German cuisine often gets ignored in favor of famous dishes like schnitzel, brats, and beer. I decided to compile 15 of my favorite German soup recipes because they deserve the spotlight.
This list has a wide variety despite being short. You will find everything from German borscht to buttermilk soup and even matzo ball soup. Some options here are vegan friendly while others overflow with hearty meat chunks.
The one thing they share is that they are all delicious. Check out these 15 recipes if you want to add something new to your soup rotation.
1. German Wedding Soup
This dish known as hochzeitssuppe requires a decent amount of effort and ingredients. The final result is absolutely worth emptying your pantry for though.
You will find fresh vegetables alongside noodles and juicy meatballs created with breadcrumbs, ground beef, and sausage. It traditionally appears at anniversary parties or weddings. I also love this comforting meal on chilly evenings.
2. Oma’s Beef Noodle Soup
This option is perfect if you want to explore German cuisine without leaving your comfort zone. The pot holds over two pounds of roast beef plus onions, carrots, and celery chunks.
You can use egg noodles or any other soup pasta you prefer. It is a healthy, hearty, and tasty meal. The flavor beats anything you might get from a Campbell’s can.
3. German Borscht
This dish balances spicy, savory, and sweet notes all at once. Ham hock is a key component in this spice heavy vegetable soup.
I prefer topping my bowl with scallions and sour cream. Other garnish options include regular cream, whole milk, or apple cider vinegar. Non vegetarians who love vegetable soup will likely appreciate this recipe.
4. German Beer Cheese Soup
This version elevates standard beer soup with three cups of sharp cheddar and a few extras. The result is cheesy and creamy while keeping that classic beer taste.
I personally favor this cheese version over the regular kind. You should try both to see which one you prefer.
5. German Crepe Soup
You need less than ten ingredients for this simple, filling meal. Using vegetable broth rather than beef makes it suitable for vegetarians.
The base is essentially seasoned broth with thin pancake or crepe strips for texture. It might sound unusual, but the taste is surprisingly delightful.
6. German Sauerkraut Soup
Try this recipe for an authentic German food experience. You might like it even if you usually dislike sauerkraut.
The flavor profile here is much more complex than standard cabbage soup. Ingredients like garlic, tomato paste, onions, and bacon mask the sauerkraut taste. You only get a slight hint of tanginess beneath the herbs and spices.
7. Bavarian Bread Soup
This creamy, thick dish is delicious even though it is not keto friendly. The deep flavor profile includes butter, nutmeg, garlic, beef, and onions.
Toppings like chives and bread add visual appeal along with texture and crunch. You do not need extra crackers on the side since bread is already included.
8. German Potato Soup With Sausage
The broth here is thin, but big pieces of potato and meat make up for it. You can prepare this dish with juicy brats or other German sausages in under an hour.
Key ingredients include waxy potato chunks, cabbage, celery, onions, and bay leaves. It is an aromatic, filling choice for chilly winter evenings. The smell is almost as enjoyable as the taste.
9. German Goulash Soup
This recipe requires around two hours to cook and features peppers, carrots, potatoes, onions, garlic, and stewing beef. The complex spice blend is the real star here. It would just be a vegetable beef soup without those seasonings.
You will add sugar, bay leaves, parsley, marjoram or sage, and Hungarian paprika powder. These spices create an unmatched depth of flavor with a nice kick.
10. German Lentil Soup
Fans of chunky, filling soups will love this German lentil version. My partner insists this is the best kind of lentil soup.
It is packed with potatoes, leeks, celeriac, carrots, onions, bacon, and lentils. Preparation takes 20 minutes with an hour of cook time. You will likely have leftovers for the next day because it is so filling.
11. German Onion Soup
This dish surpasses other onion soups thanks to beer, German brats, caramelized onions, and pretzel roll croutons. Fans of French or kielbasa onion soup will definitely enjoy this one.
Most onion soups taste similar to me. The pretzel croutons and beer really elevate this recipe above the others.
12. Beer Soup
You can create this creamy dish in under an hour with very little effort. The flavor profile features spiced beer and broth. Crème fraiche and brown sugar provide a decadent sweetness.
I recommend topping it with cheese and ham gougères for extra flavor. This favorite is delicious served either hot or cold.
13. Buttermilchsuppe
Many people love this traditional German dish known as buttermilk soup. It blends savory bacon, chives, and onions with tart buttermilk and lemon juice.
The texture is creamy and smooth without many chunks. You can drink it or use a spoon to eat it. I enjoy dipping thick dark bread into the bowl.
14. German Cabbage Soup
It is easy to decide if you will like this meal. You will love it if you enjoy fried cabbage. This recipe is probably not for you if you dislike that vegetable.
Cabbage is the main star here despite the other ingredients. Fans of the veggie should definitely save this recipe.
15. Oma’s Matzo Ball Soup
This staple of Jewish cuisine is also very popular throughout Germany. You can make this simple dish in under an hour with less than ten ingredients.
The thick, doughy matzo balls float in a flavorful warm broth. It resembles chicken broth with crackers, but the crackers are large balls.