Käsespätzle - German Cheesy Spaetzle

Käsespätzle is a classic German dish that combines spaetzle dumplings with cheese and fried onions for some out-of-this-world comfort food. German Cheesy Spaetzle is easy to make and full of great flavors and textures. This recipe is great as a side dish for a holiday or as a weeknight dinner. Give our Käsespätzle recipe a try today!

What is Käsespätzle?

Literally, it translates to “cheese noodles” and derives from traditional German Spätzle, or Spaetzle, dumplings. These are really part dumpling and part noodles. They really remind me of a solid macaroni noodle, made with egg noodle ingredients and cooked like a dumpling. Visit this German Spaetzle recipe for my tasty version.

What is Great About Käsespätzle?

There are a few great things about this recipe. First, it tastes great. It is much like homemade macaroni and cheese with a German twist. The fried onions in this recipe adds a crunchy, flavorful addition that will not disappoint. 

Also, if you are into traditional foods, this cheesy Spaetzle is a great way to explore the culinary foodways of Germany. Much like knopfle dumplings, this recipe has roots in the Swabian parts of Germany. Check out our History of Knephla Soup article to get a glimpse of this history or our Knoephla Soup recipe for another great German recipe.

Finally, this recipe is very versatile. There are many substitutions and additions to this that can add your take to this German classic. This recipe is great as-is, but I also provide a few options to change it up.

Check Out My Spaetzle Recipe

This recipe presumes you have a batch of Spaetzle or about 4 cups of cooked Spaetzle. You might be able to find cooked Spaetzle at your local grocer, but it is a very easy recipe to make. Check out this spaetzle recipe if you want to make your own.

With the Spaetzle recipe, I provide a very simple recipe for serving as a complete dish. Once cooked, that recipe calls for frying with butter and herbs. You can skip that whole section and just use the plain spaetzle dumplings for this dish. 

While I use my spaetzle recipe, I add a few spices to it before I layer them in a casserole dish. I add a bit of salt, some pepper, and a dash of cayenne to the mix. This just adds a bit of pop of flavor that I think the dumplings need if you aren’t frying them with butter and herbs.

Frying the Onions

Fried onions add a great flavor to our Käsespätzle recipe. It adds flavor and a bit of crispiness to the mix that makes it special. I suppose you could use premade French’s Fried Onions (Affiliate Link), but I recommend making your own.

Making your own fried onions is easy to do and is a quick process. It is as simple as wetting some thinly sliced onions, covering them in flour, and frying until golden brown. It just takes a few minutes, although one full onion might need to be done in a few separate batches. 

What Cheese To Use For This Recipe

Traditionally, this dish is made with Emmental Cheese, considered a type of Swiss Cheese. I cannot regularly find this cheese in my area but have found a great substitution that might even be better.

I use ½ Swiss cheese, but then I also use ½ smoked gouda. I think this provides such a great combination of creamy texture and a smoked flavor that makes this recipe special. Your cheese selection, however, is a great way to change things up.

Options To Mix It Up

There are many ways to mix this up and make this recipe your own. Here are a few ways you could change the recipe to make this Käsespätzle recipe your own.

• Add some bacon bits. Need I say more? Bacon can add great umami flavor and crunchy texture to many recipes. 
• I use a combination of Swiss Cheese and Smoked Gouda, but there are other cheeses you could try. They may not be quite as traditional, but I would suspect that pepper jack or cheddar could make some great flavors. There are any number of combinations that could work
• Add some herbs! I always love thyme, but a dash of parsley, rosemary, or oregano could work great with a recipe like this. 

Käsespätzle Tips

• Use my Spatzle Recipe for fresh dumplings, but you might be able to find store-bought Spaetzle at your grocer or local German specialty store. 
• You can premake your Spaetzle, but I would consider adding a teaspoon of olive oil and mixing if you do. 
• While the recipe calls for frying your own onion, you could also use store-bought fried onions. 
• Onions can be made beforehand if kept in a covered container and kept in the refrigerator. 
• Try substituting different cheeses, adding some bacon, or adding some herbs to change this recipe up.
• I have eaten this as leftovers and keeps well for a day.

Products Used In This Recipe

• Fresh Spaetzle is preferred, but here is some store-bought
• Homemade Fried Onions are preferred, but French’s works too
• 2 ½ quart Corningware casserole dish

Did You Try This Recipe?

Thank you so much for giving this Käsespätzle recipe a try, and I hope you like it as much as I do! I hope my love of traditional recipes helps to serve something special for you and your family. If you liked this dish, it would be really helpful to leave a review and rating in the comments section below. If you review and share this recipe, it can help other people decide to make it, and it helps me out. Most of all, thanks for visiting Ramshackle Pantry, and I hope to see you again. 

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