Frikadellen

German Frikadellen are delicious pan-fried meatballs made with a mixture of ground beef, onions, and seasonings that are perfect for a quick and tasty meal.

For lunch, they are often served with mashed potatoes and red cabbage or simply on a roll with a side of mustard and warm German Potato Salad or Cucumber Salad.

Why This Recipe Works

Frikadellen (also called 'Bouletten' or 'Fleischpflanzerl') are super quick and easy to prepare. Making this recipe comes down to combining and cooking meat, egg, bread, and spices.

QUICK - You can have something new on the table in 30 minutes. And make extra because this is an incredibly versatile recipe that can be served up in lots of fun ways, even as leftovers.

VERSATILE - Frikadellen can be served sandwich-style, served as meatball appetizers, served on a roll with a side of mustard (which is a favorite German way to serve them), and even served as meatballs as part of the main dish.

GROUND BEEF - Lean Ground Beef works best. I like 90/10.

BREAD - When it comes to bread, I like to use a Kaiser roll. Because a Kaiser Roll comes close to what we would use in Germany - Brötchen (bread rolls). But you can substitute any bread roll or even slices of white bread.

BREADCRUMBS - After shaping the patties we give them a very light breadcrumb dusting.

WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE - a combination of flavors ranging from vinegar to sugar, tamarind, and garlic

SPICES - Ground mustard, paprika powder, salt, and black pepper create the perfect blend.

BUTTER & OIL - We'll use a combination of vegetable oil (or olive oil) and butter to fry the meat patties.

Recipe Variations

In another version of this recipe, Frikadellen are made with 50% minced beef and 50% ground pork. And, of course, you can also make this recipe using a pound of ground pork. Another variation of this recipe combines equal amounts of ground meat, pork, and veal.

How To Make German Frikadellen

Please check the printable recipe card below for more detailed instructions.

1. SOAK & SQUEEZE - Bread in water. Squeeze excess moisture and set aside.
2. WHISK - Beat egg, add spices, and stir until well combined.
3. MIX - Add bread, ground beef, and onion. Use your hands to combine the mixture.
4. SHAPE - Shape the meat into 6-8 patties and dust it quickly in bread crumbs.
5. FRY - Heat butter and oil and fry the patties for 10-12 minutes on medium heat.

If desired, garnish with fresh parsley.

Let's talk about Maggi!

If you're talking to a German about how to make Frikadellen, you'll probably hear him or her talk about Maggi.

Maggi is to Germany what HP Sauce is to Ireland, or barbecue sauce is to the American south. It's a staple that's used in a variety of recipes and is deeply intertwined with food culture.

While you can certainly find Maggi in the US, it's not a staple. In my opinion, it's not necessary to make great-tasting Frikadellen. But I wanted to mention it in case you have a bottle of Maggi in your home and always wondered what to do with it. 😉

Using the combination of Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, smoked sweet paprika, and ground mustard will give you similar results.

And you will find the smaller, meatball-sized Frikadellen on many German party buffet tables. And yes, Germans really love their condiments!

So don't be surprised to find a bowl of mustard (and ketchup) right next to the plate of party Frikadellen.

Food Culture

If you ever host a German foreign exchange student and you want to surprise them with some German home-cooked treat. This will Frikadellen are something they will probably like. It's often food that Germans love to eat in bars when they go out partying and spending time with friends and family.

Frikadellen are generally associated with traditional Northern German food. Denmark (which borders Germany to the north) has a similar national recipe called 'Frikadeller'.

But you'll find pork or beef Frikadellen versions served throughout Germany in bars and restaurants.

How To Pronounce Frikadellen

This is an easy one. "Freak-a-dell-en"

You may have noticed that sometimes the word 'Frikadellen' pops up and sometimes 'Frikadellen'.

What's the difference?

Singular and Plural. A single meat patty is a 'Frikadelle'. Two or more patties are 'Frikadellen'.

Leftovers

STORE - You can easily keep a batch of Frikadellen for up to 3 days in the fridge. But you can also easily freeze Frikadellen. Once cooked, be sure to pat dry any excess fat and transfer the frikadellen into a freezer-friendly bag or container.

Ready to reheat? You can certainly reheat them in the microwave, on the stovetop, or even at low temperatures (10-15 minutes at 250° Fahrenheit) in the oven.

While it might not sound appealing to everyone, I should mention that Frikadellen are served hot and cold.

FREEZE - Yes, you can freeze Frikadellen. Once they have cooled completely, transfer the patties into a freezer-safe storage bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

More German You Should Try

CHICKEN SCHNITZE - pan-fried chicken goodness.

FLAMMKUCHEN (Flammkuchen) - German-style bacon and onion pizza

GERMAN CHEESECAKE (Käsekuchen) - Classic German cheesecake recipe, but made with Greek Yogurt. It tastes just like the real deal in Germany.

FRIED CABBAGE NOODLES - The German version of Haluski.

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