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Home - Recipes - Side Dishes

Latest Updated: Feb 28, 2026 by Andrew Gray

What to Serve with Wiener Schnitzel? 10 BEST Side Dishes

For Wiener Schnitzel, go with German Potato Salad, Tomato Salad, Lettuce Salad, Rice Pilaf, and Spätzle.

You can not only cook them in multiple ways, but they complement almost everything.

For a lighter option, try Spätzle. Spätzle is also a dish that you can serve with wiener schnitzel.

Wiener Schnitzel may be a German/Austrian dish, but its popularity has spread far and wide.

Today, it's a popular dish, and many restaurants serve it.

Besides, chefs and amateur cooks also make their recipes.

Wiener schnitzel is a dish made with pounded and breaded veal cutlets.

You can also use pork chops instead of veal if you can't find the latter with your butcher.

Wiener schnitzel is a dish you can serve alone or with other items.

So, do you know what to serve with wiener schnitzel? If not, don't look elsewhere because we're going to list some dishes you can serve with schnitzel.

Table of Contents

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  • 10 Classic Sides to Serve with Wiener Schnitzel
    • 1. German Potato Salad
    • 2. Tomato Salad
    • 3. Lettuce Salad
    • 4. Rice Pilaf
    • 5. Spätzle
    • 6. Knödel
    • 7. Mushy Peas
    • 8. German Green Beans
    • 9. Creamy Tuscan Mushrooms
    • 10. Gurkensalat
  • Frequently Asked Questions

10 Classic Sides to Serve with Wiener Schnitzel

Wiener Schnitzel is delicious and versatile.

So, you have many choices when it comes to side dishes.

But since we can't list all of them here, we will mention only the ten best - or explore chili party side ideas for crowd-pleasing options for more warm, hearty matches.

1. German Potato Salad

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Potatoes are among the most versatile food items - try potato skins side pairings for 15 best options to see other tasty ways to serve spuds.

You can not only cook them in multiple ways, but they complement almost everything.

German potato salad is also a delicacy you can serve alongside wiener schnitzel any time.

It's also similar to a typical potato salad, so you won't have much trouble making it.

You have to use the right ingredients, and your salad will be delicious and perfect to go with schnitzel.

What makes the dish so good is the bacon, fried and crumbled.

2. Tomato Salad

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Wiener schnitzel is a heavy dish, so a light and the fresh dish will complement it nicely.

Tomato salad is one of the dishes which you can serve with schnitzel - for more tomato-driven pairings try tomato soup side ideas for comforting matches.

It's slightly tangy, slightly sweet, and of course, it's fresh.

Tomato salad is nutritious, delicious, and easy to whip up.

You can create a lovely dish with only a handful of ingredients like tomatoes, basil, olive oil, shallot, salt, pepper, garlic, and vinegar.

Tomatoes are available in varieties and sizes from small cherry to large beefsteak.

For this dish, regular tomatoes are perfect, but you can also use cherry tomatoes.

3. Lettuce Salad

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Wiener schnitzel pairs nicely with most veggies, so you can add as many dishes as you like.

Lettuce salad is pleasant and fresh, and yes, it complements schnitzel - also consider lettuce wrap side suggestions for crisp pairings when building a light plate.

This lettuce salad is simple, and it doesn't require many ingredients.

But it has lovely flavors and keeps you from being overwhelmed.

You will need lettuce, shallots, parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and dressing (lemon + olive oil).

If you want some heat, you can also add red pepper flakes.

Lettuce is delicate, and it wilts very fast.

Hence, you must buy the freshest and the best variety.

Fresh leaves should be crisp with a slight crunch and brightly-colored leaves.

4. Rice Pilaf

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Adding a rice dish will be a good idea if you want to make your menu a complete meal - or see chicken fried rice side ideas for hearty complements for more rice-based inspiration.

Plain rice will also work nicely, you can improve your menu by serving yummy rice pilaf.

Since schnitzel has meat, you can make the rice pilaf with veggie or chicken broth and omit the meat.

You can also use veggies and spices according to preference.

Basmati rice is a popular choice as the grains stay light, fluffy and separate.

But you can also use other varieties like wild rice, brown rice, or long-grain rice.

5. Spätzle

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Since schnitzel is a German/Austrian dish, you can add any number of side dishes that are popular in their cuisine.

Spätzle is also a dish that you can serve with wiener schnitzel.

Spätzle is a variety of pasta or dumpling made with eggs.

It's a popular side dish often served with meat dishes.

Hence, it will be a suitable item to enjoy with schnitzel.

It's a nice dish, it's made with a few ingredients, including eggs, salt, flour, and water.

However, you can also add a little butter.

You can serve the dish with a delicious gravy alongside schnitzel.

6. Knödel

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If you love to eat dumplings, you'll love Knödel.

It's a popular dish in Central Europe served as a side dish.

Knödel can also accompany wiener schnitzel, and it's a guarantee that your guests will love the combo.

The dish usually consists of bread, flour, or potatoes and can be savory or sweet.

You can make a savory version with the usual ingredients for this menu.

Knödel comes out best with dry bread so make sure it's stale.

If the bread isn't dry enough, use the oven to dry it after chopping them into chunks.

7. Mushy Peas

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How about adding a bowl of simple mushy peas to the menu? - and for more pea-centric ideas check purple hull peas side options for Southern twists.

It will also pair nicely with a wiener schnitzel and refresh your palate simultaneously.

Mushy peas are a simple dish requiring very few items, but it's flavorful without overwhelming your palate.

You can create a fantastic dish with only five items: peas, butter, salt, heavy cream, and pepper.

Peas naturally taste sweet, so your mushy peas will have a mild hint of sweetness.

You can use frozen or fresh peas to make the yummy item.

8. German Green Beans

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A crisp-tender, sweet and veggie dish with some bacon is also a side dish you can serve with wiener schnitzel - similar comforts appear in fried green tomato side pairings for Southern flair.

German-style green beans are flavorful and simple to cook.

The green bean dish doesn't need too many ingredients to be flavorful.

Beans, bacon, salt, low-carb brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, onion, whole grain mustard, and little water are the only items required for the dish.

Green beans are most nutritious when fresh.

So, eating them immediately after harvesting or purchasing them would be best.

If you can't consume all, put the beans in a plastic bag, keep them in the fridge, and cook them within seven days.

9. Creamy Tuscan Mushrooms

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It's always nice to have variety on a menu.

It keeps you from feeling bored, and you get to taste various flavors.

Serve creamy Tuscan mushrooms with the wiener schnitzel, and you're sure to enjoy the combo - pair with creamy polenta side pairings for richness for an indulgent plate.

Mushrooms are delicious, and they have an earthy flavor.

They also cook fast, so you don't need to spend much time cooking.

Along with the mushrooms, the dish consists of parmesan cheese, cherry tomatoes, garlic, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, tomato paste, heavy cream, and spinach.

Any mushroom would taste good, but for this dish, you must use baby bella mushrooms, also called cremini mushrooms.

These are younger versions of the portobello or portabella mushrooms, so you mustn't be confused.

10. Gurkensalat

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We'll finish the list with a fresh dish, the famous Gurkensalat or German cucumber salad.

It's sweet and tangy, and it's compatible with wiener schnitzel.

The cucumber is one of the freshest veggies as it has high water content.

It also adds a nice crunchy texture to the dish.

Making the salad is simple as you don't have to use many ingredients.

You will need cucumber, salt, white vinegar, sugar, sour cream, onion, dried dill, parsley, and paprika.

pork schnitzel side recommendations for savory matches lists many pairings that overlap with wiener schnitzel choices. chicken schnitzel side suggestions for poultry menus provides alternatives when serving a lighter schnitzel option.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best side dish for Wiener Schnitzel?

You can not only cook them in multiple ways, but they complement almost everything. Tomato Salad Wiener schnitzel is a heavy dish, so a light and the fresh dish will complement it nicely.

Most home cooks pick this because it adds contrast and rounds out the meal.

What sides work well when feeding a crowd?

For large groups, go with sides that can be made in big batches and hold well at room temperature. This side dish scales up easily.

Grain-based dishes and roasted vegetables stay good on a buffet without becoming soggy.

What is the lightest option to round out the plate?

A simple green salad or steamed vegetable is the easiest low-effort option. It adds color and nutrients without heavy prep or additional richness.

How do you serve sides for a large group?

Sheet-pan sides and big-batch grains scale easily.

Roast everything on one or two trays and serve from the pan.

Avoid delicate sides that wilt or lose texture when held warm.

Explore more: This post is part of our Side Dish Pairing Guide.
Andrew Gray

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