These homemade Swedish Meatballs feature tender from-scratch meatballs that are simmered in a rich, creamy sauce. Made with simple ingredients, these meatballs are a perfect comforting dinner, served over egg noodles or mashed potatoes.
These Swedish Meatballs are perfect for when you are craving comfort food! Want even more comfort food favorites? Try this Shepherd’s Pie or this Hamburger Soup.
I’m guessing my first introduction to Swedish meatballs was the same as many other people’s – at IKEA. In our early years of marriage, we would often have a bag of those meatballs in the freezer and a packet for the sauce in the pantry.
It has now been many years since I have bought those, because once you go homemade, you will never go back. Tender, moist meatballs, all cooked up in a silky smooth sauce. Really – the frozen meatballs just don’t compare!
This is the perfect comfort food dinner. It does take a little time to roll the meatballs, but really, this dinner is a cinch!
Ingredients
- Ground Beef & Pork: Traditionally, Swedish meatballs have a mix of ground beef and ground pork. If at all possible, I like to use this mix, as well. You can use just ground beef, if desired.
- Eggs: The eggs will act as the binding to keep the meatballs together.
- Breadcrumbs: My preference is to use panko breadcrumbs to keep the meatballs lighter. You can use regular breadcrumbs, but I find that they make the meatballs more dense.
- Parmesan Cheese: You want this finely grated. If you don’t want to grate it yourself, I suggest buying the tubs that are typically in the refrigerated section. Skip the kind in the green bottle.
- Onion: Make sure the onion is finely minced. You don’t want big chunks of onion.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is best.
- Seasonings: For the seasonings, you need oregano, allspice, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. This is not a typical meatball spice mixture, but the spices are what really set these meatballs apart.
- Oil & Butter: I like to cook the meatballs in oil, but use butter to make the sauce.
- Flour: This will thicken up the sauce. I use all-purpose flour.
- Broth: You need beef broth, but for even more flavor, you can use beef bone broth.
- Cream: This is heavy whipping cream. It will help to thicken up the sauce and make it nice and silky. I would not suggest subbing in milk or half and half.
- Worcestershire Sauce: This just gives the sauce a deeper flavor.
How to Make Swedish Meatballs
STEP 1: Combine all of the meatball ingredients in a large bowl. Mix this until it is fully combined, but you don’t want to overmix. I find this is easiest with clean hands.
STEP 2: Form the mixture into meatballs. I like to use a spring-loaded scoop to portion the meatballs, then I will get my hands lightly wet and roll them evenly.
STEP 3: Heat the oil in a large skillet. Working in batches, add some of the meatballs and cook them until browned, turning as needed. You don’t want to fully cook them yet. Remove the meatballs from the skillet.
STEP 4: To that same skillet, melt the butter, then whisk in the flour.
STEP 5: Whisk in the beef broth, letting the sauce cook until it starts to thicken. Then stir in the cream and the Worcestershire sauce. Season well with salt and pepper.
STEP 6: Once your sauce is thickened, add the meatballs back in. Let this simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through.
Tips and Tricks
We typically serve these over egg noodles, but they are also great served over mashed potatoes.
This makes a lot of meatballs. It is fairly easy to cut in half if you don’t want as much, but the leftovers are great!
I like to make the meatballs fairly large. My scoop is about 2 1/2 tablespoons. You can make them smaller, but just remember that they will cook faster if they are smaller.
Swedish meatballs are also often served with Lingonberry Jam. If you like the sweet/savory/tart combination, it’s something you need to try!
More Meatball Recipes
Teriyaki Meatballs
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Butter Chicken Meatballs
LOOKING FOR MORE FREE RECIPES?
Subscribe to my free recipe newsletter to get new family friendly recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing more family-friendly inspiration on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.
Swedish Meatballs
Ingredients
Meatballs:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce:
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for serving
- Cooked egg noodles or mashed potatoes optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, eggs, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, onion, garlic, and all of the spices. Gently mix (I find this is easiest with clean hands), until the mixture is fully combined.1 pound ground beef, 1 pound ground pork, 2 large eggs, 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup finely grated parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup finely chopped onion, 1 clove garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Form the mixture into meatballs about 2 tablespoons each. (I like to use a spring loaded scoop.) Use lightly wet hands to roll them into a ball.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add the meatballs and cook for a few minutes, turning them as they brown. You only need to brown the outsides – the meatballs will not be fully cooked through at this point. Remove the browned meatballs and continue to brown until you have browned all of the meatballs.1 tablespoon olive oil
- Reduce the heat to medium. To the same skillet, melt the butter. Once melted, whisk in the flour and cook for a minute or two.1/4 cup butter, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- Whisk in the beef broth and cook for a few minutes, until the sauce starts to thicken. Whisk in the cream, then the Worcestershire sauce. Season the gravy with salt and pepper to taste.3 cups beef broth, 1 cup heavy cream, 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce, Salt and pepper
- Add in the meatballs. Stir to cover with sauce, then simmer the meatballs for 15-20 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through.
- Serve over egg noodles or mashed potatoes, topped with parsley, if desired.Fresh parsley, Cooked egg noodles or mashed potatoes
Leave a Comment...