Savory and tender meatballs smothered in a rich and creamy gravy. This easy Swedish meatballs recipe will definitely be a new family favorite! Serve them up with mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles and a side salad for a meal that will please even the pickiest eater.
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What are Swedish Meatballs?
Swedish meatballs are one of my favorite comfort foods. I've been known to eat my share of Ikea's iconic Swedish meatballs. The dish traditionally includes a delicious savory meatball that is served swimming in a creamy gravy.
How delicious does that sound!? They make a tasty appetizer on their own but are often they are served over a starch, like mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice, for a meal.
Why You Will Love This Swedish Meatballs Recipe
- Homemade Meatballs: We're making our homemade meatballs for the best flavor! It also gives you some flexibility to use a different type of ground meat if you want.
- Creamy Sauce: The sauce is rich and creamy with a nice balanced beef flavor.
- Family Favorite: This meatball recipe is one my whole family loves! I think yours will too!
Ingredients
For this recipe you'll need:
- Ground beef: We love using lean ground beef for less greasy meatballs.
- Egg: Fresh egg combines with the breadcrumbs to create the binder that holds the shape of the meatballs.
- Breadcrumbs: Any regular or seasoned breadcrumbs will work. I prefer finely ground breadcrumbs in this recipe rather than panko breadcrumbs which are larger in size.
- Milk: My secret for making moist and delicious meatballs! It's added to the breadcrumbs so they soak it all up and then work to bind together the meatballs and also add extra moisture.
- Meatball Seasoning: A simple mixture of onion powder, garlic powder, parsley, oregano, and nutmeg creates a flavorful meatball.
- Butter and flour: Flour is cooked in melted butter to create our rich roux for the creamy sauce that coats the meatballs.
- Beef broth: Essential for adding flavor to the creamy Swedish meatball sauce.
- Heaving whipping cream: Highly recommended for a thick, rich meatball sauce. You can use half and half but the results will be less creamy.
Variations
- Frozen Meatballs: Fresh meatballs are my favorite when I have time but I totally understand needing a quick and easy alternative. If you want to use a frozen meatball, try to use a quality brand such as Rosina homestyle or Italian-style meatballs.
- Turkey Swedish Meatballs: Swap the ground beef for your favorite ground turkey. You can also swap it with ground pork or chicken as well. However, I would avoid ground turkey breast or chicken breast as the meatballs will be too dry.
How to Make Swedish Meatballs
- Step 1: Combine the breadcrumbs and milk. Let it sit for a few minutes.
- Step 2: Combine the ground beef, egg, soaked bread crumbs, onion powder, garlic powder, parsley, oregano, nutmeg, and salt & pepper in a large bowl. Use clean hands to mix together all the ingredients until they are well combined.
- Step 3: Shape the meat mixture into 1-inch balls. Use a cookie scoop to portion the meat for meatballs. This will create uniform sizes and even cooking. Bake the meatballs in a 375-degree oven for 20 minutes, or until browned a cooked through.
- Step 4: Melt the butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the flour. Whisk it until the mixture is lightly browned.
- Step 5: Add the beef broth. Continue to whisk and cook until the sauce thickens. Add the heavy cream and whisk it into the sauce.
- Step 6: Add the cooked meatballs to the gravy and gently stir to coat the meatballs with gravy.
Step 6: Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve over mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice.
Serving Suggestions
These Ikea copycat meatballs are delicious served over a starch. Try mashed potatoes, noodles, or even rice.
If you really want the full Swedish experience, add a spoonful of Lingonberry sauce to the side. It creates a heavenly flavor combination!
These meatballs make an excellent party appetizer along with other favorites such as air fryer potstickers, baked potato skins, and loaded Greek hummus.
Enjoy with bread so you can soak up all the yummy sauce. I think you will love these homemade dinner rolls or this easy French bread.
Expert Tips
- Avoid Substitutions: For the most flavor outcome avoid making substitutions for the spices and sauce ingredients. These are all important to the flavor of the dish.
- Drain the Meatballs: After cooking them in the oven, drain off any excess fat that cooks out of them so it doesn't make the sauce greasy.
- Scoop or Measure the Meatballs: Even-sized meatballs will cook more evenly in the oven.
- Storing: Store leftover meatballs in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat on the stove in a saucepan over medium heat for 5-10 minutes or in the microwave until heated through. You can freeze them for up to two months but the texture of the sauce may be grainy when thawed due to the heavy cream.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, if you want to skip the oven, you can easily use a pressure cooker to cook the meatballs. Insert the trivet into your pressure cooker. Add 1 cup of water. Add the meatballs to the pot. You can layer them on top of each other. Cook for 15 minutes. Use a quick release to release the pressure. Make the sauce on the stove and add the meatballs at the same point in the recipe.
Yes, you can! Mix up your meatballs ahead of time and store them in the fridge for up to two days before baking them. You can also line them on a parchment-lined baking tray and freeze them. Once frozen transfer them to a container and store for up to two months. Thaw them out on a baking tray in the fridge overnight and then bake as directed.
More Meatball Recipes
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Easy Swedish Meatballs
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 lbs ground beef
- 1 egg
- ½ cup Italian breadcrumbs
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon parsley
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- salt and pepper
Gravy
- 6 tablespoon butter
- 4 tablespoon Flour
- 3 cups Beef Broth
- ½ cup Heavy Cream
- Salt and Pepper
Serving
- Hot Cooked Mashed Potatoes, Noodles, or Rice for serving optional
Instructions
Meatballs
- Soak bread crumbs in milk until absorbed.
- Combine all ingredients and roll into 1 inch balls and place on a lined baking sheet.
- Bake at 375 degs for 20 mins or until browned and cooked through.
Gravy
- While meatballs are baking, melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- When melted whisk in flour and continue to whisk until bubbly and lightly browned.
- Slowly whisk in beef broth and allow to thicken.
- Whisk in heavy cream and season with salt and pepper.
- Add cooked meatballs to gravy.
- Serve over mashed potatoes and with a side of Lingonberry Sauce..
Notes
-
- Avoid Substitutions: For the most flavor outcome avoid making substitutions for the spices and sauce ingredients. These are all important to the flavor of the dish.
- Drain the Meatballs: After cooking them in the oven, drain off any excess fat that cooks out of them so it doesn't make the sauce greasy.
- Scoop or Measure the Meatballs: Even-sized meatballs will cook more evenly in the oven.
- Storing: Store leftover meatballs in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat on the stove in a saucepan over medium heat for 5-10 minutes or in the microwave until heated through. You can freeze them for up to two months but the texture of the sauce may be grainy when thawed due to the heavy cream.
Bri says
I just made these tonight for dinner and they were so good!!!! My husband declared it his favorite dinner of quarantine!!!
Sarah says
I made this a couple of weeks ago with ground turkey and chicken broth and it was spectacular! I also didn’t have onion powder so just added a little more garlic powder, and omitted the nutmeg. There were no leftovers! I’m making this again tonight with ground chicken! Thank you!
Hayley says
i just made these swedish meatballs tonight for dinner with mashed potatoes! seriously so amazing! I used your home creamy mashed potatoes and they were amazing as well. Don't tell my mom... but they might be better than hers! haha. Thanks for the great recipe!!
Aubrey says
Aren't they the best!? I know I love them, so glad you do too!! ... and you are secret safe with me :)