German Frikadellen (German Meat Patties)
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
These authentic German Frikadellen are tender, golden pan-fried meat patties made with a beef and pork blend, fresh parsley, onion, and oats — a family secret ingredient that keeps them incredibly juicy.
Ingredients
Servings: 6 patties
- 1 1/3 lb ground beef
- 2/3 lb ground pork
- 1 small onion chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Breadcrumbs optional, if mixture is too wet
- Oil or butter for frying
Instructions
- Combine ground beef, ground pork, onion, parsley, oats, egg, paprika, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly with your hands until uniform.
- If the mixture feels too wet to shape, add breadcrumbs a tablespoon at a time until it holds together.
- Wet your hands with cold water and shape the mixture into patties, slightly larger and flatter than desired — they shrink during cooking.
- Heat oil or butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the patties and cook undisturbed 4–5 minutes until a deep golden crust forms.
- Flip and cook another 4–5 minutes until golden on both sides and the center reaches 160°F (71°C).
- Serve warm, or cool and enjoy cold.
Notes
Cast iron gives the best crust, but any heavy skillet works well.