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

Published: Feb 23, 2018 · Modified: Jan 16, 2023 by Helene Dsouza

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!

📕 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.

🔪 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.

Step 2

Fry spaetzle noodles in pan with butter.

Step 3

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

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.

📜 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

🧀 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!

📖 Recipe