Nothing beats the smell of homemade Swedish meatball recipe bubbling away in your kitchen on a chilly night. After tons of trial and error in my own kitchen, I've got this version down to a science - tender, juicy meatballs in the creamiest, most delicious sauce you've ever tasted. Lina calls them "the best dinner ever," and when I see him going back for thirds, I know he's not just being nice.
Why You'll Love This Swedish Meatball Recipe
This Swedish meatball recipe has gotten me out of more dinner jams than I can count. They're filling enough to satisfy hungry kids but look fancy when people come over unexpectedly. The best part? Make a double batch and stick half in the freezer for those nights when you just can't deal with cooking from scratch.
Lina loves helping roll the meatballs - though his end up looking more like lumpy rocks than perfect balls. Doesn't matter one bit though, they still taste incredible. And everything you need is probably sitting in your kitchen right now, so no last-minute grocery runs.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Swedish Meatball Recipe
- Ingredients for Swedish Meatball Recipe
- How To Make Swedish Meatball Recipe Step By Step
- Smart Swaps for Swedish Meatball Recipe
- Storing Your Swedish Meatball Recipe
- Equipment For Swedish Meatball Recipe
- Swedish Meatball Recipe Variations
- Why This Swedish Meatball Recipe Works
- Top Tip
- Grandma's Hidden Recipe: A Family's Legacy
- FAQ
- Comfort Food at Its Finest!
- Related
- Pairing
- Swedish meatball recipe
Ingredients for Swedish Meatball Recipe
The Meatballs:
- Ground beef
- Ground pork
- Breadcrumbs
- Milk
- Yellow onion
- Egg
- Salt and pepper
- Allspice
- Nutmeg
The Creamy Sauce:
- Butter
- All-purpose flour
- Beef broth
- Heavy cream
- Worcestershire sauce
- Dijon mustard
For Serving:
- Egg noodles or mashed potatoes
- Lingonberry sauce
- Fresh parsley
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Swedish Meatball Recipe Step By Step
Make the Meatballs:
- Soak breadcrumbs in milk for 5 minutes
- Dice onion really fine and cook until soft
- Mix ground beef, pork, soaked breadcrumbs, onion, and spices
- Roll into small balls
- Brown them in batches in the skillet
- Set aside on a plate
Create the Sauce:
- In same skillet, melt butter
- Whisk in flour until smooth
- Slowly add beef broth, whisking constantly
- Stir in cream, Worcestershire, and mustard
- Season with salt and pepper
Put It All Together:
- Top with fresh parsley
- Add meatballs back to the sauce
- Simmer for 10-15 minutes until cooked through
- Serve over noodles or potatoes
Smart Swaps for Swedish Meatball Recipe
Meat Changes:
- Ground beef + pork → All ground beef
- Regular ground meat → Ground turkey
- Fresh meat → Frozen (thaw first)
For the Meatballs:
- Breadcrumbs → Crushed crackers
- Milk → Heavy cream
- Fresh onion → Onion powder
- Regular egg → Egg substitute
Sauce Switches:
- Heavy cream → Half and half
- Beef broth → Chicken broth
- Butter → Margarine
- Dijon mustard → Yellow mustard
Serving Options:
- Fresh parsley → Dried herbs
- Egg noodles → Rice
- Mashed potatoes → Pasta
- Lingonberry → Cranberry sauce
Storing Your Swedish Meatball Recipe
In the Fridge (3-4 days):
- Cool completely before storing
- Keep in airtight container with the sauce
- Reheat gently on stovetop with a splash of broth
- Don't microwave on high or they'll get tough
Freezer Storage (3 months):
- Cool completely first
- Freeze meatballs and sauce separately if possible
- Use freezer-safe containers
- Thaw overnight in fridge before reheating
Reheating Tips:
- Taste and add more seasoning if needed
- Stovetop is best - low and slow
- Add a little extra broth if sauce gets thick
- Stir gently so meatballs don't break apart
Equipment For Swedish Meatball Recipe
- Large skillet (at least 12-inch)
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Large spoon for stirring
Swedish Meatball Recipe Variations
Cheesy Version:
- Add shredded cheese to meatball mix
- Sprinkle more cheese on top before serving
- Use cream cheese in the sauce
- Serve with garlic bread
Spicy Kick:
- Mix in red pepper flakes
- Add hot sauce to the sauce
- Use spicy mustard instead of Dijon
- Serve with jalapeño slices
Mushroom Lovers:
- Cook mushrooms with the onions
- Add mushroom broth to the sauce
- Mix diced mushrooms into meatballs
- Top with cooked mushroom caps
Kid-Friendly:
- Make mini meatballs for small hands
- Use mild seasonings only
- Serve with mac and cheese
- Skip the lingonberry sauce
Why This Swedish Meatball Recipe Works
From making Swedish meatballs hundreds of times, I've figured out exactly what makes them turn out great every time. The trick is using both beef and pork - the beef gives you that meaty flavor while the pork keeps everything juicy and soft. Most people skip the pork, but it's what stops your meatballs from turning into dry little rocks.
The other thing that really matters is soaking those breadcrumbs in milk first. Sounds strange, but it makes the inside super tender while the outside gets all golden and crispy. And that sauce? Using the same pan you cooked the meatballs in means you get all those tasty brown bits mixed right in. No weird tricks needed - just good stuff cooked the right way.
Top Tip
- Don't forget Grandma's secret - that tablespoon of cream in the meatball mix makes all the difference between good meatballs and ones people never forget. It might seem like such a tiny addition, but that extra cream creates this incredible tenderness inside while still letting the outside get perfectly browned and crispy. Most people focus on the sauce, but the real magic happens in the meatball itself when you add that cream right into the raw mixture before you start rolling them.
- I learned this the hard way when I made a batch without the cream for a potluck and everyone kept asking why they didn't taste quite right. They were still good, but they were missing that special something that makes you close your eyes and smile with the first bite. Now I never skip it, and you shouldn't either - it's what turns a regular dinner into something your family will beg you to make again and again.
Grandma's Hidden Recipe: A Family's Legacy
My grandmother kept her Swedish meatball recipe to herself for decades, only making them for family on special occasions. She came from a small town outside Stockholm and brought this recipe with her when she moved to America in the 1950s. What made hers different was a tiny secret she never wrote down anywhere - she added a tablespoon of heavy cream right into the raw meatball mixture.
Sounds like such a small thing, but that extra cream made her meatballs incredibly tender and gave them this rich taste that nobody could figure out. She'd just smile when people asked what made them so good. Wasn't until she was in her eighties that she finally told me the secret while we were cooking together one Sunday. Now every time I make these meatballs, I think about her in her tiny kitchen, rolling each one by hand and humming old Swedish songs.
FAQ
What is the secret ingredient in Swedish Meatball Recipe?
The secret is allspice and nutmeg in the meatball mix. These warm spices give Swedish meatballs that special taste that's different from regular meatballs. Lots of recipes leave these out, but they're what makes them taste actually Swedish.
What is Swedish Meatball Recipe gravy made of?
Swedish meatball gravy starts with butter and flour cooked together, then you slowly whisk in beef broth. Add heavy cream, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard for richness. The brown bits left in the pan from cooking the meatballs also add tons of flavor.
Do you use sour cream or heavy cream for Swedish Meatball Recipe?
Heavy cream is what you want for Swedish meatball sauce. It makes that rich, smooth texture without the tangy taste that sour cream brings. Plus heavy cream won't curdle when you simmer it, but sour cream can break apart if it gets too hot.
What gives Swedish meatballs their flavor?
The special flavor comes from mixing beef and pork together, plus those important spices - allspice and nutmeg. The creamy sauce with beef broth, Worcestershire, and Dijon mustard adds more savory layers that make Swedish meatballs taste different from other meatball recipes.
Comfort Food at Its Finest!
Now you have all the secrets to perfect Swedish meatballs - from the beef-pork mix to Grandma's hidden cream trick. These tender, flavorful meatballs in that rich, creamy sauce prove that the best comfort food comes from simple ingredients made with love.
Want more cozy dinner ideas? Try our Classic French Onion Soup Recipe for the ultimate comfort bowl that warms you from the inside out. Craving something with a kick? Our Easy Chicken Fajita Pasta Recipe brings all those Mexican flavors to your dinner table. Or lighten things up with our Best And Fresh Greek Orzo Salad Recipe that's perfect for busy weeknights!
Celebrate your Swedish meatball creations! We can't wait to see your delicious meals!
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Swedish meatball recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Soak breadcrumbs in milk for 5 minutes.
- Dice onion finely and cook until soft.
- Mix ground beef, pork, breadcrumbs, and spices.
- Roll the mixture into small balls.
- Brown meatballs in batches in a skillet.
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