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Wurstsalat (Swiss/German Sausage Salad)

Here’s A Classic Wurstsalat Recipe To Try Out For Your Next Savory Snack!

Craving something meaty but want it to be quick and easy? Wurstsalat is the perfect dish for you!

Made from just a few ingredients – including wurst (sausage), cheese, onions, and pickles – this hearty snack salad is served with a simple vinaigrette dressing.

Our Wurstsalat tastes great with fresh crusty bread or soft pretzels for a classic “Brotzeit” (a German term for a savory snack or small, early dinner)!

white bowl of sliced meat and cheese salad on wooden board with bread behind
Wurstsalat is easy to make a pretty tasty!

Different Versions of Wurstsalat

There are a few different ways to make a Wurstsalat – many of which are differ by countries and/or regions.

Swiss Wurstsalat is usually made with both a sausage and a cheese component (like the one in this recipe).

German sausage salad (for example, Bavarian Wurstsalat) is often just made with sausage. However, you can often find the Swiss version with cheese on beer garden menus in Bavaria.

Case and point: Lisa ate this version in Aschaffenburg (Germany) when we went out for dinner to a local Brauhaus.

Another German version, the Swabian version, is made with both “regular” sausage and blood sausage!

Side Note: It’s important to note that Wurstsalat is not the same as Fleischsalat. Although, the two dishes are quite similar Fleischsalat is made with mayonnaise while Wurstsalat is made with a simple vinaigrette as the dressing.

Recipe Tips/Substitutions

Before you make this wurst salad, have a look at these few recipe tips so that you know what to shop for and keep in mind if you’re making this in North America:

  • You can use different types of sausage for the meat component in the Wurstsalat. Lisa typically makes it with Lyoner sausage but this can be difficult to find in the United States and Canada other than a European Deli. Alternatively, bologna works well, too.
  • You can substitute the cheese if you are not a fan of the strong taste of Swiss cheese and use Gouda cheese instead. Just make sure that the cheese you choose isn’t too crumbly/soft or else the salad will lose its overall texture and taste. However, for a traditional taste, we would recommend using Swiss cheese.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste to suit your personal preferences. However, keep in mind that the flavors will get more intense as the salad rests in the fridge – so don’t add too much. You can always add more salt or pepper when you take the Wurstsalat out of the fridge before serving.
bowl of sliced meat and cheese salad with bread basket behind on wooden board
Serve Wurstsalat with bread and you’ll be ready to eat!

How to Make Wurstsalat – Step by Step Instructions

For those wanting to get started making Wurstsalt, you can find the recipe card in the bottom of this post.

If you’ve never made this dish before and would like to see visuals, you can find the Wurstsalat recipe process photos in this section.

This way you get to see exactly how we made ours and can follow along!

slices of bologna cut into thin strips on white cutting board
Cut the sausage.

First, cut the sausage into slices (if it isn’t already sliced) and then into thin strips.

sliced pickles on white cutting board on counter
Cut the pickles.

Then also cut the baby dill pickles into thin strips.

sliced swiss cheese on white cutting board on counter
Cut the cheese.

If you decide to add cheese to your sausage salad, cut it into thin strips as well. If you do this, you’ll make a Schweizer Wurstsalat (Swiss sausage salad) – just FYI.

chopped onions on white cutting board
Chop the onion.

Next, peel the onion and chop it into very small cubes. Alternatively, you can also cut it into thin strips.

ingredients for wurstsalat in white bowl without dressing on counter
Add the ingredients to a bowl.

Place all the cut-up ingredients into a mixing bowl.

oil and vinegar dressing in white bowl with silver spoon on counter
Make the dressing.

Now prepare the dressing. For that, add the white wine vinegar, oil, pickle juice, salt, and pepper to a small bowl.

Mix everything well then pour it over the ingredients in the large bowl.

tossed wurstsalat in white bowl on counter
Mix, mix, mix.

Mix everything together until the sausage and cheese are evenly coated in the dressing.

Cover the bowl and place the sausage salad in the fridge for an hour so the flavors can mingle (this makes a big difference in taste, in our opinion!).

sliced cheese and meat salad in white bowl on wooden board
We topped our Wurstsalat with a little chopped parsley!

After the hour is up, remove the salad from the fridge, taste it, and add more salt, pepper, and/or vinegar to taste. Serve the salad with fresh soft pretzels or crusty bread.

Storage Tips

The sausage salad should be kept cold and covered in the fridge before and after eating.

Any leftovers will last for up to 2 days but it’s better to consume them sooner rather than later.

If the sausage salad was left out in the sun for a while (e.g. during an outdoor picnic or barbecue), we wouldn’t recommend keeping any leftovers.

FAQ

What’s the difference between Wurstsalat and Fleischsalat?

While similar, the difference between Wurstsalat and Fleischsalat is in the dressing. Fleischsalat is made with mayonnaise while Wurstsalat is made with oil and vinegar as the dressing base.

Related Recipes

For more great German recipes, check out these classic (and very tasty) creations:

  • Fleischsalat – Another German meat salad – but this one is creamy!
  • Flammkuchen – A classic take on the thin crust tart with bacon and cream sauce
  • Sauerkraut Soup – An easy recipe for a savory, warm soup made with tasty sauerkraut
sliced cheese and meat salad in white bowl on wooden board

Wurstsalat (Swiss/German Sausage Salad)

Wurstsalat – or Sausage Salad – is a meaty Swiss/German salad. Made from chopped sausage, cheese, pickles, and onions, this flavorful dish is covered in a simple dressing and makes a great snack or summer dinner!
5 from 6 votes
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Prep Time: 20 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

The Salad

  • 9 ounces lyoner sausage, bologna also works
  • 6 ounces swiss cheese, optional
  • 3-4 baby dill pickles
  • 1 small yellow onion
  • chopped parsley to garnish, optional

The Dressing

  • 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons neutral-tasting oil
  • 2 tablespoons pickle juice
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Cut the sausage into slices (if it isn’t already sliced) and then into thin strips. Cut the swiss cheese and the baby dill pickles into thin strips as well. Place everything into a large mixing bowl.
  • Peel the onion and chop it into very small cubes or thin strips and add them to the bowl as well.
  • Now prepare the dressing. For that, add the white wine vinegar, oil, pickle juice, salt, and pepper to a small bowl. Mix everything well then pour it over the ingredients in the large bowl.
  • Mix everything until the sausage and cheese are evenly coated in the dressing.
  • Cover the bowl and place the sausage salad in the fridge for an hour so the flavors can mingle (this makes a big difference in taste, in our opinion!).
  • After the hour is up, remove the salad from the fridge, taste it, and add more salt, pepper, and/or vinegar to taste.
  • Serve the salad with fresh soft pretzels or crusty bread.

Notes

  • Adding the cheese makes it a Swiss sausage salad. There are many different regional versions. Lisa grew up in Bavaria and this recipe is very similar to how she often ate it both at home and at restaurants (sometimes with cheese and sometimes without).
  • The way Lisa knows this salad is with Lyoner sausage. However, that can be difficult to find in North America other than at European delis. A good substitute is bologna sausage. It changes the flavor a little bit but is just as good.
  • Keep in mind that this sausage salad is not actually eaten as a side salad to a meal. It is a classic "Brotzeit" dish – aka a type of savory snack or summer dinner dish. It’s not a healthy dish so don’t think that just because it is called a salad.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 447kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 1256mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g

This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.

Course Salads
Cuisine German
Author Recipes From Europe
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14 thoughts on “Wurstsalat (Swiss/German Sausage Salad)”

  1. I am lucky here in Ottawa at the European Delicatessen store I can get lyoner wurst. To me mortadella or bologna as an ingredient is not the same.
    I can also get Fleischsalad but that is made with mayo and is not the same as wurst salad.

    Reply
  2. 5 stars
    Had this salad in Hussenhoffen, Germany years ago. It was made with blood sausage and bologna type sausage. I was thrilled to find a recipe for it. I used mortadella and Swiss cheese the first time and mortadella and provolone this time. The only thing I changed is 1Tbsp more vinegar, for tanginess. It is delicious and takes me right back to that patio in Hussenhoffen! Thanks for a great recipe!

    Reply
  3. This is the first time I heard anyone comment about blood sausage. We used to mke it all the time when we butchered a hog a hog killing day.

    Reply
  4. We have made this for years!! Family favorite! We had the ingredients of the wurstsalat and called it fleichsalat! Mom always said cutting it julienne will make.all the difference i. The world. Also we use German bologa, leiberkasen, biershanken and swiss. Can you tell me the brand of vineger that you use?

    Reply
  5. Morning!
    This is my first time on here, and yes of course I signed up for your emails!

    I’m so glad I stumbled upon your website. It has brought back a lot of things I made when my children were growing up, but haven’t made since they moved out.

    I have found in the Fleischsalat and the Wurstsalat that the closest to the Lyoner sausage is what is called Mortadeller here in N. America. Much, much better than bologna!

    Reply
    • Yes, Fleischsalat typically does not contain cheese. You were reading and commenting on a recipe for Wurstsalat which is similar but very different at the same time. Some Wurstsalate, such as Swiss Wurstsalat, typically contain cheese. Others usually don’t. I understand that it can be confusing. If you are interested in Fleischsalat, we have a recipe for that as well.

      Reply

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