The best Swedish Meatballs are made from scratch with a savory beef and pork blend, simmered in a creamy homemade gravy. This is a classic comfort food that brings restaurant-quality flavor to the kitchen!
Swedish Meatballs is that dinner my whole family begs for.
Swedish Meatballs is that dinner my whole family begs for.We make this Swedish Meatballs recipe all year round, because it uses simple pantry staples, and is a super budget-friendly dinner I can throw together without a special grocery trip. The meatballs and creamy sauce are both made completely from scratch, which gives them that comforting, homemade taste you just can’t get from store-bought or frozen versions. Best of all, it’s easy enough that my kids can help make it; they love getting involved in shaping the meatballs or stirring the sauce, and they all love eating it.
Check out all of my kid-friendly recipes like Healthy Muffins, Mongolian Noodles, American Goulash, or Baked Mac and Cheese!
How to make Swedish Meatballs:
Form and Cook Meatballs: Combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, egg yolk, sautéed onion, allspice, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Roll into 1-inch balls and cook in a hot skillet with oil, turning until evenly browned.
Make Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter and whisk in flour until golden. Slowly add beef broth, stirring until thickened. Stir in sour cream, season with salt and pepper, then return meatballs to the sauce. Serve these easy Swedish Meatballs over egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or rice. I love serving it with a side of French Green Beans or Roasted Vegetables.
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Recipe
Swedish Meatballs
Equipment
- Meat Chopper , to mix the meatballs
Ingredients
For the Swedish Meatballs:
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil (28g), divided
- 1 onion , diced
- 1 pound lean ground beef (454g)
- 1 pound ground pork (454g)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (60g)
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice (0.5g)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (0.5g)
- 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (9g)
- 3/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper (1.5g)
For the Gravy:
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (57g)
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour (40g)
- 3 3/4 cups low-sodium beef broth (900mL)
- 3/4 cup sour cream (180g)
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper , to taste
- 2 Tablespoons fresh chopped parsley (8g), chopped
- 1 lb egg noodles (454g), cooked (or cooked 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.1 onion
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, bread crumbs, egg yolks, allspice, nutmeg and onion. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.1 pound lean ground beef, 1 pound ground pork, ½ cup breadcrumbs, 2 large egg yolks, ¼ teaspoon ground allspice, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¾ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- Stir mixture with a meat chopper or 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.¼ cup unsalted butter, ⅓ cup all-purpose flour, 3 ¾ cups low-sodium beef broth
- 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.¾ cup sour cream, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.2 Tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
Notes
Nutrition
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*I originally shared this recipe August 2014, adapted from Damn Delicious. Updated March 2019, August 2022 and July 2025.
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I use egg noodles. My teen my preference. I would never think to swear because a good choice is different than my palate. I always Adjust recipes (after the initial try) To meat the palate and needs of my family. I thought only chef Ramsey used that language
I’m very surprised at your “serving size”. Anyone who has eaten good Swedish Meatballs knows you can’t possibly eat just three. 9 maybe, but not three.
Made this exactly as indicated – sauce was very bland and uneventful. Meatballs…were ok. Not a fan but I tried something different and it just was not the recipe for me unfortunately.
Note to Fanny: I served my dish with egg noodles….and you need your mouth washed out with soap. Using nasty ugly words in a post is very inappropriate.
I made these as an hors d’oeuvre… I put in slow cooker and will put on buffet table. People will just stab meatball with a toothpick .and eat. I made 2 days ahead of the upcoming holiday and hope they reheat nice!
I think they are great with potatoes, noodles or rice all 3 are yummy. Thank you and if others have nothing nice to say then they should zip it.
I was concerned about the lack of liquid in this recipe, so I moistened the bread crumbs with reduced sodium beef broth and a couple of teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce, then mixed in the egg yolks, seasoning and cooked onions before mixing in the beef and pork. These are delicious meatballs and I haven’t even made the sauce yet.
I make these a lot at my restaurant and my customers love them….I use all beef!
Wow, calm down. Is it “traditional” to attack someone because you prefer potatoes? Hopefully Lauren’s children don’t like to read the nice comments people leave for their mom.
They look great – will be making a big batch for Christmas Eve!
Great Recipe! I added about tablespoon of “Chi Chi’s Restaurante” seasoning to the gravy and it taste perfect!
The recipe for swedish meatballs is actually pretty good but why the f*#k would you serve it with rice or noodles!? Traditionally our meatballs are supposed to be served with mashed potato or just boiled potato, raw stirred lingonberries and a brown sauce.
Really you needed to use the ‘Full word!
Unnecessary
Well aren’t you a ray of sunshine 🙄🙄
Have you ever considered that some people may not like potatoes or are allergic to ingredients in mashed potatoes. Your comment was really rude and insensitive. Please, if you cant say anything nice dont say anything at all.
First of all, you should watch your language. It’s not necessary to be that rude.
Rice or noodles, I’m sure, is just a suggestion. You can serve it any way you want. People like you shouldn’t be commenting.
Fanny is just acting like a big fanny!!! Pun intended!! 😉 i actually think it would be not so good with a plain old boiled potato and i prefer the noodles. To each their own i guess. But the “f” word is probably the most disgusting thing on this page. No need to be such a fanny about it!! I think the recipe is great!!! Thank you Lauren
Because I want to:)
You said why would you serve it with noodles… because we’re in America that’s why. It’s asking for feedback on the actual recipe not what you serve it with… eat it with a hot dog bun…. Pour it open face over a roll or piece of bread. The sauce needs more seasonings & I added a dash of Worcestershire & a little feesh garlic while caramelizing the onion
Fanny, shame on you. It’s two years later after your comment was posted and you still offend me and I am sure others. It shows that you have no self pride by using that type of language. So you disagree, be a person that shows self respect and be civil. It’s a shame that I get the impression that you are not the type of person that I would choose as a friend because of your loose mouth. But ces la vie.