage and time living in Germany, bring the flavors of Bavaria right to your home.
Ever wondered what Oktoberfest is all about or when it’s celebrated? Oktoberfest is the world’s largest folk festival, kicking off in late September and running into early October in Munich, Germany. It’s a celebration of music, laughter, and camaraderie, with overflowing steins of beer and some of the most iconic foods Germany has to offer.
If you’re ready to bring that festive energy into your home, this collection of authentic Oktoberfest food and German appetizers has everything you need. This isn’t just a collection of recipes—it’s one of my most popular posts during the Oktoberfest season, saved by over 15,000 readers! With strong German heritage on both sides of my family and a chapter of my life spent living in Germany as an au pair, these recipes are deeply rooted in tradition and authenticity.
From warm, golden pretzels to savory schnitzel and flavorful sausages, these recipes make it easy to create your own Oktoberfest experience. Whether you’re planning a festive gathering or a cozy dinner, these dishes will transport you to a Bavarian beer hall. So grab your steins, gather your friends, and let’s celebrate Oktoberfest in style—your kitchen is about to become the star of the season!
What is Oktoberfest?
Oktoberfest is an annual festival that began in Munich, Germany. While it has the month of October in its name, the festival actually begins in September and ends on the first Sunday in October.
The Oktoberfest tradition began in 1810 with a horse race organized by Andreas Michael Dall’Armi to celebrate the wedding of Prince Regent Ludwig and Princess Therese.
The event, lasting five days, was held on a meadow named Theresienwiese in honor of the bride. Although initially lacking beer tents, this marked the birth of Oktoberfest. Dall’Armi was honored with Munich’s first gold citizens’ medal for his idea (Oktoberfest.de). For more details, visit the Oktoberfest history page.
Oktoberfest Food Ideas
In my early 20s, I spent six months as an au pair in Berlin, Germany. I tried so many new German foods and fell in love with them all!
I discovered red cabbage (rotkohl), apple kuchen, black bread, strudels and rote grütze! Most of these traditional Oktoberfest recipes are represented below!
From German appetizers to traditional Oktoberfest food like sauerbraten, and schnitzel, to pretzels, red cabbage, spaetzle and kuchens, we have you covered with these foods for Oktoberfest.
Oktoberfest Ideas for a Party
So plan your Oktoberfest menu, then grab your Lederhosen or Dirndl Oktoberfest dress, polish your beer stein and invite your friends over and celebrate with these fun party ideas for Oktoberfest!
Whether you are looking for truly authentic recipes or are looking for delicious German-ish food recipes, these are some of the best traditional Oktoberfest food ideas.
You might even want to mix up a drink, this cocktail would hit it out of the park.
German Appetizers and Starters for Oktoberfest
Start your festivities off right with these delicious starters and drinks!
Bavarian Pretzel | Traditional German Pretzels (Laugenbrezel)
These pretzels are giant and shareable, delicious on their own, or served with your favorite soup, stew or schnitzel. Easy step-by-step instructions.
Easy Beer Cheese Dip {Pretzel Cheese Dip}
Make this easy and delicious beer cheese dip -- bonus, I show you how to make it over a campfire or firepit, too!
Pretzel Bites {Air Fryer or Oven Baked}
Make these homemade pretzel bites, make this quickly in your air fryer or the oven, great for dipping in a beer cheese dip.
Radler Recipe (Bavarian Beer & Lemonade Cocktail)
This is how I learned to love beer! Though mine was with peaches and peach juice, give it a try, you won't be sorry!
Kartoffelpuffer (German Potato Pancakes)
Potato Pancakes make an excellent appetizer serve with several dipping sauce and everyone will love you!
Soft Beer Pretzels With Oktoberfest Cheese Dip
Beer pretzels, soft and flavorful and must make -- make a pretzel board!
2-Ingredient Beermosa
So maybe this isn't quite traditional, but who could resist a Beermosa!!
Quick Pretzel Bites with Sauerkraut Cheddar Cheese Sauce
Easy pretzel bites with a sauerkraut cheese sauce.
Beer Cheese Dip
An easy and simple beer cheese dip for those pretzels, brats and more.
German Oktoberfest Food: Main Dish Ideas
Make a traditional Oktoberfest feast with these fantastic and delicious recipes.
Authentic German Goulash Soup Recipe (Gulaschsuppe)
Rich, flavorful and oh-so delicious. Serve this hearty stew alongside buttered slices of Beer bread!
Beer-Brined Schnitzel With Creamy Mushroom Gravy
A traditional schnitzel, brined in beer first, then pounded thin and pan fried. Regarding the type of meat, you can use pork, chicken or veal for your beer-brined schnitzel.
Best Beer and Cheese Soup (with Sharp Cheddar Cheese)
Rich, thick and deliciously cheesy, full of flavor from beer, broth and of course the cheese!
Healthy Cheeseburger Soup | Crockpot or Stovetop
If you desire something a little lighter, make this hearty and healthy cheeseburger soup.
Dutch Oven Beef Stew (or Slow Cooker)
A beer braised beef stew will fit in perfectly with your Oktoberfest menu plans!
Bread and Butter Pot Roast
Start this bread and butter pot roast in the morning and by dinnertime, enjoy a fall-apart tender and rich pot roast! Serve as is, or try it spooned over a baked potato.
Pork Schnitzel Recipe
Classic and traditional pork schnitzel is easier than you think, wow your family and friends!
Beer Braised Sauerkraut and Bratwurst
Raise a glass to these beer braised brats with sauerkraut!
Spaetzle With Bratwurst, Sweet Potatoes and Caramelized Onions
A one skillet meal that will have you spinning in circles for seconds!
Pork Schnitzel & Mushroom Gravy (Jagerschnitzel)
Jagerschnitzel is a pork schnitzel covered in a warm mushroom gravy, be still my German food loving heart.
Sauerkraut, Bratwurst & Potato Soup
Go all Oktoberfest with this sauerkraut, bratworst and potato soup, a light, delicious and brothy soup.
Authentic German Sauerbraten Recipe
Sauerbraten is my favorite, you will love this stunning and delicious recipe.
Oktoberfest Chili
Where Germany meets the west, make this Oktoberfest chili!
Pork Roast & Sauerkraut
Tender and flavorful, pork roast with sauerkraut!
Smoked Brats With Beer and Onion
Go simple with this simple smoked brats in a light beer and onion sauce.
Best Oktoberfest Recipes for Sides
Because sides are what make a meal! Gather your family and friends and dive into these delicious German side dishes!
Traditional German Red Cabbage (Rotkohl)
Rotkohl is one of my favorites, a delicious, sweet and tangy red cabbage side -- don't know it until you try it!
Cheddar Beer Popovers
Quick and easy, using a basic beer bread recipe, these are not light and fluffy like popovers, but instead are like beer muffins!
German Potato Pancakes aka Kartoffelpuffer (Easy Recipe)
A German classic, that my Dad made often!
Easy 4 Ingredient Beer Bread
One of our favorite go-to quick breads to serve with soups, stews and anything with gravy! Whips up in minutes, bakes in about an hour.
Traditional Bavarian Potato Salad
Delicious Bavarian potato salad, super easy and so delicious!
German Potato Fries with Bacon (Bratkartoffeln)
A one skillet meal that will make everyone happy!
Easy Homemade German Spaetzle Recipe
Another favorite of ours, this Spaetzle recipe is great to accompany saurbraten, schnitzel, brats and so much more!
Hot German Potato Salad Recipe (No Mayo or Eggs)
After trying this hot potato salad, You might never return to regular potato salad again.
Black Bread (Bread Machine)
Rich and easy to make, this black bread is great to sop up the juices of your favorite German dish!
Favorite Oktoberfest Desserts
Browse through these traditional and not-so-traditional desserts to complete your Oktoberfest feast!
Authentic German Apple Strudel (Apfelstrudel)
We love apple strudel and believe it or not, it's easier than you think!
Pfeffernusse Cookies (German Spice Cookies)
Our family recipe for Pfeffernusse, which literally translated is "pepper nuts" these a a delicious spice cookie, great for dunking and yes, they do have pepper in them, just a touch!
German Donuts & How to Make Them Like a Bavarian
German pulled donuts, well Bavarian actually, these would be so fun to make with your kids!
Crème Anglaise
Make these easy Creme Anglaise, we used to drizzle it over our Rote Grotze! SO GOOD!
Easy Old Fashioned Apple Crisp {Gluten-Free Option}
A family favorite, this easy Apple Crisp is lower in sugar than most and will complement your Oktoberfest meal easily!
Fried Apple Rings with Cinnamon-Sugar
Make these simple fried apple rings and everyone will be swooning!!
Easy Vanilla Sauce
Again, while German by nature, this sauce is great on strudel, kuchen, ice cream, with a spoon!
Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Soft Pretzels
Have your pretzel and dessert too!
Fresh Peach Kuchen Recipe
Light, flavorful and classic, this peach kuchen will have everyone coming back for seconds.
Strawberry Kuchen Recipe
Try your kuchen with strawberries instead!
German Candied Almonds (Gebrannte Mandeln)
Can you just smell them? Those sweet cinnamon almonds roasting as you stroll the streets!
German Pancake {Oven Baked Pancake}
Make it for breakfast or for dessert, this German pancake is easy, quick and fun to eat!
German Apple Cake with Streusel Topping (Apfelkuchen mit Streusel)
A classic German apple cake that is fabulous for breakfast as well as for after dinner.
I hope you will break out of the norm and try one or two or more of these Oktoberfest ideas for a party!
Don’t worry if you end up celebrating in October, it took me decades to realize this wasn’t a celebration during the entire month of October! And I call myself a good German girl! Sheesh!
I hope you loved a few of these Oktoberfest food ideas — if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest? And be sure to comment below!
10 Authentic Oktoberfest Celebrations in the U.S.
You do not need to travel across the Atlantic to celebrate Oktoberfest in traditional style. Check out these 10 authentic American Oktoberfest celebrations right here in the US.
- Frankenmuth Oktoberfest, Michigan | For over 30 years, they have been celebrating Oktoberfest! Celebrate September 19-22, 2024.
- Tulsa Oktoberfest celebrates authentic Bavarian culture in the heart of Oklahoma! October 17-20, 2024
- Helen, GA Oktoberfest features a parade at noon on Sept. 7, 2024, in downtown Helen. Helen’s Oktoberfest runs from Thursday to Sunday through September and daily from Sept. 26 to Oct. 27, 2024.
- Fredericksburg, TX | A true celebration of our German heritage in the Polka Capital of Texas! Happening on October 4-6 2024
- Four Peaks Oktoberfest, Tempe AZ held from October 11-13, 2024
- Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest, CA | Heralded as the top German celebration in Southern California and dear to my heart from many summers, winters, and ski patrol days at Bear Mountain—runs September 7 through November 2, 2024!
- Oktoberfest Zinzinatti, OH Check it out September 19-22, 2024.
- Snowbirds Oktoberfest, UT | This highly anticipated festival begins August 10 and lasts through October 13, 2024. It takes place every Saturday and Sunday, along with Labor Day.
- New Ulm Oktoberfest, MN | Touted as one of the best free Oktoberfest celebrations in the nation! Oct. 4-5, Oct. 11-12, 2024
- Oktoberfest in Vail, CO | I had to add one for our fair state. The town of Vail transports you to a quaint European-style village. In Lionshead September 6-8 and Vail Village September 13-15, 2024.
Aline
I love seeing all your recipe’s they all look so delicious, I wish I could try them all.
You are the sweetest, Aline! I sure do appreciate you!