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Four browned meat patties are served on a bed of shredded cabbage on a white plate.

German Meat Patties (Frikadellen)

Chef Jenn
German Meat Patties (Frikadellen) are hearty, flavorful patties made with beef, pork, spices, and soaked bread. Juicy and rustic, they’re just as delicious with potatoes as they are tucked into a sandwich.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine German
Servings 6 patties
Calories 403 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 8 oz ground pork
  • 2 slices white bread
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 1 medium onion grated
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 tablespoon German mustard
  • 2 teaspoons dried marjoram
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 3 tablespoons cooking oil for frying

Instructions
 

  • Soak the bread in milk until soft, then crumble into fine pieces that look like wet breadcrumbs.
  • Mix the beef, pork, onion, egg, parsley, mustard, marjoram, salt, pepper, and paprika in a large bowl. Add the prepared bread.
  • Blend gently with your hands until combined. If the mixture is too loose, add breadcrumbs gradually until it holds its shape.
  • Shape into 6 patties, each about 4.5–5 ounces, pressing them lightly flat.
  • Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat until hot.
  • Fry the patties for 4–5 minutes on each side until golden brown and fully cooked. Lower the heat and cover if they brown too quickly.
  • Serve warm and enjoy!

Notes

Chef Jenn’s Tips

  • Grating the onion helps it blend into the patties without leaving big pieces.
  • Fully soaking the bread keeps the meat tender instead of dense.
  • Gentle mixing gives you juicier results; don’t overwork the meat.
  • Swap in butter for oil if you want a richer flavor and an extra-golden crust.

Nutrition

Calories: 403kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 22gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 543mgPotassium: 396mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 341IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 63mgIron: 2mg

A Note on Nutritional Information

Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.

Keyword Frikadellen, German Meat Patties, Oktoberfest recipes
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