Cheese Spaetzle Recipe (Käsespätzle) | Masala Herb (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Helene Dsouza

Cheese Spaetzle Recipe (Käsespätzle) | Masala Herb (1)Helene Dsouza

Cheesy goodness at it's best! Quick skillet spaetzle with cheese and caramelized onions.

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

1 serving

4.8 from 9 votes

VIDEO RECIPE

Cheese Spaetzle Recipe (Käsespätzle) | Masala Herb (2)

Comfort food at large! Cheese Spaetzle noodles are easy to prepare if you have spätzle noodles at home.

Prepare this dinner meal in one pan within minutes!

Cheese Spaetzle Recipe (Käsespätzle) | Masala Herb (3)

Cheese Spaetzle Recipe (Käsespätzle) | Masala Herb (4)

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Jump to:
  • 📕 What are Cheese Spätzle?
  • 🔪 How to make Kaesespaetzle?
  • 📜 Variations
  • 🧀 Choice of Cheese
  • 👁️ More cheesy recipes from the region
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

📕 What are Cheese Spätzle?

Cheese Spaetzle are Spätzle noodles prepared with caramelized onions, covered with cheese and served in a pan.

Käsespätzle is the German word which just means cheese spaetzle.

Spätzle noodles are also called German pasta, even though they are very Austrian too.

In fact, this standalone dish in a frying pan is a traditional food dish in the Austrian province Tyrol, neighboring province South Tyrol (Italy), Bavaria and Swabia (Germany).

The Swiss call them Knöpfli, but cheese spaetzle are not a thing there.

Traditionally cheesy Spätzle were prepared in a large skillet because that same skillet was placed in the center of the table and everyone would dig in with their spoons.

People have been making them in casserole dishes too in modern times.

No matter which vessel you choose, your german mac and cheese can be ready in a few steps.

Cheese Spaetzle Recipe (Käsespätzle) | Masala Herb (5)

🔪 How to make Kaesespaetzle?

You can get ready-made spaetzle from Aldi or you can use frozen homemade spaetzle.

Here are 3 basic steps outlined to get you going. The recipe card with all the details is at the bottom of this post.

Step 1

Sauté and caramelize onion slices in butter until they are brown and crisp.

Take onion out of the pan.

Cheese Spaetzle Recipe (Käsespätzle) | Masala Herb (6)

Step 2

Fry spaetzle noodles in pan with butter.

Cheese Spaetzle Recipe (Käsespätzle) | Masala Herb (7)

Step 3

Spread caramelized onions, salt, black pepper and grated cheese over the spaetzle in the pan.

Cheese Spaetzle Recipe (Käsespätzle) | Masala Herb (8)

Step 4

Keep over the heat and cover the pan so that the cheese melts, or place into the oven if you use a cast iron pan.

Serve hot with chopped fresh parsley as a garnish.

Cheese Spaetzle Recipe (Käsespätzle) | Masala Herb (9)

📜 Variations

You can add other ingredients to your egg noodles too! Here are some idea:

  • bacon - cut small and fried crisp with the onion
  • bell pepper
  • sweet or smokey paprika powder
  • spinach - chopped, sauteed and mixed into the noodles
  • wild garlic (aka ransoms weed) - just like the spinach
  • use lard instead of butter
Cheese Spaetzle Recipe (Käsespätzle) | Masala Herb (10)

🧀 Choice of Cheese

The cheese is everything in this dish!

The cheese defines the flavor and makes it taste WOW.

You want a flavorful cheese, something like a strong Cheddar, Emmenthal, or evenGruyere or Raclette cheese.

Traditionally, a smelly mountain cheese is used. Something well seasoned, full-bodied, and with a sharp taste.

👁️ More cheesy recipes from the region

  • Cheese Bread Dumplings
  • Beer Cheese Soup

Please feel free to share with us your knowledge and point of view further below in the comment section!

Cheese Spaetzle Recipe (Käsespätzle) | Masala Herb (12)

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📖 Recipe

Cheese Spaetzle Recipe (Käsespätzle) | Masala Herb (13)

Cheese Spaetzle Recipe

Cheesy goodness at it's best! Quick skillet spaetzle with cheese and caramelized onions.

4.78 from 9 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Austrian, German

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 serving

Calories: 1193kcal

Recipe by: Helene Dsouza

Ingredients

  • 1 small Onion
  • 2 Tablespoons Butter
  • 7 ounce Spaetzle Noodles cooked
  • Salt to taste
  • Black Pepper Ground to aste
  • ½ cup Cheese grated
  • Parsley Fresh or chives fresh chopped

US - Metric

Instructions

  • Cut onion into slices or rings.

  • Heat up a pan and melt 1 tbs butter. Fry onion golden and crispy. Take out onion fro slices/rings the pan and keep aside

  • Bring skillet back to the heat and melt the remaining 1 tbs butter. Add cooked spaetzle noodles to the pan (make sure they are not wet!) and fry noodles on all sides.

  • Season with salt and black pepper. Spread crispy onion over the noodles in the pan.

  • Sprinkle grated cheese over noodles.

  • Keep the skillet over slow heat, cover with a lid and let the cheese melt OR if it's an oven-friendly skillet (check info that came with your skillet) keep in the oven under the grill.

  • Serve hot, garnished with some fresh parsley or green chopped chives.

Notes

Pick a flavorful Cheese such as a full-bodied Cheddar, Emmenthal, Gruyere, Beer Cheese, Alpine Cheese or add a few assorted kinds of cheese in one pan.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Cheese Spaetzle Recipe

Amount Per Serving (529 g)

Calories 1193Calories from Fat 405

% Daily Value*

Fat 45g69%

Saturated Fat 27g135%

Cholesterol 120mg40%

Sodium 566mg24%

Potassium 600mg17%

Carbohydrates 155g52%

Fiber 8g32%

Sugar 9g10%

Protein 41g82%

Vitamin A 1266IU25%

Vitamin C 5mg6%

Calcium 465mg47%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Cheese Spaetzle Recipe (Käsespätzle) | Masala Herb (2024)

FAQs

What does Käsespätzle contain? ›

This käsespätzle, also spelled kaese spaetzle, is a tasty homemade pasta tossed with onion and Emmentaler cheese. It's a German version of macaroni and cheese. The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you'd find in a home kitchen.

What is the difference between spaetzle and knöpfle? ›

In everyday language usage, the two names refer to the same product made from the same dough and are interchangeable. There is no clear distinction between how the two names are used, and usage varies from region to region (for example, in Alsace, knöple are typically larger than spätzle).

What can I put on spaetzle? ›

Variations:
  1. Bacon and onions: Spaetzle are great fried up with finely diced bacon and onions. ...
  2. Kaesespaetzle (German Mac & Cheese): Layer the still warm Spaetzle in a baking dish with shredded Swiss cheese between each layer, and then bacon and sauteed onions sprinkled on the top layer.
Mar 21, 2024

What do Käsespätzle taste like? ›

Warm, creamy, cheesy, savory… absolutely delicious! If you aren't already familiar with Käsespätzle, it is a German and Austrian dish that falls somewhere in between mac and cheese and gnocchi.

What is kasspatzln in English? ›

Käsespätzle: Macaroni & Cheese - Austrian Style. This hearty dish is served in Austria's alpine huts and tastes especially good after a walk in crisp mountain air.

What do Germans eat with spaetzle? ›

The best side dishes to serve with spaetzle are red cabbage, pork schnitzel, bratwurst, or borscht if you are looking for a classic pairing. For some less traditional options, you can eat spaetzle with sauteed zucchini and summer squash, chicken and mushrooms, or carrot fries.

What is the best flour for spaetzle? ›

wheat flour. Type 405 wheat flour is probably the most widely used today for spätzle. Type 405 indicates how high the degree of milling and the content of minerals such as magnesium or potassium. 405 indicates that approximately 405 milligrams of minerals are contained in 100 grams of flour.

What wine goes best with spaetzle? ›

Subtlety is key here. Taking a step up from whites, there's the Pinot Noir Linticlarus. Elegant and a bit crunchy, count on this wine to cut through most lighter foods. For a bit more oomph of body, ripeness of fruit and smoothness of tannins, go for the Lagrein Linticlarus.

What does spaetzle mean in German? ›

German Spätzle, from German dialect, diminutive of Spatz sparrow, dumpling.

Why is my spaetzle soggy? ›

Don't let them sit in the water for too long or they'll become soggy. Then add a little butter to a large pan and brown and reheat the Spaetzle before adding it to your serving dish.

How to know when spaetzle is done? ›

Press batter through a spaetzle maker, a large holed sieve or colander into the simmering water. Work in batches, after using about 1/3 of the batter stop adding new spaetzle and let them cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until they float to the top.

Are spaetzle healthy? ›

It's not the healthiest of dishes but the spaetzle itself isn't too bad nutrition-wise. It's a simple dish, made with just flour, egg, water and a bit of salt.

How thick should spaetzle batter be? ›

The consistency of the batter should be pourable but not super runny (it should drop off a spatula or spoon in thick ribbons). Bring a pot of lightly salted water or broth (about 2 to 3 quarts total) to a boil. Press the batter through a spaetzle maker in batches (see notes for alternate methods).

How far ahead can you make spaetzle? ›

My make-ahead Spaetzle noodles can be formed and boiled up to 3 days ahead. Try my Spaetzle-making trick using a colander if you don't have (or want to invest in) special equipment to make this classic German side dish recipe.

What is spaetzle dumplings made of? ›

To make spaetzle, you just mix flour, egg, and a bit of milk into a pancake batter-like consistency. Then you drop little lumps of the batter into some salted boiling water. After a moment, the spaetzle float to the top of the pot, and they're ready to scoop out and eat.

What's the difference between pasta and Spätzle? ›

The difference between pasta, noodles, and Spätzle is that Spaetzle is made from a runny dough that is added to water whereas pasta is made from harder dough that can be cut and formed. Spaetzle are cut fresh and are cooked straight away in simmering water, whereas pasta dough needs to rest.

What is the national cheese of Germany? ›

The heart of German cheese making is the Allgäu, in the Alpine region of Southern Germany, where Germany's famous Allgäuer Emmentaler is made. Emmentaler is of course also known as Swiss cheese and the recipe was indeed imported from Switzerland.

What's the difference between gnocchi and spaetzle? ›

Spaetzle is essentially a pasta style dumpling, similar to gnocchi but smaller and without potato.

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