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The Best Swedish Meatballs Recipe

This Swedish Meatballs recipe has been passed down from a Swedish grandmother! The best Swedish meatballs recipe you'll ever try! Better than Ikea!

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 491 kcal
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Swedish

Ingredients

Meatballs:
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs
  • ½ cup milk
  • 35 ml cream
  • 1 egg large
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • ⅓ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon Grillkrydda or all spice or all purpose seasoning
  • ½ onion finely chopped
  • 1 pound ground beef mince
  • ½ pound ground pork mince
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
Gravy Sauce (OPTIONAL):
  • ⅓ cup butter
  • ¼ cup plain flour all purpose flour
  • 250 ml vegetable broth or stock
  • 250 ml beef broth or stock
  • 1 cup thickened or heavy cream
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 pinch salt to season
  • 1 pinch pepper to season

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a large bowl, mix the breadcrumbs together with the milk, cream (If using), egg, garlic, salt, peppers and spice. Allow the milk to soak into the breadcrumbs for at least 10 minutes.
  2. Once the milk has absorbed some, add in the onion, meat(s) and parsley. Mix well with your hands to combine.
  3. Roll meat into about 24 small balls, or 16 larger balls.
  4. Heat 1 tablespoons of butter and 2 teaspoons of oil in a pan on medium-high heat. Fry meatballs in batches of two so they don’t stew or simmer. Transfer to a warm plate and cover with foil.
  5. Add the ⅓ cup butter to the juices in the pan to melt. Whisk in the flour until it dissolves and turns brown in colour. Pour in the broth (or stock), cream, soy sauce and dijon. Bring to a to simmer and season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix the sauce through well to combine all of the flavours together.
  6. Continue to simmer until thickened.
To serve:
    Cup of Yum
  1. Non Swedish way: Place meatballs into the gravy in the pan and serve
  2. Traditional Swedish way: Do not make the cream sauce at all. Serve meatballs over plain or stewed macaroni, plain or mashed potatoes, and lingenberry jam (optional)

Notes

  • *Replace heavy or thickened cream with reduced fat cream if you wish to reduce calories)1) I use a mixture of ground beef and pork (mince) in may recipe, but you can use all beef is you don't have or like pork 2) To make the meatballs lower in carbs, use almond meal to replace the breadcrumbs. Also, use 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons of water to replace the flour in the gravy sauce. Just add the cornstarch mixture at the end, while continuously stirring, over low heat until sauce has thickened.3) I like to grate my garlic clove with the small part of a grater. You can use minced garlic if you prefer.

Nutrition Information

Calories 491kcal (25%) Carbohydrates 11g (4%) Protein 19g (38%) Fat 41g (63%) Saturated Fat 21g (105%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 14g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 146mg (49%) Sodium 634mg (26%) Potassium 359mg (10%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 3g (6%) Vitamin A 993IU (20%) Vitamin C 2mg (2%) Calcium 83mg (8%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 491

% Daily Value*

Calories 491kcal 25%
Carbohydrates 11g 4%
Protein 19g 38%
Fat 41g 63%
Saturated Fat 21g 105%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 14g 70%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 146mg 49%
Sodium 634mg 26%
Potassium 359mg 8%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 3g 6%
Vitamin A 993IU 20%
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Calcium 83mg 8%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.