Homemade Swedish Meatballs Recipe
User Reviews
4.8
Homemade Swedish Meatballs Recipe
Description
The Homemade Swedish Meatballs Recipe starts by soaking bread in milk, which helps keep the meatballs moist, then mixing this with ground beef and pork, grated onion, and a blend of spices. Small meatballs are formed and browned in a skillet using olive oil and butter, which gives them a golden crust while sealing in juices. After browning, a sauce is made in the same pan by creating a roux with butter and flour, then gradually whisking in beef broth, heavy cream, and Worcestershire sauce until smooth and thickened. The meatballs continue cooking in the sauce, absorbing its flavors and finishing cooking gently.
The resulting dish has tender, flavorful meatballs with a creamy, slightly spiced sauce that pairs well with potatoes, noodles, or bread. It serves as a hearty main meal. The recipe is versatile enough for either skillet preparation or baking in the oven, offering an alternative that can be more hands-off.
For storage, meatballs can be made ahead and frozen either cooked or uncooked. Uncooked meatballs should be thawed before cooking, while cooked frozen meatballs can be reheated directly in the sauce. The recipe provides helpful guidance on cooking times to ensure meatballs are fully cooked if served without sauce.
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 3 lices white bread crust removed and cut into small cubes (about 1/2 cup)
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1/2 large onion grated on the large holes of a box grater
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon butter salted
Sauce
- 1/4 cup butter salted
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons parsley chopped, for garnish, fresh
Instructions
- Add the cubed bread and milk to a large bowl. Let the bread soak for 10 minutes.
- While the bread is soaking, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and saute for 2-3 minutes, until softened. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
- Add the ground beef, ground pork, egg, salt, pepper, allspice, nutmeg, and garlic powder to the bowl of bread and milk, along with the cooled onions. Mix well with your hands until combined.
- Form about 30 small meatballs (each about 1" in diameter) and set aside on a baking sheet or plate.
- Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil and tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat in the same skillet used for the onions. Working in batches, fry the meatballs for about 4-5 minutes, rotating to brown on all sides. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
- Once all of the meatballs are browned, make the sauce in the same pan by heating 1/4 cup butter until melted. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 2 minutes until light brown and bubbly.
- Whisk in broth, cream, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring frequently, for 1-2 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Return the meatballs to the pan with the sauce, then reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to simmer for 8-10 minutes until the meatballs are cooked through.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles.
Notes
- Browning the meatballs fully is not necessary if they will finish cooking in the sauce; otherwise, cook 6-8 minutes until fully cooked if eating plain.
- Meatballs can be frozen both cooked or uncooked; thaw uncooked before cooking, but cooked meatballs can be reheated directly in sauce from frozen.
- For oven cooking, bake meatballs at 400°F for 18-20 minutes on a parchment-lined sheet before adding to sauce.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 564 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 564kcal | 28% |
| Carbohydrates | 12g | 4% |
| Protein | 24g | 48% |
| Fat | 47g | 72% |
| Saturated Fat | 21g | 105% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 18g | 90% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 163mg | 54% |
| Sodium | 997mg | 42% |
| Potassium | 473mg | 10% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 804IU | 16% |
| Vitamin C | 3mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 98mg | 10% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.8
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