frikadellen (german meatballs)

Name: Frikadellen (German Meatballs)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: German
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon(s) butter; 1 medium onion, diced; 1 pound(s) ground beef; 1 large egg; 4 slice(s) bread, torn into small pieces; 1/2 cup(s) sour cream; 1 teaspoon(s) allspice, ground; 1 tablespoon(s) parsley, chopped; - salt and pepper, to taste; 1/2 cup(s) bread crumbs, to make a moist patty; 2 cup(s) beef broth to cover the patties, more if needed; 4 tablespoon(s) all-purpose flour

(4 RATINGS)

364 Pinches 12 Photos

Laura Shinn

North Port, FL

Updated on Sep 29, 2025

This was my mother's recipe. So very good. The gravy is perfect with mashed potatoes or wide egg noodles.

Rate

Frikadellen (German Meatballs) on a plate with mashed potatoes and green beans.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

These fairly easy-to-make Frikadellen have a ton of flavor. These are similar to an American hamburger steak or Salisbury steak in how they look, but the flavor is not the same. Allspice adds its warm flavors to the German meatballs. Onions also add their sweet and caramelized flavor. We enjoyed the thick homemade gravy they simmered in. Served with mashed potatoes, these pan-fried meat patties make a great meal if you're on a budget.

— The Test Kitchen

prep time 15 Min

cook time 1 Hr 15 Min

method Stove Top

yield 4 serving(s)

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter
1 medium onion, diced
1 pound ground beef
1 large egg
4 slices bread, torn into small pieces
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon allspice, ground
1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
- salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 cup bread crumbs, to make a moist patty
2 cups beef broth to cover the patties, more if needed
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

How To Make frikadellen (german meatballs)

Test Kitchen Tips

We used 32 oz of beef broth. When adding the flour, we added a little bit of water to the flour and then added it to the hot broth.

Step 1

Saute onions in butter until soft and starting to brown. I use my 10-inch cast iron frying pan.

Step 2

Add ground beef, egg, torn bread, sour cream, allspice, and parsley to a mixing bowl.
Step 3

Add cooked onions and enough bread crumbs to form soft patties.
Step 4

Form into eight patties.
Step 5

Add them to the pan where you sautéed the onions. Brown on all sides.
Step 6

Add beef broth to about halfway up the patties in the pan; I used 2 cups.
Step 7

Lower the heat to a simmer and cook covered for an hour, turning occasionally
Step 8

When finished cooking, remove patties from the pan. Whisk in flour to make gravy.
Step 9

Add patties back to the pan with the gravy and serve over noodles, rice, potatoes, your choice
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