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    Home » Recipes » Ground Beef Recipes

    Swedish Meatballs Recipe

    Published: Jan 20, 2023 Modified: Jan 23, 2023 by Isabel Laessig

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    There's nothing easier and more family-friendly than a big plate of Swedish Meatballs and pasta, slathered in creamy, savory beef gravy! This recipe cooks everything at once to have a big, hearty dinner all set in just half an hour.

    a plate full of swedish meatballs, sauce and egg noodles
    Jump to:
    • What is a Swedish meatball?
    • Easy Swedish Meatballs
    • Swedish Meatballs and Noodles Ingredients
    • How to Make Swedish Meatballs
    • Swedish Meatballs Tips
    • Swedish Meatballs FAQs
    • What to Serve with Swedish Meatballs
    • Best Meatball Recipes
    • 📌 Pin it for later!
    • 📋 Recipe

    What is a Swedish meatball?

    Traditional Swedish meatballs are meatballs typically made from beef or beef and pork blend, breadcrumbs, egg, and spices like pepper, nutmeg and allspice. It's those last spices that set them apart from other meatballs, such as Italian style meatballs that rely on garlic and herbs for flavoring.

    Easy Swedish Meatballs

    I'm sure I'm not alone in admitting that the first time I had Swedish meatballs was in an IKEA food court. It was the first time myself or my kids had ever gone, brought along by a friend, and the whole experience was dazzling; but of everything, I remember that lunch the most!

    And most importantly, so did my kids! It wasn't long before they were asking for the "IKEA meatballs" again. So I got to the kitchen, and started testing out recipes! This is what I settled on: my favorite easy Swedish Meatballs recipe. It's easy, uses as few dishes as possible, and the kids loved it!

    What makes this Swedish Meatballs recipe easy is how everything comes together at once. After forming and heating the meat, the Swedish meatballs sauce is added to the same pan, and the noodles are cooked right in the sauce. One pan for everything!

    a plate with egg noodles, swedish meatballs, and sauce

    Swedish Meatballs and Noodles Ingredients

    • Ground beef
    • Italian bread crumbs
    • Nutmeg
    • Onion
    • Egg
    • Kosher salt
    • Pepper
    • Canola oil
    • Beef broth
    • Heavy cream
    • Worcestershire sauce
    • Egg noodles
    • Parmesan
    • Parsley

    How to Make Swedish Meatballs

    1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, nutmeg, onion, egg, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ½ teaspoon of pepper. Mix until fully combined.
      all of the ingredients for swedish meatballs in a glass bowl being mixed with a spoon
    2. Set a large pot over medium high heat, and add canola oil. Roll the meatball mixture into golf ball sized balls.
      raw meatball mixture being formed into balls by hands over a glass bowl of meatball mix
    3. Place each one into the pot once the oil is hot. Cook for one minute, then flip and cook for another minute.
      partially cooked swedish meatballs in a cast iron pan being turned over with tongs
    4. Add in the beef broth, milk, another ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper, and the Worcestershire sauce, stirring carefully to avoid breaking the meatballs.
      swedish meatball sauce being stirred in a pan full of meatballs with a wooden spoon
    5. Bring the sauce to a boil, then add in the egg noodles. Stir constantly until the noodles are tender and the sauce is reduced and coats the noodles, about 7-8 minutes.
      a closeup of dried egg noodle balls being placed in a pan of swedish meatballs and gravy
    6. Add in the shredded Parmesan and chopped parsley, stir until the cheese has melted, and serve!
      a top view of a cast iron pan with swedish meatballs, cooked egg noodles and sauce, covered in parmesan cheese

    Swedish Meatballs Tips

    • For an even zingier, more flavorful sauce, use only 1 cup of milk or heavy cream, and then add in a cup of sour cream. It'll be extra thick, so you won't need to reduce the sauce for as long.
    • I love sprucing up this meal by adding sliced mushrooms to the pot alongside the meatballs! Onions also make a great addition.
    • You can make this meal with any pasta you like! However, if you're using a classic wheat pasta instead of egg noodles, cook the noodles to al dente before adding them to the sauce. Egg noodles take less cooking time, and thus can be added to the sauce directly.
    • For an even more flavorful meatball, add ½ teaspoon of allspice and and a tablespoon of spicy brown mustard to the meatball mix.

    Swedish Meatballs FAQs

    What is Swedish meatball sauce made of?

    Swedish meatballs are typically served with a brown gravy-like sauce with egg noodles. This sauce is very simple to make and delicious, and only takes beef broth and milk or cream plus salt and pepper. You can also add in Parmesan and parsley if desired!

    What makes a Swedish meatball Swedish?

    The secret to the difference between Swedish meatballs and Italian meatballs is in the spices! There are all sorts of meatballs out there, as almost every region has its own variation of the meal. The Swedish variety uses warm spices such as nutmeg and allspice to add flavor and is typically served with egg noodles and a creamy brown sauce.

    What to Serve with Swedish Meatballs

    • My favorite way to serve Swedish meatballs is with a dollop of lingonberry jam! You can typically find it in the International section of your local grocery store. If you can't find lingonberry, cranberry sauce is very similar!
    • For your gluten-free family, serve this meal with gluten free pasta cooked before adding it into the sauce, and swap the breadcrumbs for gluten-free breadcrumbs.
    • Or, if you're trying to reduce your pasta intake, serve it over cooked spaghetti squash! It's so delicious, sometimes I make it this way just for the taste of it.

    Best Meatball Recipes

    • Instant Pot Meatballs
    • Air Fryer Meatballs
    • Honey Sriracha Meatballs
    • Italian Meatballs
    • Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs
    • Cocktail Meatballs
    • Italian Wedding Meatball Soup
    a top down view of a plate of swedish meatballs on a bed of egg noodles, sauce and parsley

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    📋 Recipe

    a closeup of swedfish meatballs garnished with parsley on a bed of egg noodles and sauce
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    5 from 1 vote

    Swedish Meatballs Recipe

    These Swedish Meatballs are an easy and delicious 1-pot meal you'll be making again and again, all done in half an hour!
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time25 mins
    Total Time35 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Swedish
    Keyword: easy swedish meatballs, how to make swedish meatballs, Swedish meatballs, Swedish Meatballs and Noodles
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 1159kcal
    Author: Isabel Laessig

    Equipment

    • Large mixing bowl
    • pot

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb. Ground beef
    • 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
    • ½ teaspoon Nutmeg
    • ½ Onion finely minced
    • 1 Egg
    • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon Pepper
    • 2 Tablespoons Canola oil
    • 2 cups Beef broth
    • 2 cups Heavy cream or whole milk
    • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 4 cups Egg noodles
    • 1 cup Parmesan cheese
    • ½ cup Parsley chopped

    Instructions

    • In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, nutmeg, onion, egg, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ½ teaspoon of pepper. Mix until fully combined.
      1 lb. Ground beef, 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs, ½ teaspoon Nutmeg, ½ Onion, 1 Egg, 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, 1 teaspoon Pepper
      all of the ingredients for swedish meatballs in a glass bowl being mixed with a spoon
    • Set a large pot over medium high heat, and add canola oil. Roll the meatball mixture into golf ball sized balls.
      2 Tablespoons Canola oil
      raw meatball mixture being formed into balls by hands over a glass bowl of meatball mix
    • Place each one into the pot once the oil is hot. Cook for one minute, then flip and cook for another minute.
      partially cooked swedish meatballs in a cast iron pan being turned over with tongs
    • Add in the beef broth, milk, remaining ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper, and the Worcestershire sauce, stirring carefully to avoid breaking the meatballs.
      1 teaspoon Kosher salt, 2 cups Beef broth, 2 cups Heavy cream, 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon Pepper
      swedish meatball sauce being stirred in a pan full of meatballs with a wooden spoon
    • Bring the sauce to a boil, then add in the egg noodles. Stir constantly until the noodles are tender and the sauce is reduced and coats the noodles, about 7-8 minutes.
      4 cups Egg noodles
      a closeup of dried egg noodle balls being placed in a pan of swedish meatballs and gravy
    • Add in the shredded Parmesan and chopped parsley, stir until the cheese has melted, and serve!
      1 cup Parmesan cheese, ½ cup Parsley
      a top view of a cast iron pan with swedish meatballs, cooked egg noodles and sauce, covered in parmesan cheese

    Video

    Notes

    • For an even zingier, more flavorful sauce, use only 1 cup of milk or heavy cream, and then add in a cup of sour cream. It'll be extra thick, so you won't need to reduce the sauce for as long.
    • I love sprucing up this meal by adding sliced mushrooms to the pot alongside the meatballs! Onions also make a great addition.
    • You can make this meal with any pasta you like! However, if you're using a classic wheat pasta instead of egg noodles, cook the noodles to al dente before adding them to the sauce. Egg noodles take less cooking time, and thus can be added to the sauce directly.
    • For an even more flavorful meatball, add ½ teaspoon of allspice and and a tablespoon of spicy brown mustard to the meatball mix.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 1159kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 84g | Saturated Fat: 42g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 28g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 310mg | Sodium: 2058mg | Potassium: 810mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2745IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 422mg | Iron: 6mg

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    About Isabel Laessig

    Isabel Laessig, better known as Family Foodie and the founder of the Sunday Supper Movement, is passionate about food and family! She is the author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook, and makes regular television appearances to spread her mission of bringing Sunday Supper back around the family table in every home.

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