My Favorite Abendbrot Recipes for a Traditional German Dinner

Abendbrot, meaning 'evening bread' in German, is a low-effort traditional German cold dinner that I grew up eating in Germany all the time. In its simplest terms, it's a meat and cheese board served with some really good bread.

Essentially you're serving up a buffet for everyone to create their own open-faced sandwiches for dinner. The clean-up is easy and everyone gets to choose what they want to eat for dinner. It's a win-win, especially with small kids that love this all-you-can-eat, table-side dinner experience as much as I do.

While Abendbrot is declining in popularity with Germany's younger generations that prefer a hot dinner, I am here to bring it back! Because in all reality, with little kids that need 10 things from me before I get to sit down at the table to eat, I often end up eating cold dinners anyways.

How is Abendbrot different from charcuterie?

What sets this German meal apart from an American charcuterie board is the unique kinds of breads, meats, spreads, sliced, boiled eggs, and other sliced raw veggies like tomatoes, cucumbers, pickles, and radishes. Sometimes simple salads make it to the table, too. And don't forget the butter.

Abendbrot versus Frühstück

German breakfast (Frühstück) is served similarly. Frühstück comes with added pastries (Teilchen) options, breakfast rolls called Brötchen instead of sliced bread, and sweet options like Müsli, fruit, and yogurt or the iconic German quark. Also check out my Jausenbrettl (also called a Brettljause), an Austrian version of Abendbrot that can be enjoyed any time of the day.

Bread for German dinner

Germans don't usually eat bread as a side with dinner like Italians and Americans often do, but bread instead is the star of the show. It should be obvious since the meal is named after it. Abendbrot means 'evening bread' in German. Soup is the exception and is served with a side of bread.

But when it's Abendbrot, Germans like to slice up lots of bread. Yes, all Germans have a bread slicer at home for even, perfect slices. I love this heirloom bread slicer with a German-made blade that normally sits out in my pantry alongside my bread box (Brotbox), so my bread does not go stale.

My favorite German bread recipes for Abendbrot are my German sourdough rye bread and Körnerbrot. They taste just like German bakeries and are so good! These German breads go with all the toppings, pack lots of whole grains, and I know you will love them!

I also love serving up a batch of fresh authentic pretzels for Abendbrot. You could freeze them before dipping them in lye to make things super quick for when you're ready to serve them for dinner.

The meats

The meats are what sets this charcuterie board dinner experience apart from a regular meat and cheese board experience. Germans like to add sliced meats like salami, and mortadella (or Fleischwurst) to their Abendbrot platter. But don't forget about the spreadable meats like Leberwurst (liverwurst or paté) and Teewurst (tastes like a salami spread).

You can buy the most authentic-tasting German-style butcher meats at the NYC-based Schaller & Weber. They even started importing Gurken (pickles) from Germany's iconic Spreewald region that you can now buy through their website and have shipped to you. Because what's a Leberwurstbrot without Gurken?

Also try serving Abendbrot with a super simple, creamy Fleischsalat or Schweizer Wurst-Käse-Salat!

The cheeses

Germans typically go for milder, sliced cheeses like Gouda or Emmentaler for dinner. A young brie or camembert is also a common appearance on an Abendbrot table. I also love adding soft, spreadable cream cheese like cheese such as Boursin.

And don't forget my favorite spreadable cheese called Obatzda. It goes so well with authentic German pretzels as well as spread on a slice of bread.

What else do you need for a perfect Abendbrot

Take Abendbrot to the next level by adding different spreads, sliced veggies, tea, and candlelight.

Auftriche (Spreads)

Find more spread recipes on my Jausenbrettl post. Grammelaufstrich is Austrian for Schmalz and is a bacon spread that's SO GOOD. Kürbiskernaufstrich is a simple pumpkin seed spread that is a favorite of mine. It has a nice, nutty note.

And don't forget the butter. While Germans prefer unsalted, sweet cream butter, I have always loved a salted, grass-fed butter. Kerrygold is my favorite that I can easily buy in the United States.

Eggs 

Hard-boiled, sliced eggs are also a great addition to your Abendbrot platter. In comparison, German breakfast is not complete without the iconic soft-boiled eggs in little egg cups. If may want to invest in an egg boiler if you don't own one yet. We use ours so much, it never gets packed away.

You could instead make my curry Eiersalat (egg salad) for Abendbrot. It is refreshing and simple thanks to the yogurt in the dressing and chunks of green apple and of course super delicious.

Sliced veggies and salads

Germans love topping their open-faced sandwiches for Abendbrot with sliced veggies such as tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, radishes and more. And don't forget the pickles!

Germans also often serve Abendbrot with a simple salad made either from sliced cabbage, shredded carrots or sliced cucumbers. The simplest dressing consists of apple cider vinegar, avocado oil or olive oil, a pinch of sugar, salt and pepper. So easy and so good.

Tea and Candles

Abendbrot is often accompanied by a pot of hot herbal or fruit tea served in a pretty teapot (I love this sleek and modern one), whereas Frühstück is served typically with coffee.

Growing up at my mom's house we always made dinner a little extra special with a little candlelight. It's a small, inexpensive effort with a big, calming effect. It helps everyone slow down a bit and enjoy a meal together tableside. Besides placing a tea light in the little tea warmer, add a couple more in pretty votive vessels.

Favorite low-effort hot German dinners

Now you know how to create a proper Abendbrot experience anywhere you are in the world. Will you try making it at home? Let me know in the comments if you do!

However, if you're looking for a hot German dinner experience, here are some of my favorite hot meals that are still lower in effort and super delicious.

• Erbsensuppe is a one-pot meal that is easy and so good. Also great with a side of good bread.
• Linsensuppe is another simple meal with little cleanup that I love so much. Try adding some Wiener sausages at the end.
• Flammkuchen is a quick go-to meal and taste best with this double-smoked bacon.
• Toast Hawaii is a nostalgic childhood meal that's super easy and even better when using fresh pineapple.

Find even more hot German dinner inspiration here.