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By Michelle Marine
on Oct 15, 2015, Updated Oct 28, 2023
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Enjoy this German Frikadellen Recipe! Served with quick pan fried potatoes, it’s a quick all in one meal you family will love.
What are German Frikadellen?
German frikadellen are one of the most popular meat dishes in Germany. They are flat, pan fried, hamburger steaks often served with skillet potatoes or potato salad.
Some say they are the grandfather to the American burger and fries. It makes for a quick weeknight meal or delicious snack.
The traditional German recipe was a great way to use up slightly stale brötchen (delicious German rolls) and a raw onion. Soaking the bread prior to cooking was key as was a finely chopped onion, perhaps even sauteed in butter before frying.
We’ve simplified this recipe a bit by recommending panko breadcrumbs and onion powder. Feel free to try it using the traditional German cooking method to see which you prefer!
Frikadellen Make a Quick, Healthy, & Freezer Friendly Meal
In our family, we are always on the go and need healthy meals that can be cooked quickly. This Frikadellen and Potatoes is one of those meals. It can be cooked up and ready to eat in about 20 minutes.
It also makes a great freezer meal. You can prep the patties beforehand and pop them in the freezer. Remove the patties you need and allow them to defrost overnight in the refrigerator. It couldn’t be simpler.
German Frikadellen Recipe
Growing up in a Dutch/German family, I grew up eating dishes like this Frikadellen all the time. Two of my favorite ways to serve this is with a side of German mustard or topped with curry ketchup, mayonnaise, and chopped onions. Create your own curry ketchup by combining 3 Tablespoons of ketchup with ¼ teaspoon curry powder.
Give this recipe and try and you may never go back to the traditional burger and fries ever again.
Simple Ingredients for Frikadellen
- 1 lb Ground Beef, ground pork, or combination of the two
- 1 Egg
- 1 Tablespoon onion powder
- ½ cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Pinch of nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter, divided
- 2 russet potatoes, peeled and sliced ½” thick
How to make these easy pan fried burgers
Put potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. Drain potatoes in a colander and set aside.
In a medium bowl, mix all ingredients together until well combined, except butter and potatoes. Shape into 8 – 1/2 inch thick patties. Slightly flatten them for quicker frying.
In a large skillet, add 1 tablespoon butter and bring to medium heat. Cook patties 4-5 minutes per side until browned on both sides. Remove from pan and keep warm.
Add remaining butter and potatoes to skillet. Over medium heat, cook for 5-7 minutes or until potatoes are crisp and browned. The key to crispy, brown pan fried potatoes is to leave them alone, so turn them only one time at about the 3 minute mark.
What else goes well with Frikadellen?
While we like this recipe with pan fried potatoes, there are other side dishes that go well with Frikadellen. Germans traditionally serve frikadellen hot or cold.
When I (Michelle) was a kid in Germany, our neighbors used to make a big batch of frikadellen to take along for a day at the lake. We ate them served cold during picnics with delicious German potato salad.
Another friend’s mother served them warm with mashed potatoes and an easy cream sauce. There really is no bad way to eat these delicious German Frikadellen!
Yield: 4 servings
German Frikadellen Recipe with Pan Fried Potatoes
Traditional German fried hamburger recipe. Make a complete meal with the addition of pan fried potatoes.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Ingredients
- German Frikadellen and Potatoes
- Serves 4
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- 1 lb Ground Beef, pork, or combination of the two
- 1 Egg
- 1 Tablespoon onion powder
- ½ cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Pinch of nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter, divided
- 2 russet potatoes, peeled and sliced ½” thick
Instructions
Put potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. Drain potatoes in a colander and set aside.
In a medium bowl, mix all ingredients, except butter and potatoes, together until well combined. Shape into 8 - 1/2 inch thick patties.
In a large skillet, add 1 Tablespoon butter and bring to medium heat. Cook patties 4-5 minutes per side until browned on both sides. Remove from pan and keep warm.
Add remaining butter and potatoes to skillet. Over medium heat, cook for 5-7 minutes or until potatoes are crisp and browned.
Notes
Michelle's note: I am very excited to try this recipe as I used to eat Frikadellen when I was a girl in Germany. They were a favorite of my German friends' mothers to take along on picnics!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 615Total Fat: 31gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 181mgSodium: 825mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 4gSugar: 2gProtein: 43g
I hope you enjoy this international recipe. You can find more international recipes and healthy meal plans at Little Family Adventure.
You can also find great ideas and destinations to help you get active with your children and have a little family adventure of your own. Thank you so much for allowing me to share with you today!
If you liked this Frikadellen Recipe, you may like these freezer friendly recipes too:
Spinach Mozzarella Meatloaf
Parmesan Garlic Chicken
Ground Beef Stroganoff for the Freezer
About Michelle Marine
Michelle Marine is the author of How to Raise Chickens for Meat, a long-time green-living enthusiast, and rural Iowa mom of four. She empowers families to grow and eat seasonal, local foods; to reduce their ecological footprint; and to come together through impactful travel.
Read More About Me
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