Frikadellen

What happens when a meatball gets squished into a ground beef patty? It turns into frikadellen, a savory, pan-fried dish that’s popular in Germany. Depending on the region, they may be referred to by different names, including buletten, fleischpflanzerl and klopse.

This tasty beef dish would be a perfect Oktoberfest recipe or just a regular weeknight dinner. Serve frikadellen alongside German potato salad or spaetzle for a delicious German-inspired feast. A large stein of beer is optional!

What are frikadellen?

Frikadellen are essentially German-style meatballs that are flattened into patties and pan-fried. While American hamburgers are typically made from ground beef and sometimes seasoned with spices, whereas frikadellen are a combination of ground beef and pork, sauteed onions and garlic, leftover bread soaked in milk, parsley and a variety of spices. The resulting patties are extra juicy and flavorful. Unlike hamburger patties, which are served like a sandwich on a bun, frikadellen are typically eaten on their own. These meatball-inspired patties are also common in other European countries. For example, the Danish version is called frikadeller.

Frikadellen Ingredients

• Ground meat: This recipe for frikadellen uses ground beef and ground pork. For the best flavor, use ground beef with a ratio of 80% lean to 20% fat.
• White bread: Use day-old bread in this recipe. You can use white bread, a split bun or roll, or even bread crumbs. If you don’t have stale bread on hand, you can lightly toast the bread in the toaster before crumbling and soaking the bread crumbs.
• Milk: The bread is soaked in milk, which adds moisture to the meat patties. You can use any type of milk—or water if necessary.
• Onion: Onions are an incredibly versatile pantry staple. Yellow onions are the best type of onion for this frikadellen recipe, but you could also use a white onion.
• Garlic: Minced garlic makes a lovely and classic teammate for chopped onion.
• Egg: An egg helps to bind the meat mixture together.
• Fresh parsley: Freshly chopped parsley adds a fresh flavor to the frikadellen patties.
• Mustard: Yellow mustard gives a tangy flavor to the patties. You could also use Dijon mustard.
• Seasonings: The patties are flavored with salt, pepper, dried marjoram, ground mace and paprika.
• Olive oil: Olive oil is used to saute the onions and pan-fry the patties. You can also use vegetable oil or a mix of oil and butter, since frikadellen are commonly fried in butter.

Directions

Step 1: Soak the bread

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Tear the bread into bite-sized pieces and place them in a small bowl. Pour the milk over the bread and let it soak for 15 minutes. Squeeze out any excess liquid through a fine mesh strainer and set aside.

Step 2: Saute the onions and garlic

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Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and saute them for five to seven minutes or until they’re lightly golden brown. Add the garlic and cook it for 30 to 60 seconds or until it’s fragrant.

Step 3: Mix the ingredients

Place the onion mixture, soaked bread, ground beef, ground pork, parsley, egg, mustard, salt, paprika, pepper, marjoram and mace in a large bowl. Use your hands to thoroughly mix everything together until well blended.

Step 4: Form the patties

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Wet your hands lightly with water, then form the meat mixture into eight balls. Gently flatten each ball into a patty. Cover and chill the patties in the fridge for at least 15 minutes.

Editor’s Tip: Depending on how big you want your frikadellen to be, you could use more meat per patty and make six or seven patties instead of eight.

Step 5: Fry the patties

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Heat the remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in two batches, add the patties to the hot oil. Cook them for four to five minutes on each side or until they’re browned, then lower the heat and continue cooking them until the internal temperature reaches 160°F. Transfer the patties to a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat the process with the remaining patties.

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Frikadellen Variations

• Add some sauce: Serve the frikadellen with a simple pan gravy and serve them over egg noodles or spaetzle.
• Play with the spices: Other spices commonly included in frikadellen recipes include ground ginger, ground cardamom and ground coriander. Try different combinations to see which flavors you like the most.

How to Store Frikadellen

After allowing the frikadellen to cool completely, store the patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

How long do frikadellen last?

Frikadellen can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Can you freeze frikadellen?

Absolutely! To freeze leftover frikadellen, allow them to cool completely first. Then transfer them to an airtight, freezer-safe container. Frikadellen can be frozen for up to three months. Let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating them.

How do you reheat frikadellen?

You can easily reheat frikadellen in the microwave. Place the patties on a microwave-safe dish, then cover and heat them in 30-second intervals until they’re warmed through. You can also reheat the patties in a 300° oven, or pan-fry them with a little butter on the stovetop until they’re heated through.

Frikadellen Tips

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Should you make the frikadellen mixture ahead of time?

You can make the frikadellen mixture (and form it into patties too, if you like) up to three days in advance. Store it, covered, in the fridge until you’re ready to cook them. The longer the patties sit, the more the flavors will meld, leading to ultra-flavorful frikadellen.

How should you serve frikadellen?

Frikadellen can be served either hot or cold. They can be served as a standalone or alongside rolls or lettuce wraps to make a sandwich. Side dishes that pair well with frikadellen include German recipes such as potato salad, red cabbage, and pickled beets. Thinly sliced radishes or cucumber dill salad are tasty lighter options.