German Pasta Recipes (So Yummy!)

Name: German Pasta Recipes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: Pasta

By Jennifer Pallian BSc, RD

Oct 17, 2024

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I’ve gathered up the coziest and most delicious German pasta recipes on the web. German cooking is all about rich taste, deep seasoning, hearty meals and comforting flavors.

Easy Homemade Spätzle

This absolute classic German eggs noodles are a combination of a noodle and a dumpling. This German spaetzle recipe from House of Nash Eats is actually pretty simple. I love that she gives you an alternate method of making them if you don’t have a German spaetzle maker.

Serve them covered in creamy cheese sauce or with butter and a little shredded cheese!

About Spaetzle: The Most Popular of German Pasta Recipes

A lot of these German Pasta recipes feature spaetzle (aka spätzle) – you can purchase ready to use spaetzle if you don’t want to make it yourself.

The word “Spätzle” itself is derived from the German word “spät,” meaning “late,” or “Spatz,” which translates to “sparrow.” This is because the traditional method of making Spätzle involves scraping the dough from a wooden board or plate into boiling water in small, irregular shapes resembling little sparrows.

Spätzle is enjoyed not only in Germany but also in neighboring countries like Austria, Switzerland, and parts of Alsace in France. It can be served as a side dish accompanying hearty stews, roasts, or sausages or as a main course with rich sauces, cheese, or vegetables.

How to Cook Ready to Use Spaetzle

If you want to use a ready-made spaetzle instead of making a spaetzle batter from scratch then here’s what to do:

Boil water: Fill a large pot with water. Add a teaspoon of salt if desired. Bring the water to a boil over high heat.
Add spaetzle: Once the water is boiling, carefully add the store-bought spaetzle to the pot. Stir gently to prevent them from sticking together.
Cook spaetzle: Allow the spaetzle to cook in the boiling water according to the instructions on the package. Typically, this takes a total time of about 3-5 minutes. Stir occasionally to ensure even cooking.
Test for doneness: After a few minutes, test a piece of spaetzle to see if it’s cooked to your liking. It should be tender but still slightly chewy.
Drain spaetzle: Once the spaetzle is cooked, use a slotted spoon or a colander to drain them from the boiling water. Shake off any excess water.
Serve: Once cooked, you have the option to saute the noodles with a wooden spoon in a pan or large skillet. Next, transfer the cooked spaetzle to a serving dish. They can be served as a side dish or as a base for various sauces, gravies, or toppings – use a cheese grater to top the noodles with fresh parmesan, garnish and serve. You can also bake them in the oven to make a pasta bake!

Remember to follow package directions for best results.

German Spätzle with Mushroom Gravy

This simple recipe from Savory Nothings is pure magic. The glossy mushrooms get cooked with white wine, cream and umami-loaded broth. The combination of salty, well-seasoned mushrooms with the cozy, soft German egg noodles is dreamy.

RELATED: Pappardelle vs. Egg Noodles: What You Need to Know!

Serve it with a side of red cabbage and a teaspoon of sour cream.

If you love mushroom sauce, you’ll also love my Mushroom Pappardelle recipe!

Creamy Bratwurst Pasta

If Bratwurst pasta doesn’t SCREAM “German pasta recipes to try”, I don’t know what does! Here is a meaty pasta with bright pops of pea green from The Food Joy.

This easy recipe has a thin, silky, salty sauce thickened with cashew nuts and flour. The added Parmesan cheese makes it next-level yum. Bratwurst is a traditional German sausage.

Cheese Spätzle Recipe

This is a German version of mac and cheese recipe from Plated Cravings, and it’s NOT to be missed. It’s served with shredded Emmental and crispy fried onions; YUM! The spatzle are best eaten right away, but you can also make this ahead and enjoy it later.

This is one of my favorite German pasta recipes and clearly a favorite in Germany, too – it’s made for me by several German friends!

You can grab the recipe here.

Schinkennudeln (Ham + Egg Pasta)

Grab this tasty German pasta recipe for ham and egg pasta from Maple and Mango. It’s full of garlicky flavor and salty ham that’s all crispy. Make it under 30 minutes – a great way to use leftover ham if you have any.

Spätzle with Bacon and Onion

Here’s a 5-ingredient recipe from Carolines Cooking for a bacon and onion pasta. Gruyere, bacon, chives and onion…and spatzle. That’s it! This

It has the perfect amount of seasoning (not too much salt) and the noodles are SO delicious with the cheesy goodness and crispy bacon. Swap the spatzle for penne or fusili if you need a ready-to-use option.

German Pasta Salad Recipe

This delicious German pasta salad from Our Gabled Home is a delicious side dish or potluck recipe. I love its crunchy ingredients, like gherkins, peppers, and peas! It has such simple flavors yet is SO tasty.

German Goulash

Here is a recipe to check out from Where Is My Spoon. The wholesome and rich taste from the tender, fall-apart beef is so good with the onion gravy. This is next-level comfort food.

I love that the prep only takes 15 minutes, and after that, it cooks away slowly until meltingly soft.

Slow Cooker Sauerbraten

Here’s a beefy recipe by Love Bakes Good Cakes for you to cook low and slow. This soft, well-balanced sauce has a splash of vinegar to cut through the richness.

Did I mention that one of the stand-out ingredients in Gingersnap cookies? I know, right?!