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Swedish Meatballs

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5 from 1 review

🥘 Dive into this classic Swedish Meatballs recipe—easy to make and packed with rich, comforting flavors.
🍲 Enjoy a hearty meal with creamy sauce and tender, spiced meatballs that melt in your mouth.

  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: 25-30 meatballs 1x

Ingredients

Scale

¾ lb (about 340g) ground beef, 80% lean

½ lb (about 225g) ground pork

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

½ cup yellow onion, finely diced or grated

2 cloves garlic, minced (or ½ teaspoon garlic powder)

½ cup panko breadcrumbs or soaked white bread cubes

¼ cup Parmesan cheese (optional)

1 large egg, whisked

⅓ cup milk

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon dried oregano

¼ teaspoon ground allspice (or mixed spice: nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves)

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups beef broth (low-sodium preferred)

1 cube chicken bouillon (optional)

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon dried parsley

½ cup sour cream, room temperature (or heavy cream/plain yogurt)

Instructions

1-Prepare aromatics: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add finely diced or grated onion and minced garlic, cooking until softened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

2-Mix meatball ingredients: In a large bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs (or soaked bread), Parmesan cheese if using, whisked egg, milk, cooled onions and garlic, salt, oregano, allspice, nutmeg, and black pepper. Gently fold in ground beef and ground pork, mixing just enough to combine without overworking the meat for tender meatballs.

3-Shape meatballs: Roll the mixture into 1½-inch meatballs, about 25 to 30 in total. Place the meatballs on a tray and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or up to overnight to help them hold their shape.

4-Brown the meatballs: Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in the skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs in batches for 1-3 minutes per side until evenly browned but not fully cooked through. Remove browned meatballs to a plate.

5-Make the creamy sauce: In the same skillet, melt unsalted butter and whisk in all-purpose flour. Cook for 1-2 minutes until lightly browned and fragrant. Slowly pour in beef broth mixed with Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, parsley, and bouillon cube if using, while whisking to avoid lumps. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat.

6-Finish the sauce and cook meatballs: Temper sour cream by mixing it with a small amount of hot sauce, then stir it into the skillet. Return meatballs to the skillet, spoon sauce over them, cover partially, and simmer gently for 10-15 minutes until meatballs are cooked through and sauce thickens.

7-Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot with traditional sides like egg noodles or mashed potatoes. Optionally, include lingonberry or sour cherry jam for an authentic touch.

Last Step:

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Notes

🧄 Grating onions releases moisture and keeps meatballs tender without pre-cooking.
🥛 Soak bread in onion juice or milk for a flavorful binder.
🧂 Refrigerating meatballs helps them hold their shape during cooking.

  • Author: Brandi Oshea
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Refrigeration: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Swedish
  • Diet: Non-Vegetarian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2-3 meatballs
  • Calories: 75
  • Sugar: 0.5 g
  • Sodium: 177 mg
  • Fat: 5 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 2 g
  • Fiber: 0.1 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Cholesterol: 23 mg