Cheese Spaetzle (Kaesespaetzle)

Nothing says comfort food like a heaping bowl of German cheese spaetzle (or Kaesespaetzle)! Inspired by my many Austrian skiing trips, this ooey-gooey noodle dish is made from a rich, creamy, savory blend of spaetzle, caramelized onion, and Swiss-type cheeses.

The Ultimate Comfort Food

Käsespätzle (or German cheese spaetzle) is a warm egg noodle or dumpling-like dish made with heaps of Swiss cheese (my kind of recipe!). The name quite literally translates to “cheese noodle.”

It’s a staple in Austria for its creamy decadence and great flavor (I mean, it’s hard to argue with all that cheesiness after a long day of skiing). Kaesespaetzle could be compared to American mac and cheese, though spaetzle is a bit heartier than your typical pasta.

Today, we’re showing you how to make this comforting German recipe because even if you aren’t skiing in Austria, there’s always a reason to cozy up with a bowl of something cheesy, right?

Here’s What You’ll Need

Kaesespaetzle is packed with flavor thanks to a few pantry items and a generous amount of cheese.

• White Onion: First up, you’ll need 2 heaping cups of white onion. It takes around 2 full onions to reach 2 cups.
• Butter: Add creaminess with 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter. We’ll use unsalted butter since we can better control the sodium content this way.
• Salt: Enhance the flavor of the other ingredients with ½ teaspoon of salt.
• Spaetzle: Now for the spaetzle! You’ll need 6 cups of this pasta-like ingredient, which is 2 10.5-oz packages of dried spaetzle.
• Cheese: First up, use 1 ½ cups of shredded Swiss Emmental cheese (aka Emmentaler cheese). Follow that with 1 ½ cups of shredded gruyere cheese (because you can never have too much cheesiness in one dish!).

This Dish Is Ready In Under An Hour

German Kaesespaetzle is quite a simple recipe that’s ready in 45 minutes and contains 8 servings.

Step 1: Caramelize The Onions
Thinly slice the onions into strips. Melt the butter in a large, heavy-bottomed pan (like a cast iron) over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring often, until they turn golden brown. When finished, stir in the salt.

Step 2: Prepare The Spaetzle
Meanwhile, cook the spaetzle according to the instructions on the package.

Step 3: Assemble The Dish
While everything is still hot, stir together the cooked spaetzle, caramelized onions, and both grated cheese varieties with a spatula or wooden spoon.

Step 4: Garnish And Serve
Serve your Kaesespaetzle warm, topped with chives.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you pronounce käsespätzle?
Käsespätzle is pronounced like “kay-spat-zle.”

Is spaetzle pasta?
It’s not, though it is similar! To make spaetzle, flour, eggs, and milk are combined until they reach a pancake batter consistency. Pasta is typically made from wheat, water, and egg, which are combined to form a dough.

Where is Kaesespaetzle from?
Kaesespaetzle comes from regions in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It’s a staple in all three countries!

Recipes to pair with kaesespaetzle

Whether you’re enjoying this Kaesespaetzle as a main course or a side dish, here are some options that stand up to all that cheesiness!

• Healthier Sauerkraut Salad is the perfect tangy accompaniment to balance the richness of the cheese.
• Vegan Schnitzel is such a classic dish. The perfect crunch to balance these cheesey noodles!