7 Tasty Oktoberfest-Inspired Recipes to Enjoy with a Cold One

Munich's Oktoberfest is a wonderland for lovers of German beer and food, with millions of liters of beer drunk and untold numbers of sausages, pretzels, and other German delights consumed over 16 days. If you can't make it all the way to Munich, cities from coast to coast host their own Oktoberfest to celebrate German-American heritage. But even if you're just staying home, October is a great time to celebrate German cooking, one of the great influences on American cuisine responsible for everything from mainstays like hamburgers, frankfurters, potato salad, and meatloaf to our national preference for beer over wine. Oktoberfest is also a time to dig a little deeper into the German cookbook and make use of some cozy fall ingredients like pork, potatoes, apples, cabbage, and butter. These rich foods can be nicely tempered by a cold, crisp beer. Pair them with your favorite Oktoberfest brew, a golden lager like you might find in Munich, or whatever gets you in the mood to put on your dirndl and crank some oom-pah music. Here are 7 German-inspired and German recipes that pair wonderfully with beer and are perfect for your Oktoberfest celebration. - By Elizabeth Stark and Brian Campbell

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