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What to Serve with Schnitzel (Oma Would Approve)
by: Lydia Fulson / Writer, Artist, Traveler, Granddaughter & Ever-Learning German Cook
Published: September 06, 2021, Updated: April 29, 2025
Wondering what goes with schnitzel? Here’s what I grew up eating with it ... easy, hearty sides that make every bite even better.
Schnitzel’s great, but it’s even better with the right side! Scroll down for my favorite tasty picks (and don’t forget the lemon!).
The schnitzel up top? That’s Oma’s classic ... so good. All the delicious side dish links are waiting for you just below.
Got an air fryer? My pork schnitzel recipe is crazy easy and ready in 20 minutes. Thin pork cutlets = best results!
Ready to find the perfect sidekick for your schnitzel? Here are my top 10 traditional German favorites:
Salad Sides
Salads aren’t the classic choice with schnitzel, but I still love them. Fresh, healthy, and perfect when you want a lighter side!
1. Lettuce Salad
This salad with sour cream dressing is just one of the easy ways you can top a classic green salad. It tastes amazing drizzled over a lettuce salad. It may be simple, but that's certainly not a bad thing in the kitchen!
2. Southern Potato Salad
This one was new to me until Oma introduced it. A warm potato salad, or kartoffelsalat ohne mayo, is a favorite down in Southern Germany.
3. Tomato Salad
Oma's tomato salad, Tomatensalat, is such a refreshing treat. It goes with just about anything, and the color is pure summer in a bowl.
I even love scooping it onto tortilla chips like a salsa. The balsamic vinegar gives it a little kick, and the fresh tomatoes are unbeatable.
Next up, let’s dive into some carb and potato sides. Potatoes are a big deal in German cooking. Boiled, mashed, rolled, or baked, they find a way onto just about every plate.
Carb and Potato Sides
There are lots of carb and potato sides for schnitzel, depending on what part of Germany you are from. They are all classic and so good.
4. Oma's German Spätzle
Spätzle is a southern favorite and so much fun to make, especially with a spätzle press like the one Oma brought back from Germany. If you don't have one, that's ok, 'cause there are alternatives.
Schnitzel Recipe
Pop over here for Oma's easiest recipe for making the basic German pork schnitzel.
And when you're heading there, do you actually know what a schnitzel is? If not, then check out this History of Schnitzel. You'll find there are Roman, Italian, Austrian, AND Germans involved.
5. Hasselback Potatoes
Hasselback potatoes, fächerkartoffeln, are one of my favorite ways to dress up dinner without a lot of fuss. They look fancy but are super easy to make and taste amazing with schnitzel.
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Next up, a family favorite.
6. German Fried Potatoes
If you want something quick, German fried potatoes, or bratkartoffeln, are a family favorite that my Uroma (Oma's Mutti) used to whip up for easy lunches. I still love making them on the BBQ or over the fire with green onions, salt, pepper, and a little sour cream.
7. Mashed Potatoes
Plain mashed potatoes are another great potato side. Just boiled potatoes mashed with milk, butter, and salt and pepper. Simple, classic, and delicious!
My sister and I used to make what we called 'volcanoes'. Whenever Oma would serve mashed potatoes as a side with her famous gravy, we would mold our potatoes with a fork into the shape of a volcano. Then, scoop a hole in the center and pour the gravy in until it overflowed. I still love doing this :)
Mashed potatoes are always a good side to serve and they go with anything! Add some roasted garlic for an extra kick.
8. French Fries
French fries, or pommes frites, are such a classic side with schnitzel and make for the perfect dinner. I love tossing them in the air fryer while the schnitzel cooks so everything is ready at the same time.
Vegetable Sides
Let’s bring in some veggies. For dinner parties, Oma always serves two vegetable sides, and red cabbage is usually first on the table, so let’s start there!
9. Oma's German Red Cabbage
I think that red cabbage, or rotkohl, is a total must with schnitzel and has always been my favorite German side. Oma’s version has apples and that perfect sweet-sour flavor. It's so good, even cabbage-haters go back for seconds.
10. Roasted Asparagus
Roasted asparagus, or spargel, has been one of my favorite veggies for years because it pairs with just about anything. This version with seasoned breadcrumbs looks great next to schnitzel and red cabbage for the perfect German meal.
Don’t those all look so lecker? Now that you’ve seen my top 10 sides for schnitzel, grab your apron and get cooking—your kitchen adventure starts now!
Comments? Questions?
You can leave a comment about this recipe or ask a question...
Pop right over to my private Facebook group, the Kaffeeklatschers. You'll find thousands of German foodies, all eager to help and to talk about all things German, especially these yummy foods.
Meet with us around Oma's virtual table, pull up a chair, grab a coffee and a piece of Apfelstrudel, and enjoy the visit.
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