These seasoned German meat patties (also known as Frikadeller in Denmark) are extremely popular for both mealtimes and picnics because they’re equally delicious either hot or cold! They’ve been a household staple for centuries and their popularity has spread across multiple European countries and beyond!
Frikadellen, as they’re called in Germany (aka Fleischküchle, Fleischpflanzerl and Buletten), or Frikadeller, as they’re called in Denmark, are seasoned meat patties that are equally good hot or cold and have been popular for both mealtimes and picnics for centuries. This authentic frikadeller recipe captures all the flavor of this popular European favorite!
Where did Frikadeller/Frikadellen Originate?
It’s origin is uncertain but it’s largely attributed to north Germany and Denmark though they have also become very popular throughout Scandinavia, Holland, Poland and other parts of the world. They can be traced back to at least the 18th century in Germany, though they’re almost certainly much older.
How Are the Frikadelle and the Hamburger Related?
While the the origin of the Frikadelle isn’t entirely clear, what we do know is that the Frikadellen of north Germany, of Hamburg specifically, were the inspiration for what became known as Hamburgers.
That’s right, German immigrants from Hamburg took their Frikadellen with them to the United States, eventually someone threw a Frikadelle in between two buns and voilà, the rest is history!
What Are the Key Ingredients in Frikadellen?
As with almost any “traditional” or “authentic” recipe, there is more than one version. Variations abound depending on the particular region and the particular family tradition. Nevertheless, Frikadellen and Frikadeller generally all have the same core ingredients in common: Ground meat, onions, bread, egg and seasonings. The regional differences vary in the specific seasonings.
In a collection of recipes compiled in 1790 by the mother of German author Theodor Fontanes, the over 200 year-old recipe for Frikadellen was largely the same then as it is today, incorporating ground meat (usually a combination of beef and pork), onions, bread, eggs, parsley and spices. The 1790 recipe calls for two very traditional spices, mace and cardamom. While nutmeg can be substituted, we recommend mace for that traditional old-fashioned German flavor. Likewise marjoram, not oregano, is the traditional herb of choice in Germany and Denmark.
Traditionally Frikadellen were fried in pork fat or beef fat but today they’re most commonly fried in clarified butter (Butterschmalz) or oil or a combination of both.
How Do You Serve Frikadeller?
In Germany Frikadellen are commonly served with potato salad (try our Swabian Potato Salad and Creamy Potato Salad) or a crusty roll slathered with mustard. Many also eat them with mashed potatoes, and vegetables. In Denmark they’re also commonly eaten on rugbord (Danish rye bread – click for recipe) with pickled red cabbage or slices of pickle. In both countries they’re a popular picnic food because they transport easily and are also good cold.
Another variation is to make smaller Frikadellen and skew them onto kabob skewers.
Tips for Achieving the Perfect Frikadellen
- Select ground meat with a good ratio of fat. Do not use extra lean or the Frikadellen will lose a lot of water during cooking and become dry.
- When you press down the balls of meat be sure the width is even throughout the patty for even cooking.
- Moistening your hands with a little water before forming the patties will prevent the meat mixture from sticking to your hands.
Frikadelle Variations
If you’d like to change up the flavors for something different you can try swapping out the spices in this recipe for any of the following: Curry, chili powder, sun-dried tomatoes, preserved lemon (for a little Moroccan influence, harissa, caraway seeds, fennel, basil, thyme, rosemary, etc.
Can Frikadellen Be Made In Advance?
Yes! You can make the meat mixture at least one full day in advance. In fact we recommend it because the flavor only gets better. Cover and refrigerate the meat mixture and then make and fry the patties when you’re ready to use them. Or you can also form the patties in advance and keep them covered and chilled until ready to use.
Do Frikadeller Freeze Well?
Yes they do! They freeze really and will keep for up to 3 months in the freezer. Wrap and store in ziplock freezer bags or airtight containers. Simply thaw and reheat in the microwave, pan or oven.
Let’s get started!
Break the bread up into small pieces, place them in a small bowl and pour water/milk over them and let them soak for 15 minutes while you’re preparing the other ingredients. Squeeze out any excess liquid.
Heat some oil or butter in a frying and saute the onions until soft and translucent, 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
Place all of the ingredients (except for the olive oil and butter) in a large bowl along with the onion mixture and the soaked bread. Use your hands to thoroughly knead the mixture until well blended and the meat is smooth. The more you knead it, the better the results.
Form the meat mixture into balls according to desired size and slightly flatten them. Cover and chill the patties in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before frying them.
Heat the olive oil and butter in a frying pan. Once hot add the Frikadellen / Frikadeller and fry on both sides on higher heat until nicely browned, then lower the heat and continue to fry over medium heat until cooked through according to desired doneness.
Traditionally served with potato salad or a crusty bread roll slathered with mustard. See above in blog post for other serving ideas.
Enjoy!
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Authentic German Frikadellen / Danish Frikadeller
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound ground beef , 80% recommended for moist Frikadellen; no leaner than 92%
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1 medium yellow onion , very finely chopped
- 2 slices slightly stale white bread (about 2 oz or 50 g) (can also use fresh croutons and let them sit out a day)
- 1/4 cup warm water or milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 clove garlic , minced
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
- 1 teaspoon sweet Hungarian paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground mace
- 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Break the bread up into small pieces, place them in a small bowl and pour water/milk over them and let them soak for 15 minutes while you're preparing the other ingredients. Squeeze out any excess liquid.
- Heat some oil or butter in a frying and saute the onions until soft and translucent, 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
- Place all of the ingredients (except for the olive oil and butter) in a large bowl along with the onion mixture and the soaked bread. Use your hands to thoroughly knead the mixture until well blended and the meat is smooth. The more you knead it, the better the results. Form the meat mixture into balls according to desired size and slightly flatten them. Cover and chill the patties in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
- Heat the olive oil and butter in a frying pan. Once hot add the Frikadellen / Frikadeller and fry on both sides on higher heat until nicely browned, then lower the heat and continue to fry over medium heat until cooked through according to desired doneness. Traditionally served with potato salad or a crusty bread roll slathered with mustard. See blog post for other serving ideas.
Notes
Nutrition
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George says
Saw this recipe and just had to try it. They were delicious and took me back to the mid 1990’s when I lived in Germany. I found I had to make the patties quite a bit bigger than I thought I would as they shrank significantly during the cooking. 5 star rating and thank you Kimberly for bringing back some great memories of “Frikki, pommes, mayo!”
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks so much, George, I’m happy you enjoyed them and appreciate the feedback!
Rikie says
Our frikalen in Holland were made of pork sausages fried ..when cooked put raw unions in the middle then put mayonnaise over them delicious !!!
Dorothy says
Could this recipe be used to make meatloaf? My Mom and Oma used the same ingredients for both. The only difference was they made the meatloaf in a dutch oven on the stovetop. YUM!!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Yes, you could definitely do that, Dorothy. Happy cooking!
Donna Broadbent says
I make these with ground turkey and turkey sausage they turned out delicious
Mike S says
I’ve been clearing my freezer before the new year & had a pork shoulder which was too much to use for the sausage casings I have, so I cut off a slice & removed the thick layer of fat to go into the sausages.
That left me with 550g of leaner meat which I used for this recipe.
I also had no white bread, so used 50g white breadcrumbs, rehydrated with milk instead.
Made everything as in the recipe, left in the fridge for 2 hours, then formed patties & fried in olive oil/butter mix.
It was at that point I realised I missed out the egg, & thus the patties are less cohesive than expected…
Not that it matters for a first try & the result is very tasty indeed & I recommend the recipe (don’t forget the egg…)
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Awesome, Mike, I’m glad you enjoyed them, thank you!
Terence McLaren-Shepherd says
A great favourite from my days of serving in the British Army of the Rhine in the 70s. Now a regular platter at my barbecues. Neighbours love them hot or cold on crusty rolls from the German Deli. Wonderful!.
standrean says
Thanks. This recipes gave a truly authentic favor. Served with bratkartoffeln and a small side salad
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Wonderful, standrean, I’m so glad you enjoyed them, thank you!
Roswitha says
I am from Bavaria , and our version is half ground beef half pork, finely diced onions, egg, nutmeg and cloves, Maggi seasonimg, soaked and squeezed french bread, rolled in breadcrumbs and then fried.
I also use this recipe for meatballs with gravy.
ALY says
My mother was from Denmark and my recipe is very different from yours in that it does not resemble a traditional meatloaf.
1 Lb ground pork (80/20)
1 egg,
1 med/small finely grated onion (squeeze the excess water out)
1/2 cup whole milk or 1/2 & 1/2,
1/2 c. flour,
ground white pepper, salt to taste
optional: 1/8 tea. nutmeg
Mix flour and water into a paste. Stir in the rest and really beat the meat together to form farce or paste. (You cannot overwork pork) Let sit in the refrigerator for min. 1 hour. Heat a medium pan with butter or ghee and scoop the farce to form thick patties. Fry on medium/low until the meat is cooked through.
This recipe is a cleaner, more pure meat flavor without a lot of extra ‘stuff’
It can also be made with a meatloaf mix (1/3rd each pork, beef and veal ) be careful to just mix and don’t beat the mixture.
Rob says
My Dad was from the Bohemian Region and came to the US when he was 9 and right before WW1. He would make what he called Frikadiller on Memorial Day for family picnic. He would use the meatloaf mix with bell, pork, and veal Lowry’s Seasoning and after frying the patties he would cover them with a tomato sauce mixture in a big cast iron skillet and baked them. Everyone loved them
JJ says
Whoa…this recipe sounds so delicious, I printed it out, will cook it tonight and went ahead and signed up for your emails for more great recipes. Dang, these meat patties are the epitome of “meat-and-potatoes” comfort food…which I shouldn’t eat (I’m over 65) but can’t stay away from. Great feedback from international fans, too.
I landed on “Frikadellen/Frikadeller” while looking for a great potato salad. I’ll bet you have a good one for that side dish, too.
Southern California USA
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Fantastic, JJ, I hope you enjoy these and thanks for subscribing to my newsletter! I have two potato salad recipes, a creamy potato salad and a German potato salad. Either one would make a great accompaniment to these Frikadellen. Happy cooking! :)
Paris says
Here’s an alternative “recipe” for all Americans who grew up with meatloaf.
1. Mix the meatloaf ingredients “just like Mom or Grandma did it”.
2. Form into “fat patties”, smaller in diameter than normal hamburgers.
3. Fry in a medium heated pan.
Done!
I write this because just about every recipe I see for Frikadeller/Boulette is virtually identical to my Mother/Grandmother’s meatloaf. Like Frikadeller, recipes can vary slightly for meatloaf… but the basics always seem to be pretty much the same.
The point is, if you can make meatloaf, it’s not much of a reach to form Frikadeller balls instead of pressing the entire mix into a pan.
Heidi says
Making these tonight but didn’t have all the spices. I grew up eating these in northern Germany and I remember my mom always soaking the bread but using raw grated onions, parsley, egg, salt and pepper…bigger than a meatball but smaller than a regular burger. We never ate them with bread but usually boiled potatoes and a vegetable and always mustard not ketchup 😁
Laura says
My Oma was from the Karlsruhe area, and her version had beef only, a raw grated onion, and nutmeg, parsley, and lots of fresh dill for seasoning (in addition to S&P). She also dipped the patties in dried breadcrumbs before frying them in lard. They were usually served with mashed potatoes that had crispy fried bread bits (fried in the frikadellen pan after they were done). I remember sneaking tastes of the raw meat mixture with my cousin. Thanks for the food memory.
Debby Macom says
Wunderbar!! This was so good, my German husband (from Flensburg, Germany) said, you make these and we never have to go out for Hamburgers. Just like he remembered them. Delicious!! I served it with boiled potatoes and a caraway cream sauce. Sehr Gut!! Thank you.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Wonderful, Debby, I’m so happy to hear that, thank you! Incidentally, I lived in Flensburg for a few months :)
Amanda Marie Belena says
My tante used to make them with a dill sauce, but I’m going to try your caraway. Thanks for the idea!