This easy German Spaetzle recipe with garlic, butter, parsley, and Parmesan makes traditional German egg noodles that are simply delicious!

German spätzle is a staple at my house. This garlic butter spaetzle is one of my daughter’s favorite meals, and she requests it often. It is a simple dish that is quick and easy to make, and the spatzle can be served as a side dish or as a main course. The leftovers also reheat well, so I usually make a large batch, which is really helpful during the week when I don’t have a lot of time.

This easy spaetzle recipe comes together quickly, only requires a few ingredients, and is inexpensive to make. However, this cheese spaetzle with garlic butter is incredibly delicious and would please even the pickiest of eaters. Trust me, my daughter is the pickiest eater that has ever graced this earth!

German spaetzle is the perfect side dish for a family dinner, and it can easily be changed up by stirring in things like mushrooms, walnuts, or shrimp. It is also great served with this Parmesan Garlic Bread or these Easy Cheddar Biscuits. I hope you enjoy the spaetzle!

Spätzle

Spätzle, Spätzla, Spatzen, or Spaetzle, also called nokedli in Hungarian, are traditional German egg noodles. This egg-based pasta is a popular dish served in Bavaria, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, and Hungary. The name Spätzle is associated with its shape, possibly because the pasta looks like ‘little sparrows’. Spatzen is the plural of Spatz, which means ‘sparrows’ in German. However, these German egg dumplings or egg pasta come in different forms, including Bavarian-style spaetzle and farmer-style spaetzle. The farmer spatzle is thin and elongated, and the Bavarian spatzle is thick and short, the little sparrow shape. Bavarian spaetzle takes a little longer to cook, but it is my daughter’s preference.

There are a variety of ways to serve Spätzle. Cheese Spätzle is one of the most popular Spätzle dishes, cooked in butter and traditionally served with a salad, which is how I make it, since buttery, cheesy pasta is the best!

German Spaetzle Recipe Ingredients

These German spaetzle recipe ingredients are simple but make a delicious Garlic Butter Cheese Spaetzle that can be served as a main course or as a side dish with a variety of things.

Spaetzle – German egg noodles – Bavarian-style or farmer-style spaetzle.
Olive oil
Butter – I use unsalted butter.
Garlic – minced fresh garlic.
Parsley – freshly chopped parsley.
Parmesan – freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

What to Serve with Spaetzle

Here are some ideas of what to serve with Spaetzle. You can add ingredients like protein or veggies to make the spaetzle a main course, or serve the spaetzle as a side dish with things like chicken and seafood. Spaetzle is also wonderful served with a salad, soup, and bread.

How to Make German Spaetzle

To make German spaetzle with garlic butter, first, boil the spaetzle according to the package instructions, and be sure to add salt to the pasta water. Drain the spaetzle when finished. Once the spaetzle is close to being done, make the garlic butter sauce. (see instructions below)

Garlic Butter Spaetzle

To make garlic butter spaetzle, start making the garlic butter sauce a few minutes before the pasta finishes cooking. It only takes a few minutes to make.

Add the olive oil to a large saute pan over medium-low heat, then melt the butter into the oil. Once the butter has completely melted and begins to simmer, add the minced garlic. Sauté the garlic, stirring occasionally, for 1 – 2 minutes, or until the garlic becomes fragrant, being careful not to burn it, then turn off the heat.

Add the cooked and drained spaetzle to the garlic butter sauce, then stir to coat. Stir in the chopped parsley and parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper if desired and enjoy!

Print Recipe

German Spaetzle

This easy German Spaetzle recipe, with garlic, butter, parsley, and parmesan, makes traditional German egg noodles that are simply delicious!

Total Time15

Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: German

Keyword: Cheese Spaetzle, Garlic Butter Spaetzle, German Spaetzle, Spaetzle, Spätzle

Servings:

Author: Christi

Ingredients

10 ounces spaetzle dry
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ cup butter
1 tablespoon garlic (about 3 cloves minced)
2 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped - add more to taste)
¼ cup parmesan (finely grated - add more to taste)

Instructions

Boil the spaetzle according to the package instructions, and be sure to add salt to the pasta water. Drain the spaetzle when finished. Make the garlic butter sauce a few minutes before the pasta finishes cooking. (see instructions below)
Add the olive oil to a large saute pan over medium-low heat, then melt the butter into the oil. Once the butter has completely melted and begins to simmer, add the minced garlic. Sauté the garlic, stirring occasionally, for 1 - 2 minutes, or until the garlic becomes fragrant, being careful not to burn it, then turn off the heat.
Add the cooked and drained spaetzle to the garlic butter sauce, then stir to coat. Stir in the chopped parsley and parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper if desired and enjoy!

Notes

You can add ingredients like protein or veggies to make the spaetzle a main course. These White Wine Mushrooms are a delicious addition. Or, serve the spaetzle as a side dish with things like chicken or seafood. Spaetzle is also wonderful served with a salad, soup, or bread.

More Pasta and Noodles

If you make this recipe, please leave a comment in the comments section below. I would love to hear from you, and truly appreciate your feedback! I will always do my best to respond to every comment ASAP. Thank you so much!

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