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Swedish Meatballs

September 2, 2020 by Great Grub, Delicious Treats

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This simple dinner recipe will have you happy about cooking for the family again. If you’re tired of racking your brain for a yummy meal, you’re going to love the taste of these Swedish Meatballs. Combining the flavors of beef and sausage make this meatball recipe full of taste.

A light blue bowl filled with Swedish meatballs, gravy and egg noodles.

Eat them as is or pair them up with some delicious noodles. There’s really no wrong way to eat these Swedish meatballs as long as you’re enjoying every single bite.

What is different about Swedish meatballs?

Swedish meatballs are different than regular meatballs due to the sauce that is used on them. Regular meatballs are typically in a marinara or red sauce while Swedish meatballs are in a thicker gravy-type sauce made with beef broth and heavy cream or sour cream.

To be honest, I really love both kinds. Some days I want my “red” meatballs while other days I want my meatballs and gravy recipe. There’s a time when you just know what you want and you make it happen, right?! You gotta feed your taste buds with whatever they need!

A dozen Swedish Meatballs with gravy served over egg noodles placed in a light blue bowl

What do Swedes eat with meatballs?

If you’re wanting to eat like the Swedes, you’ll pair these homemade meatballs up with boiled potatoes, cabbage, or red cabbage. Something tangy or tart to go with these flavorful meatballs make up a balanced meal loaded down with flavor.

Different cultures will pair up different foods to eat with their main entrees and this is what makes it so fun to always try different combinations. You won’t know that you love one until you try different varieties!

Are Swedish Meatballs Turkish?

Shockingly, they are! This was actually something that becomes popular and expressed over the past few years but thankfully, the name has remained the same. No matter if you call them Swedish meatballs or Turkish meatballs, you’re going to love this simple meat recipe.

Swedish Meatballs with a gravy sauce sitting on a bed of egg noodles in a light blue bowl.

What side dishes go best with Swedish meatballs?

So many things go well with meatballs! If you’re ready to pair up these tasty meatballs with a side dish, you have options. White rice, brown rice, any and all types of noodles go perfectly with this dish. If you’re wanting to an option that isn’t as hearty, you can always eat them as is or do some steamed veggies as well.

Can you make meatballs ahead of time?

You can. Meatballs are a super simple dinner recipe that you can do a lot of the prep work ahead of time and then cook them up when you’re ready. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve done this. From all the school events to getting the kids to and from their commitments, I love meal prepping with meatballs and then having them ready to cook.

Swedish Meatballs - a fork with half of a meatball with gravy and egg noodles.

Are meatballs freezer safe?

They are. You can absolutely get meatballs ready and have them stored in the freezer until you’re ready to use cook them up. The easiest way to freeze meatballs is to make them into their meatball shape and then store them that way.

One of the big tips that I learned early on is to freeze meatballs in a single row. This will help them thaw out quicker and make them easier to grab and use as well. Plus, they tend to keep their shape a little bit better as well when they aren’t stacked on top of each other.

The next time that you’re craving a simple meatball recipe that will have the kids and everyone in your house sprinting to get to the table, this is the one for you. In just a short amount of time, your meatballs will be cooked perfectly and ready and waiting for you to enjoy!

If you love Swedish Meatballs, you have got to try this savory great recipe which is a delicious comfort food recipe and one that is absolutely delicious. Our family love this recipe and we hope you and your family will as well.

Ingredients For Swedish Meatballs

  • Ground beef
  • Ground pork
  • Egg
  • Nutmeg
  • Allspice
  • Salt & pepper
  • Bread crumbs
  • Parsley
  • Onions
  • Vegetable or Olive oil
  • Butter
  • Flour
  • Beef stock
  • Heavy cream or sour cream

(Actual measurements are in the recipe card below.)

A double picture of Swedish Meatballs, the top picture is a dozen meatballs and gravy served over egg noodles and the bottom picture is half of a meatball with egg noodles on a fork.

How Do You Make Swedish Meatball Sauce From Scratch

  • Start out by melting the butter in a large skillet or frying pan, then sauté onions until they are translucent. Set aside to cool.
  • Next, add pork and beef, along with the egg, seasonings, bread crumbs and parsley to a medium bowl and combine together.
  • Once the onions have cooled a bit, add to meat mixture and combine.
  • Using a one inch to one and a half inch cookie scoop, form meatballs and add the meatballs to plate or baking sheet until ready to be cooked.
  • Brown the meatballs, a batch at a time, drain the excess oil from pan but keep the brown bits.
  • Melt butter and then sprinkle flour into pan.
  • Whisk butter and flour together for about a minute until smooth.
  • Gently pour the beef broth into pan, whisking continuously until the sauce starts to thicken.
  • Next, pour the heavy cream into the sauce, stir and place the meatballs back into the creamy gravy sauce.
  • Lower the heat and let simmer, stirring occasionally, until meatballs are thoroughly cooked, about 10-12 minutes.
  • Lastly, serve the meatballs over egg noodles, mashed potatoes or rice.

Swedish Meatballs - a collage photo with Swedish meatballs and gravy on a bed of egg noodles.

More Meatball Recipes To Try

  • Homemade Italian Meatballs
  • Crock Pot Barbecue Meatballs
  • Salisbury Steak Meatballs and Noodles
  • Teriyaki Meatballs with Rice
4.63 from 8 votes
Print
Swedish Meatballs
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
 

These delicious Swedish Meatballs are so flavorful and easy to make. Better than IKEA meatballs!

Course: Dinner
Keyword: Better than IKEA Meatballs, Meatballs, Swedish Meatballs
Servings: 30 Meatballs
Ingredients
For The Swedish Meatballs
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 lb ground pork
  • 1 egg
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp allspice
  • ⅓ cup bread crumbs
  • 1 tsp parsley
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • ½ cup onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
For The Sauce
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
For The Swedish Meatballs
  1. Add 1 tablespoon of butter to cast iron skillet and saute onions until translucent. Remove from flame, set aside and let cool.

  2. Using a medium bowl, mix ground beef, ground pork, egg, salt, pepper, nutmeg, allspice, bread crumbs, and parsley together.

  3. Once onions have cooled a bit, add to meat mixture.

  4. Using a small cookie scoop, about 1- 1½ inch. Scoop out meat mixture, roll until smooth and tight and place onto a plate or baking sheet (the baking sheet is only used to place the meatballs on).

  5. Add oil to skillet, cook half of the meatballs on medium heat until browned on all sides.

  6. Remove browned meatballs from pan and place on a paper towel lined plate. Continue cooking the remaining meatballs, then remove from pan.

For The Sauce
  1. Drain excess oil from pan, keeping the brown bits.

  2. Melt 3 tablespoon of butter over medium heat then sprinkle flour into pan,

  3. Whisk butter and flour for 1 minute until smooth, then gently pour beef broth into pan, whisking continuously until the sauce starts to thicken.

  4. Pour heavy cream into sauce, stir, and place meatballs back into skillet. Lower heat and let simmer, stirring occasionally, until meatballs are thoroughly cooked, about 10-12 minutes.

  5. Serve over egg noodles, mashed potatoes or rice and with lingonberry jam, if desired.

Recipe Notes

Recipe inspired from Damn Delicious

Here are a few pics that are the perfect size for pinning to Pinterest.

A close up view of Swedish Meatballs and gravy over egg noodles in a light blue bowl.A photo of Swedish Meatballs and gravy in a skillet as they are cooking.

Enjoy, Terri

Copyright © Great Grub, Delicious Treats. All content and images are copyright protected. Do not use any images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, make sure to re-write the recipe in your own words and only list ingredients making sure to link back to this post for the original recipe and directions.

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Appetizers, Beef Recipes, Comfort Foods, Main Meals, Pork Recipes Tagged With: Easy Meatball Recipe, Meatballs, Swedish Meatballs

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Linda Valverde

    September 14, 2020 at 10:39 am

    Looks delicious 😋

  2. Joan Lisowski

    September 3, 2020 at 9:52 am

    These sound really good. However, your instructions for cooking the meatballs is a bit confusing. First you state to place the rolled up meatballs onto a baking sheet. Then, you state to add oil to the pan & cook the meatballs in 2 batches browning them on all sides. I take it you are cooking them in a skillet/fry pan??? Is a regular skillet used or a non-stick skillet? Also what temperature are you cooking the meatballs on? Thank you.

    • Great Grub, Delicious Treats

      September 15, 2020 at 8:27 am

      Hi Joan,
      The baking sheet is used only to place the meatballs on while waiting to cook them. I fixed the directions so it will be clearer. Thank you!

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Welcome to Great Grub, Delicious Treats! Hello, my name is Terri and I'm so glad you stopped by. I'm a self taught cook/foodie at heart, mom to three kids, photographer and have a love for amazing food. I left my full time job of being a hospice admissions RN, which was super tough and extremely sad, and at times, very rewarding to be there for the patients and families to blog full time which I absolutely love. I hope you enjoy, and check out, all of the delicious recipes on my site while you're here! And don't forget to sign up to receive every new recipe right to your email. Thanks again for stopping by! :)

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Welcome to Great Grub, Delicious Treats! Hello, my name is Terri and I'm so glad you stopped by. I'm a self taught cook/foodie at heart, mom to three kids, photographer and have a love for amazing food. I left my full time job of being a hospice admissions RN, which was super tough and extremely sad, and at times, very rewarding to be there for the patients and families to blog full time which I absolutely love. I hope you enjoy, and check out, all of the delicious recipes on my site while you're here! And don't forget to sign up to receive every new recipe right to your email. Thanks again for stopping by! :) Read More…

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