Swedish Meatballs
I remember when the the first IKEA was built in my area and it was all everyone could talk about. Oddly enough, I heard mention of IKEA’s Swedish Meatballs just as much as I heard about their awesome products. I had friends who would stop in for lunch just to have the meatballs! If you’ve never had Swedish Meatballs before, or if you love them but need a great recipe, TRY THESE!
What is so special about Swedish Meatballs?
Swedish Meatballs actually originated in Turkey and are a meatball dish that is served with a creamy gravy or Swedish Meatball Sauce. Swedish Meatballs are sometimes confused with Italian Meatballs but there are some differences between the two types of meatballs.
Swedish Meatballs are typically smaller in size than Italian meatballs and they are usually made with a 50-50 ratio of ground pork and ground beef. Swedish Meatballs also tend to use spices like allspice and nutmeg for flavoring where Italian meatballs rely more on parmesan and garlic flavoring.
Ingredients in Swedish Meatballs:
Swedish Meatballs are made with onion, ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, egg yolks, allspice, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
The ingredients in Swedish Meatballs Sauce include butter, flour, beef broth, sour cream, salt and pepper.
How to make Swedish Meatballs:
Start by cooking the onions in a little olive oil until they are translucent.
Make the Swedish Meatballs by combining ground beef, ground pork, bread crumbs, egg yolk, allspice, nutmeg, and sautéed onion. Season with salt and pepper.
Stir the meatball mixture until well combined. Use clean hands to roll the mixture into meatballs about 1 inch in size. This should make about 30 meatballs.
Cook the Swedish Meatballs in a hot skillet with oil, rotating them with a fork until all sides are browned. The meatballs don’t need to be cooked all the way through.
Remove the meatballs to a plate to rest while we cook the Swedish Meatball Sauce.
How to make Swedish Meatballs Sauce:
- Melt butter in a skillet and whisk in flour until it gets slightly browned.
- Gradually whisk in beef broth, stirring constantly until slightly thickened.
- Stir in sour cream and season with salt and pepper.
- Add the Swedish Meatballs into the Swedish Meatballs Sauce and serve the meatballs and sauce over cooked egg noodles, or rice.
This is one of those meals that has really simple ingredients and flavor but it’s soo comforting and yummy! Any time I ask Jeff for some dinner ideas this is always at the top of his list. He requests them all the time!
I love to serve Swedish Meatballs with a big side of steamed veggies or a green salad.
Consider trying these popular dinner recipes:
- Slow Cooker Pot Roast
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Swedish Meatballs
Video
Ingredients
For the Swedish Meatballs:
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil , divided
- 1 onion , diced
- 1 pound ground beef (*see note)
- 1 pound ground pork (see note*)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- salt and freshly ground black pepper , to taste
For the Gravy
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 3/4 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper , to taste
- 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley leaves , chopped
- Cooked egg noodles or rice for serving
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, and cook, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent, about 2-3 minutes; set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, bread crumbs, egg yolks, allspice, nutmeg and onion. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Stir mixture with a wooden spoon until well combined. Use clean hands to roll the mixture into meatballs about 1 1/2-in in size (It should make about 20-24 meatballs).
- Add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet. Add meatballs, in batches, and cook until all sides are browned, about 4-5 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
For the Swedish Meatball Sauce:
- Melt butter in the skillet. Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in beef broth and cook, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened, about 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in sour cream; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in meatballs and cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through and thickened, about 8-10 minutes.
- Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?!
RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.
*I originally shared this recipe August 2014. Updated March 2019.
Deena says
So like – WOW! I made these last night. I added an extra 1/4 cup breadcrumbs and about 2 tablespoons cream cuz I like meatballs a little on the “fluffy” side. Otherwise, kept everything as written and it was like a flavor EXPLOSION in out mouths. Family loved this recipe and I have shared it with friends. Thank you!
Brad says
My Grandfolks were Swedish and. Would make this with a secret Ingredient in the gravy that makes it Swedish and way more flavor I would give out the ingredients but then I would have to Hillary you Maybe for a price
Julie says
Very yummy, thank you for taking the time to put in so much detail. The whole family lived it, even the toddler!
May says
What can I use in place of sour cream if I don’t have any?
Lauren Allen says
Plain Greek yogurt would be the next best substitute. Otherwise you could use a little cream, or blended cottage cheese.
Coraline Jones says
You left out the lingonberries, they aren’t Swedish if you do not serve them with lingonberries!
Sarah says
My meatballs are not cooked in the middle at all… and suggestions? They are burning on the outside and raw on the inside.
Lauren Allen says
Lower the heat and continue to cook until they are cooked through. (You could even turn heat to low and cover the pan with a lid).
Stephanie Hassan says
I seared my meatballs in the frying pan, then finished them in the oven.
Stephanie Hassan says
This was a really good meal. There are only two of us so I made all the meatballs and half the sauce. I froze half the meatballs for another time.
Melissa Anderson says
These are AMAZING!!!!!! Made a double batch to feed a crowd of hungry workers and family and it was a HIT! Definitely a keeper! Thank you!