German Menu Ideas

Typical German Dishes That Go Together

Written by

Jennifer McGavin

Updated 06/05/20

German dishes shine when served with their traditional sides. Typical German suppers, served at 1 pm, include fresh fruit or compote for dessert and leave the cake and other sweets for coffee time late in the afternoon. This is a good way to eat well but not overeat, especially if you visit Germany.

A popular German saying is "Nach dem Essen soll man ruhen, oder tausend Schritte tun", which means "After eating, either take a nap or a walk." You may want to follow this advice after enjoying one of the menus below.

How German Food Has Evolved Over Time

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01 of 07
Sunday Roast Dinner Menu

ceiling / Flickr

Roasts are the perfect Sunday Supper. You have plenty of time while the pork roast cooks in the oven to finish the rest of the meal. Make a simple soup to start, then serve the roast with a mushroom cream sauce. For a feast, include a side of red cabbage. Make it a light pudding or mousse served with fruit if you'd like dessert.
02 of 07
Comfort Food Menu

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Sometimes there is nothing better than good, old-fashioned comfort food, like the dishes that Grandma used to make. Try one of these comforting rolled up recipes (cabbage rolls or beef roulade) and serve with boiled potatoes, Brussel sprouts, or sauerkraut.
03 of 07
Southern Comfort Menu

Linsen, Spaetzle und Saiten - Lentil Stew with Noodles and Frankfurter. Kochtopf Creative Commons

Southern German comfort food consists of filling lentils, frankfurter, and spaetzle. The lentils are cooked with German bacon and soup greens and served with red wine vinegar. To this, add spaetzle, a type of noodle, and sausage to make a hearty stew. Germans usually buy the long hot dog-like Frankfurters called "Saitenwürstle" or "wiener".
04 of 07
Semi-Vegetarian German Menu

Bratkartoffeln mit Spiegelei. J.McGavin

What's more famous that the humble German Cottage Potato? Bratkartoffeln are served in many ways but one of the easiest, but the most satisfying way is with a green salad and fried eggs (Spiegeleier).
- Bratkartoffeln - German Cottage Potatoes with Bacon
- Salatsosse - German Sour Cream Dressing
Continue to 5 of 7 below.
05 of 07
Summertime Menu

The Spruce

If it's hot outside or you want to plan ahead, make these hamburger patties ahead of time and serve with a salad or two. Don't dress the lettuce salad until you are ready to eat, but everything else can be prepped beforehand.
06 of 07
One-Dish Menus

Barley Soup - Graupensuppe Eintopf. Ralf Hertsch Creative Commons

Multiple dishes and courses are not always necessary for a satisfying German meal. Try lentil soup or barley stew with a thick slice of homemade bauernbrot or other bread for a simple meal. Often served in the kantinen and mensas (cafeterias) in Germany, these hearty soups are a meal all on their own. If you make homemade bread, freeze part of the loaf, then you don't have to bake next time you make this menu.
07 of 07
Sweet Main Dish Menus

A Germknödel in butter sauce. Takeaway/Wikimedia CC 2.0

German main dishes can be sweet rather than savory. With lots of carbohydrates for plenty of energy on cold days and filling to boot, sweet main dishes are a real treat. Often served with a fruit or vanilla sauce, a plate or two of these dishes with a hot cup of tea are sure to warm you up. Sometimes these sweet dishes are served with a little savory soup to start.

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