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    Home » Pasta » German Spaetzle (Spätzle)

    German Spaetzle (Spätzle)

    Posted on November 8, 2019 By Beth Neels

    167 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    How to make German Spaetzle Pinterest image with text overlay.
    How to make German Spaetzle Pinterest image with text overlay.
    How to make German Spaetzle Pinterest image with text overlay.

    German Spaetzle, or Spätzle, is an easy, homemade egg noodle that is delicious with any German cuisine, or a side for any protein of your choice!

    Large bowl with spaetzle topped with butter and parsley.

    This recipe is from my Grandmother’s cookbook, which was published in 1962. In those days, apparently, they did not have spätzle makers, because the original recipe cuts the noodles into the boiling water with a knife.

    Dough is placed on a cutting board and cut then pushed into the water, with the knife. I did it like this for a very long time. In 2007, when my grandmother passed away, we cleaned out her house in Heidelberg, Germany and low and behold, I found this neat contraption that I had no idea what it was. After some research, I realized that it was a spaetzle machine and boy, does it make this process easier and less messy!

    What is German spaetzle?

    Bowl of parsleyed spaetzle.

    Spätzle is a simple, fresh egg noodles or dumplings from southern Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The word literally, when translated to English means “little sparrows” It is similar to other nationalities’ fresh pastas, such as; Greek egg noodles, referred to as hylopites, and Hungarian egg noodles, or tarhonya, according to Cook’s thesaurus.

    They can be served as is, with butter and parsley. Make them into Kasespätzle, (cheese noodles). They can also be sauteed until they get a bit of color. Spaetzle are great sauteed in some butter the next day, with an scrambled egg cracked over the top, for a crispy delicious breakfast. They are popular served with carmelized onions and cheese, or with a lots of different sauces.

    Homemade spätzle are a great alternative for potatoes, egg noodles or rice.

    Ingredients you need

    • flour- all purpose flour is fine
    • salt
    • eggs
    • water

    How to make it

    1. Measure dry ingredients.
    2. Whisk eggs.
    3. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients.
    4. Stir together. Mix well, to a thick dough. Let dough rest for 1 hour.
    5. Bring water to a light boil in a large pot of salted water. After resting, add some dough to spaetzle maker bowl, placed over the pot with the boiling water. Move bowl back and forth on blades and let dough fall into lightly boiling water.
    6. Cook noodles until they float. Scoop out as they rise with a slotted spoon. Place in colander to drain.
    7. When dough is all gone and spaetzle is cooked. Add butter to a pan and mix with spaetzle.
    dry ingredients in mixing bowl. Whisked eggs. Spaetzle maker placed over pot of water. Dough added to spaetzle maker. Spaetzle in pot. Spaetzle draining in colander. Butter added to cooked spaetzle.
    Spaetzle on grey plate served with duck breast.

    Pro tips for your success

    • If you don’t have a spätzle machine, you can place a cup or so of spaetzle batter on a wooden cutting board with straight sides. Use a knife or bench scraper to cut dough into thin strips while pushing the strip off of the edge of the cutting board into the boiling water.
    • It is said that a potato ricer works well too, but I’ve tried it on several occasions and it does not work as well. If using a potato ricer, make the dough thinner than you would either with the machine or the cutting and slicing method mentioned above.
    • Spätzle can be served hot or made a little bit ahead of time and lightly fried in a large skillet with butter.
    • Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container and lightly fry to warm them.

    What to serve with German spaetzle?

    • Sauerbraten (German Beef Roast)
    • Weiner Schnitzel
    • Goulash
    • Paprikash
    • Swedish Meatballs
    • Most poultry, beef, pork, veal.

    Other delicious pasta recipes

    • Meat Lover’s Pasta Sauce
    • White Lasagna
    • Lobster Mac and Cheese
    • Spaghetti Casserole
    • Seafood Fra Diavolo
    Spaetzle on grey plate.

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    Spaetzle served with peas and duck breast.

    Tools I use to make this recipe

    Contains affiliate links, for full disclosure, see FTC Disclosure, here.

    • spaetzle machine
    • Pot
    • mixing bowls

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    I hope you enjoyed the recipe today!

    Enjoy. And have fun cooking!

    Binky's signature
    Beige bowl filled with Spaetzle and garnished with fresh parsley.

    German Spaetzle

    Homemade German Spaetzle is an easy egg noodle that is delicious served with so many foods!
    See Step by Step Photos Above!Most of our recipes have step by step photos and videos! Also helpful tips so that you can make it perfectly the first time and every time! Scroll up to see them!
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: German
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Resting time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
    Servings: 10 servings
    Calories: 246kcal
    Author: Beth Neels
    Cost: $2

    Ingredients

    • 625 g all-purpose flour
    • 1/3 l water
    • pinch Salt
    • 3-4 eggs
    • Butter

    For cooking

    • 3 l water
    • Salt

    Instructions

    • Measure ingredients. Mix well together.
    • Let dough rest on counter 1 hour before proceeding.
    • Add water to large pot. Salt water as you would for any pasta. Bring to low boil.
    • If you have spaetzle machine, place it over pot of water. Scoop dough into hopper. Move back and forth along base, to drop dough into boiling water. Do just a bit at a time.
    • When spaetzle floats to top of water, scoop them out with a slotted spoon and place in strainer.
    • Continue until all dough is cooked.
    • Place spaetzle into a pot and mix with butter, to deter sticking together. Serve as is, or see post above for other suggestions for serving.
    spaetzle machine
    pasta pot
    mixing bowls
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    Notes

    Notes:
    Can be served with caramelized onions and cheese, or with butter and browned breadcrumbs, also delicious served with any gravy.
    Refrigerate leftovers up to 4 days. 
    To reheat;
    • Add butter and fry in non stick frying pan until golden browned.
    • Add a pat of butter and microwave.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 246kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 37mg | Potassium: 85mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 71IU | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 3mg
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    This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small commission if you click the link and purchase something, at no additional cost to you. See FTC Disclosure, here.

    Originally published November 8, 2019. Updated March 14, 2022.

    « Cauliflower au Gratin
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    167 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tracy

      November 12, 2019 at 11:35 am

      5 stars
      Thank you for the step by step!! It was soooo helpful and this was so good! My husband asked for it again this week!

      Reply
      • Beth Neels

        November 12, 2019 at 12:02 pm

        Oh, great! I’m so glad he liked it! Thank you for letting me know, Tracy!

        Reply
    2. Lisa Lotts

      November 12, 2019 at 11:25 am

      5 stars
      My college roommate (from several decades ago) used to go on about her Mom’s spaetzle. She tried to make it for us once and it was an unmitigated disaster. Clearly, this was what Betsy so desperately wanted to achieve. Beautiful, Beth!

      Reply
      • Beth Neels

        November 12, 2019 at 11:38 am

        🙂 Thank you Lisa! It is much easier with the spaetzle maker. At least it looks better!

        Reply
    3. Heidy L. McCallum

      November 12, 2019 at 11:20 am

      5 stars
      Be still my tiny beating heart! That is the best spaetzle I have seen in years! Totally delish and so much better than any dried version that Aldis sells. I will be making this again and again.

      Reply
      • Beth Neels

        November 12, 2019 at 11:38 am

        Oh, there is no comparison! Thanks you much Heidy!

        Reply
    4. Traci

      November 12, 2019 at 11:00 am

      5 stars
      Wow! Who knew spaetzle was so easy to make?! You’ve made this recipe is super easy and approachable…thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Beth Neels

        November 12, 2019 at 11:37 am

        Thank you Traci! I’m glad it was helpful to you!

        Reply
    5. Julia

      November 12, 2019 at 10:52 am

      5 stars
      We love spaetzle! It’s such an easy dish that can be turned either into a side or main. Yours look perfect!

      Reply
      • Beth Neels

        November 12, 2019 at 11:36 am

        Thank you Julia! I appreciate your comment!

        Reply

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