Swedish Meatballs

This Swedish Meatballs recipe is the perfect comfort food main dish made with a creamy, savoury sauce and served with mashed potatoes. Easy pan-fried homemade meatballs and homemade gravy – ready in under an hour!

 

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Here at The Busy Baker we love a good weeknight meal recipe that’s as delicious and comforting as it is easy to make. This easy Swedish Meatballs recipe is one of our favourite comfort food meals, not only because everyone in the family loves it, but also because it pairs well with mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or even roasted veggies!

There are SO many reasons we make this Swedish Meatballs recipe over and over again! Here’s a few:

1. It’s EASY to make. There’s nothing like a simple, one-pan recipe with minimal steps and basic ingredients. This Swedish Meatballs recipe is all that and more.
2. It’s SO flavourful. Talk about a flavour punch – the sauce is SO creamy and flavourful thanks to a spice you already have in your pantry!
3. It’s on the table FAST. In under 45 minutes you can have this amazing dish ready to go. Whip up a quick salad and some mashed potatoes and you’ve got an easy and delicious dinner.
4. It’s great for MEAL PREP. We love doubling this recipe in a big skillet and saving half for another dinner later in the week. The meatballs can be reheated in the sauce and served as leftovers over pasta for a delicious and creamy meal.
5. It’s easy to CUSTOMIZE. Want to add more veggies? Throw in some chopped kale or spinach. Like spicy foods? Add in some cayenne pepper. Want more of an IKEA vibe? Serve with lingonberry jam.
6. It calls for SIMPLE ingredients. We’re willing to bet that aside from the meat and heavy cream, you have all the other ingredients in your pantry.

Here’s a list of our favourite dishes to serve with this delicious Swedish Meatball recipe!

• The Best Mashed Potatoes
• Low Carb Cauliflower Mash (a great choice for a low carb diet!)
• Roasted Vegetables
• Creamy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes (great for saving time on a busy weeknight!)
• Rosemary Dill Roasted Potatoes
• Air Fryer Green Beans
• Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
• Roasted Potatoes and Carrots

Take your Swedish Meatballs to the next level by following our PRO tips and tricks!

For best results, we recommend choosing a combination of ground beef and pork. This helps give the meatballs lots of flavour and helps create a softer texture.

Nutmeg and allspice are some of the most important Swedish meatball ingredients as they create the classic Swedish Meatball flavour – don’t skip them!

Mix the flavour-building ingredients for the meatballs very well before adding the meat. This will give the meatballs great flavour!

As you’re making the meatball mixture, avoid over-mixing the meat. Over-mixing creates a tough, dry meatballs, so be sure to mix just until combined.

Use a small cookie scoop or a measuring spoon to scoop evenly sized meatballs (about 1 inch diameter). Size uniformity ensures even cooking and optimal browning.

Make use of all the pan drippings after cooking the meatballs by using the same skillet to make the sauce. After making the roux (flour and butter mixture), mix well while adding stock in gradually for a smooth consistency of the sauce.

Having trouble making these meatballs? Here’s a list of issues you might encounter and how to fix them!

To ensure the tenderness of your Swedish meatballs, make sure you don’t over-mix the meat and that you cook them only until they reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius).

If your onion is very watery, remove some of the juice before you mix it with the breadcrumbs. Make sure you add the egg and enough panko.

Simply let the sauce simmer until it reduces to your desired consistency.

Add a few more dashes of Worcestershire sauce and a few more teaspoons of Dijon mustard. Alternatively, you can add in a few tablespoons of sour cream. Add salt and black pepper to taste.

Here’s the list of kitchen equipment you’ll need to make this Swedish Meatball recipe (paid links):

• Cutting Board and a large knife
• Grater
• Silicone Spatula
• large mixing bowl
• large skillet
• Tongs
• liquid measuring cups
• Whisk
• cookie scoop

Here’s a list of the ingredients you’ll need to make this Swedish Meatball recipe (paid links):

FOR THE MEATBALLS:

• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 1 egg
• 1 onion grated
• 3 cloves garlic grated
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 pound mix of ground pork & ground beef

FOR PAN FRYING THE MEATBALLS

• 2-3 tablespoons Olive oil or any other neutral oil of your choice

FOR THE SWEDISH MEATBALL SAUCE:

• 1/3 cup butter
• 1/3 cup  all purpose flour
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1/3 cup white wine
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 cup heavy cream

Try something different with one of these tasty variations on the basic Swedish Meatball recipe:

1. French Onion – Incorporate 1/2 cup of caramelized onions and 1/2 cup of Gruyère cheese into the meatball mixture.
2. Mushroom – Add sliced mushrooms to the pan and sauté them before making the sauce. Alternatively, use a packet of cream of mushroom soup mix in the sauce for flavour.
3. Vegetarian – Use a meat alternative like Beyond Meat to make the meatballs, and use a vegan cream to make the recipe plant-based.

We hope you love this Swedish Meatballs recipe as much as we do! Let us know in the comments below, what’s your favourite comfort food meal? We’d love to know!

• Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
• Mississippi Pot Roast
• Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
• Slow Cooker Pot Roast
• One Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
• Homemade Rotisserie Chicken
• Roasted Vegetable Soup
• Instant Pot Roasted Chicken and Gravy
• Pumpkin Chili