Swedish Meatballs

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Smothered in a rich and creamy gravy and made with comforting fall spices, this Swedish Meatball recipe is sure to warm your soul during the upcoming chilly weather.

Truly, Swedish meatballs served with the typical mashed potatoes or soft egg noodles are a meal that brings everyone together — perfect for the holiday season!

Maybe it’s the warm spices. Or perhaps it’s the savory and buttery gravy. Whatever it is, this Swedish meatball recipe is oh-so comforting.

It’s a great weeknight meal to throw together after a long day at the office. And it’s also a delicious dish to serve to dinner guests visiting from out of town. Just be sure to make plenty — your guests will likely ask for seconds!

As you may (or may not) know, meatballs aren’t only for spaghetti. Like this Swedish meatball recipe, many dishes use meatballs in unique ways.

Check out my Skinny BBQ Turkey Meatballs & Mash, Chicken Meatballs with Honey Garlic Sauce, and Pork Meatball and Wild Rice Soup. 

Key ingredients & substitutions for the Best Swedish Meatballs

• Unsalted butter | This recipe uses plenty of butter for several steps. You’ll use unsalted butter to sauté the onions, brown the meatballs, and flavor the gravy. 
• Onion | The onion adds flavor to the Swedish meatballs. However, you may leave them out if you prefer.
• Breadcrumbs | Use breadcrumbs to add bulk to the meatball mixture and create a softer texture. Choose panko breadcrumbs or whatever style is your favorite.

• Milk | Add milk to the breadcrumbs to soften them, bringing moisture to the tasty meatballs.
• Ground beef and ground pork | A combination of ground beef and ground pork create a delicious meatball. If desired, you can use one or the other or add ground veal to the mixture.
• Parsley | Sprinkle the meatball mixture with freshly chopped Italian parsley. 
• Spices | Warm spices, like nutmeg and allspice, are the secret to the unique taste of these meatballs.

• Flour | Add some all-purpose flour for thickness when creating the creamy gravy.
• Beef broth | Savory beef broth is the base of the tasty gravy. If desired, you can replace the beef broth with chicken broth. However, you should expect the overall flavor to differ.
• Heavy cream | Create a velvety and divine sauce by adding heavy cream. If preferred, you may substitute the heavy cream with tangy sour cream.

• Soy sauce | In the flavorful gravy, soy sauce lends a rich taste. Similar recipes call for Worcestershire sauce instead. So, feel free to swap this ingredient if you’d like.
• Dijon mustard | For subtle spice and a kick of flavor, add a tiny bit of Dijon mustard to the Swedish meatball gravy.

How to make Swedish Meatballs Smothered in Savory Gravy

All you need to make these delicious Swedish meatballs is one mixing bowl, a serving dish, and a single large skillet. You’ll have a tasty and fragrant meal in no time at all!

STEP 1 | Preheat and prep

Get ready to create these tasty Swedish meatballs by first preheating the oven to 250 degrees. Next, prep the veggies by dicing the onion and chopping the Italian parsley. Then, you’re all set to dive into this recipe.

STEP 2 | Cook the onions

First, grab a large nonstick skillet and set the stove to medium heat. Toss in some butter to melt, and add the onions and a pinch of salt.

Next, sauté the diced onions for about 5 minutes. You’ll know they are done cooking when they are soft and tender.

STEP 3 | Soften the breadcrumbs

While the onions are cooking, add the breadcrumbs and some milk to a large mixing bowl. Mix the ingredients and set the bowl aside, allowing the breadcrumbs to absorb the milk and soften.

STEP 4 | Make the meatballs

Once you finish sautéing the onions, transfer them to the same mixing bowl containing the breadcrumbs and milk.

You’ll also toss in the remaining meatball ingredients — ground beef, ground pork, nutmeg, allspice, salt, pepper, and parsley. Next, lightly beat the egg and add it to the mixing bowl. 

Now, for the fun and messy part! Use your hands to combine all the tasty ingredients. That’s right — dig your hands in there and mix and mash until everything is thoroughly combined.

Of course, you may use a rubber spatula if you prefer, or use the paddle attachment on your stand mixer — but only mix a few seconds until the ingredients are combined.

However, it’s always easier to use your hands — and the meatballs will be more tender. Now it’s time to form the meatball mix into small balls, about 1.5 inches.

STEP 5 | Cook the Swedish meatballs

If you use your hands to form the meatballs, you’ll want to scrub and wash them well before moving on with the recipe.

Next, melt some butter in the same skillet you used to cook the onions. Set the heat to medium-high. Cook the meatballs in the melted butter until each is brown on all sides. This may take about 7 to 10 minutes. Be sure to turn them as you go. 

Then, transfer the meatballs to a serving dish. While making the gravy, keep the meatballs warm by placing the serving dish in the preheated oven.

STEP 6 | Start making the gravy

Now, drain off all but two tablespoons of the drippings from the skillet you just used to cook the meatballs. Next, add the last four tablespoons of fresh butter to the pan.

Once melted, evenly sprinkle the flour into the skillet. Then, cook the flour and butter, stirring for about one minute. Slowly pour in the beef broth while constantly whisking the ingredients.

Be careful not to splash the broth into the hot pan.

STEP 7 | Complete the gravy, combine, and serve!

The recipe is almost finished! Just add the heavy cream, soy sauce, and dijon mustard to the skillet. Then, cook for about 4 minutes while continuously stirring. The gravy is complete when it has a thick consistency. 

Finally, pour the savory gravy over the meatballs. Serve this dish while it’s still hot over buttered egg noodles or mashed potatoes.

Frequently asked questions

Serving suggestions

This dish is so flavorful you can even serve the delectable Swedish meatballs all on their own. You may also pair them with seasoned and steamed veggies, fluffy mashed potatoes, or buttery egg noodles.

If you want to go the traditional route, serve these Swedish meatballs with lingonberry jam and mashed potatoes.

On the other hand, perhaps you want to try something different. My Woodshed Potatoes or Redskin Mashed Potatoes deliciously combine with the Swedish meatball flavors.

Behind the recipe: Swedish Meatballs

Believe it or not, Swedish meatballs did not originate from Sweden. You’re not alone if you feel totally fooled. In fact, when IKEA fans discovered this fascinating truth, it made BIG news on social media.

If you didn’t already know, the famous and successful furniture store, IKEA, sells Swedish meatballs in its café. Dedicated and passionate IKEA fans love them. So, people were certainly thrown through a loop when the truth was revealed.

While Swedish meatballs are commonly served in Sweden, they were based on a recipe from Turkey. Sometime in the 18th century, King Charles XII brought them back from a visit to Turkey, and clearly, the country fell in love with the recipe’s unique and rich flavor. Now, Swedish meatballs are enjoyed as a casual weeknight meal and even on important holidays.