Potato dumplings (Kartoffelknödel) are a versatile and inexpensive comfort food with endless variations. Even better, you can make this German side dish all year long, for mere pennies per serving.
Potato Dumplings
Homemade dumplings are easy to make, and few side dishes or main entrées say comfort any louder than potato dumplings made from scratch.
Serve these German Kartoffelknödel by themselves or for a potato side dish.
There are many different types of dumplings recipes, and this simple recipe is similar to what you would expect with a chicken and dumplings dish. This version is less floury and more potato-forward than those types of dumplings.
What’s in this Kartoffelknödel Recipe
- Russet Potatoes
- Eggs and Egg Whites
- Potato or Corn Starch
- Flour
- Water
- Butter
- Seasonings
How to Make Potato Dumplings
(Full recipe and complete directions are found at the end of this post.)
We like to use Russet potatoes when making dumplings because they are starchy. Yukon-Gold potatoes are also a good choice as an all-purpose potato.
2. When the potatoes are done, allow them to cool slightly and then use a potato ricer to rice them.
3. Next, you are going to evenly distribute the riced potatoes on a baking sheet and then allow them to dry out overnight in the fridge, or place them in the freezer for 20 minutes.
4. While the potatoes are chilling, mix up the other ingredients.
6. When the potato mixture looks uniform, add the eggs, working them in with a fork until just mixed.
7. Once the potatoes and other ingredients are mixed, use both hands to form a ball with the potato mixture. Knead it lightly a few times until it forms a homogenous dough.
8. Using light and even pressure, form the dumplings to about the size of golf balls.
Now you’re ready to cook the dumplings in some salted hot water.
10. Use a slotted spoon to place the cooked dumplings in a Dutch oven and then evenly slather melted butter over them.
Add fresh herbs to the buttered potato dumplings.
How to Season these Dumplings
We like to add some parsley, chives, or other fresh herbs to the dumplings. Some other ideas might include:
- Parmesan cheese
- Tomato sauce
- Gravy
Use whatever sounds tasty to you and then cover the dumplings and place in a hot oven for six or seven minutes.
What to Serve with Potato Dumplings
We like to serve these potato dumplings with a savory meat entrée, like our braised pork shoulder recipe. Our fried cabbage recipe also makes for a nice compliment to the dumplings, full of color and more savory flavors.
Serve these potato dumplings as a side dish to a savory meat entrée.
More of Tasty Dumpling Recipes for You to Enjoy
- Goulash with Steamed Dumplings
- Old-Fashioned Apple Dumplings
- Spinach Dumplings in Chicken Noodle Soup
- Polish Pierogi Dumplings
- Steamed Chinese Dumplings
- Chicken and Dumpling Soup
For another rib-sticking comfort food meal, try our Chili Cornbread Casserole or our kid-friendly meatloaf recipe!
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Potato Dumplings (Kartoffelknödel) Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Russet potatoes baked, peeled, cooled, riced.
- 2 eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- 3/4 cup flour all-purpose
- 2 tbsp potato starch or corn starch
- salt and pepper
- 1 tsp ground nutmeg
- 4 quarts water
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 2 tbsp parseley fresh chopped
- 1 tbsp chives freash chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° F. Wash potatoes, pierce the skins with a fork and place on a baking sheet. Bake for about an hour or until you can easily pierce through the potatoes with a paring knife.
- Allow the potatoes to cool slightly. Remove skins and then use a potato ricer to end up with 24 oz. of riced potatoes.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and evenly spread the riced potatoes on the baking sheet. Place in refrigerator overnight, uncovered, or in the freezer for 20 minutes if you are making these the same day.
- Using a small mixing bowl, beat the eggs and egg yolks together until blended. In a separate mixing bowl, mix the flour, potato starch, nutmeg, and salt and pepper (to taste).
- Transfer the chilled potatoes to a medium-size mixing bowl and add the flour all at once and gently cut it into the potatoes until evenly combined. Do not over-mix. Then add the eggs.
- Use a fork to uniformly combine the mixture. Then take both hands and form a ball, lightly packing it together.
- Place water in a large pot, add a little salt and bring to a boil. In the meantime, break off small chunks of the potato ball and form golf ball-sized dumplings between the palms of your hands, using light but firm pressure.
- When the water comes to a boil, place half the dumplings into the pot and reduce heat to a low boil. When the dumplings float to the top, leave in the water for six more minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and place in a Dutch oven. You should end up with about 24 dumplings and can boil them in two batches. Preheat the oven to 400° F.
- Slather the melted butter over the dumplings, then add fresh herbs and gently stir the dumplings to ensure even an even distribution. Cover the dumplings and place in hot oven for about seven minutes. Remove from oven and then serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Russet potatoes will give you a nice starchy mix to work with for this recipe.
- When boiling the dumplings, replace any water that may be lost to evaporation.
Nutrition
This recipe is updated from the original post of October 21, 2018.
Sharon K Robinson says
I make my potatoes dumplings from my childrens great-grandmothers recipe. We boil potatoes and they sit unpeeled in the fridge for 3 days to get rid of all the moisture. We peel them then rice them and add 2 eggs and salt and lard then mix that together and add equal parts flour. Form a softball size portion. Then boil them in water til they float. They are great the next day sliced and fried in butter with syrup! Delicious
Marisa Franca says
I shouldn’t be reading this. Seriously! My mouth is watering and my stomach is growling. Your potato dumplings make a perfect side with any meat. I can’t wait to make some.
Jenni LeBaron says
Yum! These would go over really well with my Czech fella. They remind me of something his mom makes around the holidays. So tasty looking!
Veena Azmanov says
I have never made potato dumplings myself. And I didn’t know they were so easy. This looks great. I must try soon.
All That I'm Eating says
Do you know I have never made dumplings as a side? I usually pop them on top of a stew or soup to cook them but cooking them separately like this is a great idea, I’m going to have to try it.
Mahy Elamin says
Wow, these potato dumplings are so cute! I would love to eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Thank you for sharing this great recipe and I am pinning this recipe for later!
Michelle says
I’ve never heard of these before but now i’ll have to try them! I love dumplings and potatoes, so I can’t pass this up
Karyl Henry says
I thought I knew about everything potato…but clearly not cause I’ve never heard of these! I’ve now added them to my meal plan so I can add another potato variation to my repertoire. Thanks for this simple and delicious looking recipe!
Noel Lizotte says
I love the dumplings that come with soup or stew … this recipe gives me the option to have their goodness without making a pot of soup! Thanks!
Lauren Vavala says
I’ve only had dumplings in chicken and dumplings and they are by far my favorite part of the dish! I LOVE that these are served as a side – I’m going to eat way too many haha!
Claudia Lamascolo says
oh now this is a new one on me never heard of them. Our potato dumpling is gnocchi. I guess we would love this with a big pot roast dinner they sure look yummy!