Spaetzle (pronounced SCHPET-zleh) is sort of a cross between egg noodles and dumplings. It is a common German side dish, and you can dress it up or down just like you would egg noodles. I generally serve spaetzle boiled, but some recipes call for a light pan-frying after boiling – occasionally in bacon fat!
School is back for almost all of us now, and weeknights are a rush of homework and practices. This is one of my favorite go-to side dishes because it is quick and easy to make, and the whole family eats it without complaint. And, I bet you have all the ingredients to make this family-friendly side dish in your house right this second!
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FAMILY FRIENDLY SIDE DISH: SPAETZLE
HOW TO MAKE GERMAN SPAETZLE
Watch the video above to see how quick and easy it is to make homemade, fresh spaetzle. You get the taste of fresh pasta much more quickly than making traditional pasta. Plus, using a spaetzle maker means the process is super easy and kind of fun!
If you liked this video, consider checking out my recipe playlist on my YouTube channel. It is full of simple and delicious recipes that your family will love!
MAKING SPAETZLE AT HOME
While you can make spaetzle without a spaetzle maker, it is way quicker and less messy to use one. If you think you may make spaetzle more than once in your life, buy a maker. This is the style I use (affiliate), but you can probably find something similar at a home or department store for less than $15.
When it comes to serving the spaetzle, you can pair it with just about anything you would serve with egg noodles. My family likes to eat it as a side to meat and veggies, but you can also top it with gravy or stroganoff, mix in cheese or bacon, or add it into soup in place of noodles!
HOMEMADE SPAETZLE RECIPE
German Spaetzle
Print PinIngredients
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup flour
- 1 T butter optional
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Whisk eggs and milk together in a medium bowl.
- Add in flour and mix until well combined.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and place a spaetzle maker on top of the pot.
- Spoon about 1/4-1/2 cup of the batter into the spaetzle maker. Move the square scraper back and forth. This will cause small dollops of the batter to fall into the water.
- Boil for 4-6 minutes.
- Use a slotted spoon, kitchen spider, or strainer to remove the spaetzle from the water and into a serving dish.
- Repeat the cooking steps for the rest of your batter.
- Before serving, season to taste. You may also add a pat of butter to the bowl for even more flavor.
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