Home / Dinner / Käsespätzle

Käsespätzle

Pillowy spätzle baked under a blanket of melted Emmental and crowned with caramelized onions — Germany’s cheesiest, most soulful comfort food.

⏱ 25 minPrep time
🔥 30 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
☆☆☆☆☆No ratings yet
Käsespätzle cheesy egg noodles with crispy fried onions

Alpine comfort at its finest: tender little egg noodles layered with melting mountain cheese and crowned with crisp golden onions. Käsespätzle is Germany’s answer to mac and cheese — richer, cheesier and dangerously moreish.

A Swabian specialty, it’s served in taverns and ski huts across the south, often with a green salad on the side. One forkful of that cheese pull and you’ll understand the devotion.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Whisk the flour, salt, nutmeg, eggs and water into a thick, stretchy batter. Rest 10 minutes.
  2. Cook the onions in 1 tbsp of the butter over medium-low heat until deep golden and crisp, 15–20 minutes. Set aside.
  3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Press the batter through a spaetzle maker (or push through a colander with a spatula) into the water.
  4. Cook 2–3 minutes until the noodles float; scoop out with a slotted spoon.
  5. In a buttered baking dish, layer spaetzle, cream (if using) and cheese, seasoning with pepper. Repeat, finishing with cheese.
  6. Bake at 375°F for 10–15 minutes until the cheese melts and bubbles.
  7. Top with the fried onions and chives and serve hot.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Grate the cheese yourself — pre-shredded bagged cheese won't melt as silkily. The fried onions are the crown; cook them slowly until truly golden.

Rate this recipe

☆☆☆☆☆No ratings yet
Sign in to rate this recipe.

Recipe details

Prep25 min
Cook30 min
Servings4
CategoryDinner
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →