Savory German pancakes (often referred to as Dutch baby pancakes) are one of my favorite spring breakfasts. It’s so easy to incorporate all of the early spring vegetables from your garden. This is the best savory German pancake recipe for beginner cooks or busy families because it’s so simple and easy to throw together.

pinterest photo for The Best Savory German Pancake Recipe

What Is A German Pancake?

German pancakes (often referred to as dutch baby pancakes) are a simple batter made with a base of flour, milk, eggs, butter, and salt. There are sweet and savory versions with different additional ingredients. The batter is cooked in a glass pan or cast iron skillet until fluffy and golden and falls as it cools. Variations and toppings for German pancakes are endless making them one of the most versatile breakfast recipes.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

Quick and Easy To Make: The base recipe has just a handful of ingredients and takes very minimal supplies making it so easy to mix together in just a few minutes.
Versatile: this recipe is truly a make-it-your-own! Whether it’s unique inclusions added to the batter, or a plethora of different toppings, this recipe can fit any flavor profile you can think of! Ham pieces, bacon bits, shredded cheese, cheese sauce, chopped onions, hot sauce, the sky is the limit, make this recipe your own!
Affordable: made with just basic ingredients, this recipe is not only quick to throw together but it’s also a very cheap recipe that feeds the whole family!
Breakfast or Supper: German pancakes are so filling, we like to eat them for breakfast, lunch, or even a quick dinner!
Low Mess: This is a one bowl recipe. Using just one bowl to mix everything, and just one pan to bake makes this quick bake so easy to clean up.
Healthy: This recipe is packed full of simple ingredients including tons of fresh vegetables and protein from the meat and eggs! You can sub any vegetables you’d like in this recipe bell peppers, asparagus, spinach, broccoli, and shredded potatoes, are all great options!

cutting board with sliced ham and spinach one it next to a large chef knife on a stainless steel cutting board.

Can German Pancakes Be Gluten Free?

Absolutely! I have used King Arthurs 1:1 gluten free baking blend to make these a great gf breakfast option! They will have less rise and be slightly more dense than the traditional version, but just as delicious!

A Note About Ingredients:

I love this recipe because it’s so forgiving and versatile. I use this recipe whenever I want to clean out my fridge! You can substitute any meat, vegetables, and cheese you’d like to fit your budget and taste.

Tools You’ll Need:

13 x 9″ baking pan ( or 8×8″ cast iron skillet)

Bowl

Liquid measuring cup

Dry measuring cups

Teaspoons

Silicone spatula

Whisk (or immersion blender)

Cutting board (my favorite stainless steel cutting board can be found here)

Chef Knife

tools to made savory dutch baby pancakes laid out on dark wood kitchen table. 13x9" pan, liquid measuring cup, whisk, spatula, measuring cups, and tablespoons.

Ingredients:

Flour

Milk

Butter

Eggs

Salt

Fresh chopped veggies (I love doing a mix of spinach and asparagus from my garden)

Parmesan cheese

Chopped ham lunchmeat (or any meat you’d like sausage, ham, even salami are all good options!)

How To Make The Best Savory German Pancakes:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Add cold butter to 13×9″ baking pan and place the pan in the oven

woman placing cold 13 x 9" dish into oven with 1/4 cup cold butter

In a bowl add flour and salt. Whisk together

In liquid measuring cup whisk together milk, eggs, and parmesan cheese

woman pouring cracked eggs into liquid measuring cup of milk

Combine dry and wet ingredients by pouring liquid mixture into dry mixture and whisking together until smooth, thin batter forms

woman pouring parmesan cheese into milk and egg mixture

Thin slice meat and veggies and fold into the batter

woman chopping spinach on stainless steel cutting board with chef knife

woman stirring savory German pancake batter with spinach and ham

Slowly pour batter into hot pan with melted butter from oven

13x9" baking pan with melted butter in oven

woman pouring savory German pancake batter into hot pan

Bake 22-25 minutes until golden and edges are fluffy

cooked pan of savory German pancake with ham and spinach

Remove from oven and serve right away with favorite toppings or plain!

cooked pan of savory German pancake with ham and spinach resting on wood table with gray hot pads underneath

Tip: I like to use an immersion blender to combine the wet and dry ingredients. It makes a super smooth batter in no time!

How To Store German Pancakes:

Store any extra German pancakes in airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat before eating. They can be reheated in the microwave or a warm oven.