People often ignore German soups because they focus on big plates of schnitzel or brats. I decided to fix that by gathering 15 of my favorite soup recipes from Germany.
This collection includes a huge variety of flavors ranging from creamy buttermilk to hearty beef. You will find vegetarian options and bowls packed with meat on this list.
Every single one is absolutely delicious.
1. German Beer Cheese Soup
This recipe improves upon standard beer soup by adding three cups of sharp cheddar cheese. It also includes a few other extras.
The result is a creamy and cheesy dish that keeps the traditional beer taste underneath. I actually like this version better than the plain beer soup.
You should try both to see which one you prefer.
2. German Cabbage Soup
You can easily decide if you will like this dish. Fans of fried cabbage are going to love it.
The cabbage is the main star here despite the other ingredients. People who dislike cabbage probably won’t enjoy this one.
Bookmark this recipe right now if you are a cabbage lover.
3. Oma’s Matzo Ball Soup
Matzo ball soup is a classic staple of Jewish cooking that is also popular with people in Germany. The simple recipe requires fewer than ten ingredients and takes under an hour to prepare.
You get a warm broth paired with thick doughy matzo balls. Think of it as chicken soup with crackers, but the crackers are large spheres floating on top.
4. Buttermilchsuppe
Buttermilk soup is a traditional dish that many people adore. It has an exceptionally creamy texture that mixes savory bacon and onions with tart buttermilk and lemon juice.
The consistency is mostly liquid without many chunks. I love to soak it up with pieces of thick dark bread.
You can also just drink it or use a spoon.
5. German Goulash Soup
You will need about two hours to make this soup featuring stewing beef and vegetables like peppers and potatoes. The real secret lies in the complex mixture of spices.
It would just be a beef stew without the sweet and hot Hungarian paprika. Herbs like marjoram and parsley add incredible depth to the flavor.
The result is unbelievably delicious with a nice kick of spice.
6. German Potato Soup With Sausage
This delicious soup makes up for its thin broth with massive chunks of potatoes and meat. It combines juicy bratwurst with ingredients like waxy potatoes and cabbage in under an hour.
The dish is surprisingly aromatic and full of flavor. It is a very filling option perfect for cold winter nights.
You will enjoy the smell just as much as the taste.
7. German Onion Soup
This dish blows other onion soups out of the water with its generous amount of caramelized onions and German brats. It features beer and tasty croutons made from pretzel rolls.
Fans of French onion soup will absolutely love this recipe. Most onion soups taste similar to me.
The addition of beer and pretzel croutons puts this one a step above the rest.
8. German Lentil Soup
You will go crazy for this if you like soups packed with small chunky ingredients. My partner claims this is the best lentil soup even though I enjoy all kinds.
It is packed with bacon and potatoes and leeks. You need about an hour to cook it after twenty minutes of prep work.
The soup is so filling that you will likely have leftovers for a second meal.
9. Oma’s Beef Noodle Soup
This is a great choice if you want to try German food without leaving your comfort zone. The recipe uses over two pounds of roast beef along with vegetables and egg noodles.
It is a healthy and hearty meal. The flavor is similar to canned beef and vegetable soup but tastes much better.
10. Bavarian Bread Soup
This thick soup is insanely delicious even though it is not keto-friendly. It features a rich flavor profile with notes of nutmeg and beef and butter.
You use bread and chives to decorate the top for added crunch. The recipe already includes bread so you do not need to serve any on the side.
11. German Borscht
German borscht manages to be savory and sweet and spicy all at once. It is mostly a rich vegetable soup with plenty of spices despite the ham hock in the mix.
I like to top my bowl with scallions and sour cream. You can also use apple cider vinegar or whole milk as a garnish.
You will appreciate this dish if you enjoy vegetable soup but still eat meat.
12. German Sauerkraut Soup
You really have to try this soup for a true taste of German cuisine. Even people who dislike sauerkraut might enjoy this recipe.
The flavor is much more complex than standard cabbage soup. You barely taste the sauerkraut because of the bacon and tomato paste and spices.
There is just a subtle hint of tanginess underneath it all.
13. Beer Soup
You can whip up this smooth beer soup in less than an hour with minimal effort. It features a rich flavor of spiced beer and broth.
Ingredients like crème fraiche add a touch of sweet decadence. I love topping it with ham and cheese gougères.
You can eat it hot for dinner or cold over bread for breakfast the next day.
14. German Wedding Soup
German wedding soup requires quite a few ingredients and a bit of work. It is so good that you will not mind clearing out your pantry to make it.
The dish features fresh veggies and juicy meatballs made from ground beef and sausage. It is traditionally served at weddings.
I also find it makes a comforting dinner when the weather turns cool.
15. German Crepe Soup
This simple soup is light yet filling. You need fewer than ten ingredients to put it together.
It becomes vegetarian-friendly if you use vegetable broth instead of beef. The recipe is basically broth and seasonings with thin strips of pancakes added for texture.
It tastes surprisingly good despite how odd it sounds.