In Germany, cheese spaetzle is known as Käsespätzle (or Kässpätzle in the Swabian dialect). Pronounced “KAY-zuh-SPAYT-zluh,” it is the ultimate German comfort food. The dish consists of soft, homemade egg noodles (Spaetzle) layered with gooey melted cheese and topped with crispy fried onions.
Cheese Spaetzle (Käsespätzle) is the German version of Mac and Cheese made with homemade German spaetzle and grated cheese. This Bavarian dish is special enough for an Oktoberfest party but so easy that you can make it every day!
- The Noodles: Spaetzle are made from a simple batter of flour, eggs, salt, and water or milk. The dough is pressed or scraped directly into boiling water.
- The Cheese: Traditionally, Emmental cheese is used, but Gruyère, Gouda, or a blend of mountain cheeses are also very common.
- The Toppings: It is almost always served with a heavy garnish of geröstete Zwiebeln (caramelized or crispy fried onions) and sometimes fresh chives.
I made with store+bought dried spaetzle. Often found with the pastas or International section of grocery stores.
Cheese Spaetzle
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups shredded Swiss cheese about 6 oz , can also use: Gruyere or Gouda,)
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons chopped chives plus more for garnishing
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2-3 cups Spaetzle fresh or purchased and cooked
- 1 cup Crispy Fried Onions I used French's Crispy fried onions from a package.
Instructions
- In a bowl combine shredded 1.5 cups shredded Swiss cheese, 1/4 cup heavy cream, and 2 tablespoons chopped chives
- Melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a 9 or 10-inch cast iron pan over medium heat.
- When the butter is hot add 2-3 cups Spaetzle fresh or purchased and cooked. Cook over medium-high heat until they're golden brown on the edges and slightly crispy.
- Add the cheese mixture and stir until the cheese is melted and everything is evenly coated.
- Put the pan under your broiler for about 1-2 minutes until the top is golden brown.
- Take it out of the oven. Garnish with additional chopped chives and 1 cup 1 cup Crispy Fried Onions.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Art of Cooking Recipes (Paulson Pursuits} is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
