German Frikadellen Recipe with Pan Fried Potatoes (2024)

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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.

German Frikadellen Recipe with Pan Fried Potatoes (2)

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 with Pan Fried Potatoes (3)

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!

German Frikadellen Recipe with Pan Fried Potatoes (4)

Yield: 4 servings

German Frikadellen Recipe with Pan Fried Potatoes

German Frikadellen Recipe with Pan Fried Potatoes (5)

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:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 615Total Fat: 31gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 181mgSodium: 825mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 4gSugar: 2gProtein: 43g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram tagging @simplifylivelove! I love to see your photos!

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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German Frikadellen Recipe with Pan Fried Potatoes (2024)

FAQs

What is Frikadellen made of? ›

Frikadelle
A freshly made batch of Frikadellen
Place of originUncertain; supposedly Denmark or Germany
Main ingredientsPork, veal, lamb, beef or fish
Other informationGenerally served with boiled potatoes with gravy, or creamed cabbage or with krompadedder
Media: Frikadelle
1 more row

How do you eat Frikadellen? ›

German Frikadellen can be eaten on their own with some mustard and/or ketchup, and a side of potato salad or on a Brötchen, a crusty bun. Some Germans also like a rustic mushroom sauce to go with their German hamburger (like this Jägersoße I serve with my Schnitzel).

What are hamburgers called in Germany? ›

Frikadellen, the original hamburger, are served like a flattened meatball with string beans and salad. I also like to use this recipe to make Swedish meatballs (but omit the paprika). My aunt in Hamburg, Germany, taught me this recipe, and I've been making it ever since.

Can you eat Frikadellen cold? ›

You can eat them warm or cold. As a snack you would put them into a bun, add some mustard and that's it.

What is in a Dutch frikandel? ›

At its most basic, frikandel is a deep-fried sausage.

But make no mistake, it's not just any old deep fried sausage; frikandel is a long and skinless fried sausage mostly comprised of beef, pork and chicken.

Where did frikadelle originate? ›

"In Denmark, we trace the roots of the frikadelle back to the 1600s, with a recipe, maybe German in origin, written for a sausage without a casing seasoned with saffron and ginger. This sausage without a casing becomes a meatball eaten in a soup and stew," said Bauer.

What is Frikadellen in Dutch? ›

A frikandel (Dutch pronunciation: [frikɑnˈdɛl]; plural frikandellen) is a traditional snack originating from the historical Low Countries (Netherlands, Belgium and north of France), a sort of minced-meat sausage, of which the modern version was developed after World War II.

What country eats the most hamburgers? ›

At this point, the U.S. continues to be the world's leading consumer of hamburgers, with more than 26% of the world's hamburgers consumed in the country each year. Other major hamburgerconsuming countries include the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, France, and Australia.

What did Americans call hamburgers during WWII? ›

1939–1945. Many begin to call hamburgers “liberty sandwiches” in response to the anti-German sentiments during World War II.

Why do people say Hamburg instead of hamburger? ›

The name of the German dish was shortened to “Hamburgs” and then, when the beef was eventually sandwiched between two slices of bread, to “hamburgers.” Some sources claim the word “hamburger” first appeared on a menu in 1873, when Delmonico's restaurant in New York City advertised a hamburger steak.

How do you cook aldi Frikadellen? ›

Heating Instructions: Remove from packaging To fry heat from chilled: Heat a knob of butter in a pan and then fry the Frikadellen for approximately 6 minutes each side. Ensure product is thoroughly heated and piping hot throughout. Do not reheat. Meatballs made with chopped pork, onion, breadcrumbs, herbs and spices.

What is the best German food at Aldi? ›

Aldi offers a wide range of German food products that are perfect for quick and easy meal preparation. Some of the popular items include Deutsche Küche Bavarian Bratwurst, Deutsche Küche Egg Spaetzle, Deutsche Küche German Style Sauerkraut, and Deutsche Küche Potato Pancakes.

Can you reheat Frikadellen? ›

You can certainly reheat them in the microwave, on the stovetop, or even at low temperatures (10-15 minutes at 250° Fahrenheit) in the oven. While it might not sound appealing to everyone, I should mention that Frikadellen are served hot and cold.

What is Frikadellen sausage? ›

Frikandellen is a popular snack in the Netherlands that has been enjoyed by generations of Dutch people. This deep-fried sausage is made from a combination of minced meat, spices, and breadcrumbs, giving it a unique texture and flavor.

What is the Russian version of hamburger? ›

Mikoyan cutlet (Russian: микояновская котлета, romanized: mikojanovskaja kotleta) was a Soviet semi-processed ground meat cutlet variety based on the American hamburger beef patty, nicknamed after Soviet politician Anastas Mikoyan.

What is the difference between Swedish and Danish meatballs? ›

The Danish meatball is a little rugged in texture and can be served in multiple ways – with a lightly spiced curry sauce, for example, or a rich gravy. A Swedish meatball, in comparison to the crispy, pan-fried Danish version, is often a little smaller, with a very smooth, even texture and a rounder shape.

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