German Style Meatballs - Oktoberfest Recipes (2024)

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We make these meatballs for our annual Oktoberfest at church. Flavorful meatballs in a sweet and sour sauce, loaded with sauerkraut and cranberries.Click to Tweet

Many people celebrate Oktoberfest in the fall. Here is a family favorite we make for our annual dinner at church. Flavorful meatballs in a sweet and sour sauce, loaded with sauerkraut and cranberries. Members of our church like these German Style Meatballs so much, they’ve come to expect it each year.

German Style Meatballs - Oktoberfest Recipes (1)(Post modified with new pictures on 10/11/23.)

This recipe is so easy to prepare. You just need to make sure you have the necessary ingredients, as some of them may not be a regular item stocked in your pantry. These items (for me anyway) are: Onion Soup Mix, Sauerkraut, Chili Sauce, and Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce. It seems like a lot, but really, these meatballs are delicious! And who doesn’t like meatballs, right?

Another item worth noting is that this recipe works really well if you happen to have a lot of ground venison in your freezer. We eat a lot of deer meat, so I’m always looking for ways to use it.

German Style Meatballs - Oktoberfest Recipes (2)You may serve these meatballs as appetizers or as a main dish. And it’s perfect for your next Oktoberfest potluck dinner!

See More Meatball Recipes

  • Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with Meatballs
  • Potluck Barbecue Meatballs
  • Spaghetti Sauce and Mighty Meatballs
  • Easy Swedish Meatballs

Ingredients for German Style Meatballs

(See full recipe at the bottom of this post.)

  • lean ground beef (80/20 or ground venison)
  • large egg
  • onion soup mix
  • plain bread crumbs or crushed saltine crackers

Sauce

  • sauerkraut
  • whole berry cranberry sauce
  • Chili Sauce (See my Homemade Version Here.)
  • brown sugar
  • water

Instructions for Making this Recipe

German Style Meatballs - Oktoberfest Recipes (3)Preheat oven to 325 degrees. To begin, gather all your ingredients so that you have them in easy access at your workspace.

Make the Meatballs

German Style Meatballs - Oktoberfest Recipes (4)Using a large stainless mixing bowl, mix together the ground burger, large egg, onion soup mix, and bread crumbs, making sure to combine everything thoroughly.

You’ll want to use a lean ground beef for this recipe. Ground venison also works really well.I like to use my hands to make the meatballs. You can also use crushed saltine crackers if you don’t have any bread crumbs.

German Style Meatballs - Oktoberfest Recipes (5)Using a cookie scoop or spoon, shape the mixture into small meatballs.

German Style Meatballs - Oktoberfest Recipes (6)Place in an oblong baking pan sprayed with baking spray. This should make enough meatballs to fill the pan, about 30 meatballs.

Prepare the Sauce

German Style Meatballs - Oktoberfest Recipes (7)In a separate bowl, mix together the sauerkraut, whole cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, and water.

Chili Sauce is one of those items I may not always have in my pantry, so here is an easy Homemade Version if you need it.

German Style Meatballs - Oktoberfest Recipes (8)Spoon the sauce over the meatballs.

German Style Meatballs - Oktoberfest Recipes (9)Bake the meatballs, uncovered for 2 hours. Allow to cool for 15 minutes and then turn the meatballs in the sauce. If you’re planning to take this to a potluck dinner, you may also opt to place the meatballs in a slow cooker to keep warm on low.

German Style Meatballs - Oktoberfest Recipes (10)This recipe will easily serve 8-10 people. Serve as an Appetizer with toothpicks or a Main Dish at your next German Dinner or Oktoberfest Celebration.

I like to serve these meatballs with Bierocks and/or German Spaetzle with Cabbage. Guten Appetit!

Wine Recommendations – Serve with a Dry Riesling such as Chateau Michelle Rieslingor a favorite Gewurztraminer.

See more German Recipes Here. Browse Main Dishes Here. View Appetizes Here.

German Style Meatballs

Many people celebrate Oktoberfest with German food. Here is a family favorite we make for our annual German Dinner at church. Great with Bierocks and/or Spaetzel.

5 from 3 votes

Print RatePin Recipe

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: German

Keyword: Chili Sauce, Cranberry Sauce, Ground Beef, Ground Venison, Meatballs, Onion Soup Mix, Sauerkraut

Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours hours

Total Time: 2 hours hours 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 15

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs lean ground beef 80/20 (or ground venison works well, too)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 package onion soup mix
  • 1 cup bread crumbs or crushed saltine crackers

Cranberry Sauce

  • 16 oz sauerkraut drained
  • 14 oz whole berry cranberry sauce
  • 12 oz Heinz Chili Sauce See Homemade Recipe Here.
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 6 oz water fill half of empty Heinz bottle

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Gather your ingredients so that you have everything close at hand on the counter or table.

Prepare the Meatballs

  • In a large stainless mixing bowl, mix together the ground burger, large egg, onion soup mix, and bread crumbs. (You can also use crushed saltine crackers in place of the bread crumbs.)

  • Using a medium cookie scoop, shape into small meatballs. Place in an oblong baking pan sprayed with baking spray.

Make the Sauce

  • In a separate bowl, mix together the drained sauerkraut, whole cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, and water. Spoon mixture over the meatballs.

  • Bake uncovered for 2 hours in preheated oven. Let set for 15 minutes and then turn the meatballs.

  • If you're planning to take this to a potluck dinner, you may also opt to place the meatballs in a slow cooker to keep warm on low. Serves 8-10

Notes

*Wine Recommendations - Serve with a Dry Riesling such as Chateau Michelle Riesling or a favorite Gewurztraminer.

Nutrition

Calories: 224kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 910mg | Potassium: 408mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 189IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 3mg

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German Style Meatballs - Oktoberfest Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are German meatballs made of? ›

German Meatball Ingredients
  • German Meatball Ingredients.
  • 1 lb ground beef.
  • 1 whole egg.
  • 14 cup fine dry breadcrumb.
  • 14 cup milk.
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped.
  • 12 teaspoon salt.
  • 14 teaspoon poultry seasoning.

What is Königsberger Klopse made of? ›

The meatballs are made from very finely minced veal, though less expensive beef or pork is often substituted, along with onions, eggs, a few (white) bread crumbs, and spices, chiefly white pepper. The traditional recipe uses anchovy. If herring is substituted, the dish is called Rostocker Klopse.

Can you freeze Aldi meatballs? ›

Keep refrigerated below 5°C at the bottom of the fridge. Once opened, keep refrigerated and use within 24 hours and by date shown. Suitable for freezing. Freeze by date mark shown and use within one month.

What are Polish meatballs made of? ›

Ingredients
  • 1-1/2 cups soft bread crumbs.
  • 1/2 cup evaporated milk.
  • 1/2 pound ground pork.
  • 1/2 pound ground veal.
  • 1/2 pound ground beef.
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten.
  • 1 tablespoon grated onion.
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley.
Jan 8, 2024

What is the binding ingredient in meatballs? ›

Eggs: Eggs keep the meatballs from drying out and they act as a binding agent, which means they help hold the ingredients together.

What is the history of German meatballs? ›

The name of the dish comes from the historic Prussian city called Königsberg, today's Kaliningrad, where the recipe was developed. Traditionally the main ingredients of those particular meatballs were ground veal or ground beef and pork as well as chopped anchovies.

What is German for meatballs? ›

Simple beer hall meat patties, perfect with mashed potatoes or french fries. A German staple in every home, as small meatballs they make a great appetizer or snack.

Is it better to freeze meatballs raw or cooked? ›

Meatballs make great freezer meals. They can be frozen either cooked or uncooked and keep well for up to 2 months. For super convenient and time saving meals, simply make a double batch of meatballs and freeze the extra!

Is it better to freeze meatballs in sauce or not? ›

Our answer. Nigella's recipe for Meatballs (from NIGELLA BITES) simmers the freshly formed meatballs in a tomato sauce. The meatballs in sauce can be frozen for up to 3 months in airtight containers and you may find it more convenient to freeze individual portions rather than one large batch.

How do you freeze meatballs so they don't stick together? ›

Arrange meatballs in a single layer on a baking sheet (keep them from touching each other or they will stick together when frozen) and freeze until solid. Transfer the meatballs to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container, label with type of meatball and date, and freeze for 1-2 months.

What is klopski? ›

Polish Meatballs - Klopsiki - Polish Housewife

Meatballs seem like fun food. They're always the life of the party. I'm bringing you one version of Polish Meatballs – Klopsiki today.

What is the difference between regular meatballs and Italian meatballs? ›

American meatballs are the biggest in size, with Italian and Swedish meatballs following on the depth chart. Italian meatballs call for seasonings like grated parmesan and oregano, while Swedish ones use seasonings like nutmeg and allspice. While it doesn't sound like a huge distinction, you'll notice it in the taste!

What's the difference between meatballs and Swedish meatballs? ›

Italian Meatballs vs Swedish Meatballs: Swedish Meatballs are typically smaller in size than Italian meatballs and they are usually made with a 50-50 ratio of ground pork and ground beef.

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