Perfect Swedish Meatballs Recipe (2024)

Published: by Dina

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This Perfect Swedish Meatballs Recipe is rich and delicious. You’ll love the savory flavors of the creamy brown sauce that these meatballs are smothered in.

These dish tastes scrumptious with a side of creamy mashed potatoes and air fryer broccoli.

Perfect Swedish Meatballs Recipe (1)

The Best Swedish Meatballs

Anyone who has had Swedish Meatballs knows how flavorful they are. Smaller than the meatballs often served in red sauce, these delightful balls of pork and chicken are richly flavored. Then they’re covered in a rich and creamy brown sauce that’s created from a roux, which packs tons of great taste into each bite. This recipe has a decent amount of ingredients, but it’s easy to follow and the results are so worth it. These are the Perfect Swedish meatballs for your next dinner.

What you’ll need

  • For the Swedish Meatballs- Ground pork, Ground chicken, Yellow onion, Garlic clove, Salt, Pepper, Cream cheese, Plain breadcrumbs, Allspice, and Avocado oil.
  • For the Meatball Sauce- Unsalted butter, Olive oil, All-purpose flour, Chicken stock, Dijon mustard, Heavy cream, Salt, Pepper, and Allspice.
Perfect Swedish Meatballs Recipe (2)

How to Make these Swedish Meatballs

  • Mix the meat. In a large bowl, combine the ground pork and chicken, the grated onion and garlic clove, the salt, pepper, cream cheese, breadcrumbs, and allspice. Using clean hands, mix the ingredients together really well.
  • Shape the meatballs. Shape the meat mixture into balls using a medium cookie scoop and place them on a baking sheet lined with foil.
  • Cook the meatballs. Add the avocado oil to a large cast-iron skillet and heat it to medium-high. Then cook the meatballs in batches to avoid overcrowding. When they are all finished, place them in a bowl and set aside.
Perfect Swedish Meatballs Recipe (3)
  • Make the roux. In the same skillet, add the butter and olive oil. Bring it to medium heat and add the flour. Quickly whisk it for a minute or so.
Perfect Swedish Meatballs Recipe (4)
  • Add the chicken stock and mustard. Now add the chicken stock and Dijon mustard to the roux and let it come to a quick simmer.
  • Then add the rest of the sauce ingredients. Add the heavy cream, salt (more if needed), pepper, and allspice. Let the sauce simmer for about 3-4 minutes.
  • Put the meatballs in the sauce. Add the Swedish meatballs to the sauce and serve.
Perfect Swedish Meatballs Recipe (5)

Tips for making the Perfect Swedish meatball

  • Line your pan with foil. After shaping the meatballs, make sure that the pan you place them on is lined with foil. This makes clean up so much easier and you’ll be glad you did.
  • Cook the meatballs in batches in the skillet. This recipe makes about 65 Swedish meatballs, so it’s important to cook them in the cast-iron skillet in batches. Overcrowding will lead to uneven cooking and a longer cook time.
  • Whisk your roux thoroughly. The roux that is the base of the sauce can easily burn and clump, so make sure that you whisk while you are incorporating the flour into the butter and oil.
Perfect Swedish Meatballs Recipe (6)

How do you Store and Reheat them?

To store leftover Swedish Meatballs, place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will last for 3-4 days. When you want to reheat them, just place them in a pan on the stove top and warm them, stirring to keep the sauce smooth and creamy.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you can! To freeze these meatballs, place the cooked meatballs on a baking pan in the freezer. Once they are frozen, you can then transfer them to a freezer ziplock bag. Defrost them in the fridge, and reheat and sauce them when you are ready to serve. The sauce can be made a few days ahead and stored in the fridge.

Perfect Swedish Meatballs Recipe (7)

What goes well with Swedish Meatballs?

These Perfect Swedish Meatballs will taste delicious with so many dishes. You can enjoy them with buttery pasta or with a Creamy Tomato and Mushroom Rotini. They also can accompany vegetables like Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli, Bacon Wrapped Asparagus (Oven Baked), and Super Creamy Mashed Potatoes. The rich, savory flavors of this recipe complement so many favorites.

More Delicious Meatball recipes to try!

  • Best Meatballs and Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
  • Easy Homemade Barbecue Meatballs
  • Homemade Chicken Meatball Soup
Perfect Swedish Meatballs Recipe (8)

Full Recipe Instructions

Perfect Swedish Meatballs Recipe (9)

Perfect Swedish Meatballs Recipe

This Perfect Swedish Meatballs recipe is too delicious to miss. Creamy, savory, and rich, it pairs well with all your tasty side dish favorites.

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: swedish

Cuisine: European

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 421kcal

Ingredients

For the Swedish Meatballs

For the meatball sauce

Instructions

Make the meatballs

  • In a large bowl, add 1lb ground pork, 1lb ground chicken, 1/4 cup yellow onion, grated, 1 garlic clove, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 cup cream cheese, 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs, and 1/4 teaspoon allspice.

  • Use your clean hands to mix the meat and spices together really well.

  • Now shape the ground meat mixture into meatballs using a medium cookie scoop and place them on a baking sheet lined with foil (for easy cleanup).

Cook the meatballs

  • Add 1/4 cup avocado oil to a large cast-iron skillet and bring the heat to medium-high.

  • Now cook the meatballs in batches to avoid overcrowding. Once the meatballs are cooked, transfer them to a bowl and reserve them for later.

Make the sauce

  • In the same skillet, add 2 tablespoons unsalted butter And 2 tablespoons olive oil. Bring it to medium heat. Then add 1/4 cup all-purpose flour and quickly whisk it for a minute or so.

  • Now add 1 3/4 cup chicken stock and 1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard. Then let it come to a quick simmer.

  • Add in 1 cup heavy cream, 1/2 teaspoon salt (add more as needed) 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon allspice.

  • Let the sauce simmer for about 3-4 minutes.

  • Then add the meatballs back in and serve over hot butter pasta or creamy mashed potatoes. This recipe makes 65 meatballs.

Notes

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you can! To freeze these meatballs, place the cooked meatballs on a baking pan in the freezer. Once they are frozen, you can then transfer them to a freezer ziplock bag. Defrost them in the fridge, and reheat and sauce them when you are ready to serve. The sauce can be made a few days ahead and stored in the fridge.

Nutrition

Serving: 8meatballs | Calories: 421kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 106mg | Sodium: 783mg | Potassium: 538mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 183IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg

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Dina

Hi, I’m Dina, so glad you stopped by! I believe life is too short for bad coffee and boring meals. With my easy to follow step-by-step recipes, you’ll be surprised at how quickly a wholesome and delicious meal can come together. I hope you find something you enjoy!

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Comments

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  1. Richard says

    I haven’t made this for a few decades, (McCormick mix), for a quick super, it wsn’t bad. Then i saw this, holy cow, this was no holds barred, bona-fide good!!!!!! The second part kinda threw me, everything had to be measured, but the wife even liked it, she said so. She’s like the internet, she don’t lie. lol

    Reply

    • Dina says

      Haha Richard your comment made me laugh. Thank you for the awesome recipe review. I am so happy you both loved the Swedish meatballs! 🙂

      Reply

  2. Patsy says

    One of my favorite comfort foods! I found your recipe and I knew this was it! I’d rather make my own sauce than use the soup! This is so easy, I already had some Pre-made meatballs in the freezer So all I had to do was brown them and make the sauce! I decided to make Pasta To go with mine! Thank you for the recipe. There simmering now! The sauce is spot on!

    Reply

    • Dina says

      I am so happy to hear that you loved this Swedish meatball recipe! Thank you for taking the time to write your kind feedback 🙂

      Reply

  3. Laura says

    Wish the dialogue started with saying the recipe makes 65 meatballs because the 24 that I made? Yeah, those guys are swimming, but shame on me too, for not reading the recipe in full before starting. Measure twice, cut once, right? 😜

    Reply

    • simplyhomecooked says

      Oh no! lol I hope they at least tasted good 🙂

      Reply

  4. Rachel says

    Perfect Swedish Meatballs Recipe (12)
    Made the sauce tonight, was too tired to make meatballs too haha. I doubled the recipe and added nutmeg. It was delicious!

    Reply

    • simplyhomecooked says

      Hi Rachel 🙂 So happy that you loved this recipe! Doubling a recipe is never a bad idea 😉 Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your feedback! I hope you find many more delicious recipes on my blog 🙂

      Reply

  5. Karina says

    Perfect Swedish Meatballs Recipe (13)
    I made these for dinner last night and they were so juicy and delicious! Will definitely be making them again!!!

    Reply

    • simplyhomecooked says

      That’s so awesome to hear Karina! Happy that you loved these Swedish meatballs 🙂 Thank you for your feedback and I hope you find many more delicious recipes on my blog 🙂

      Reply

  6. mary parmer says

    How do you feel about just putting the sheetpan with the prepped meatballs straight into a pre-heated oven vs. frying stovetop? Seems easier, less messy, less fat. And if so, about 35o deg. for about 20 minutes? Thanks for your advice…..

    Reply

    • simplyhomecooked says

      Hi Mary, that is actually a really great idea! I would bake the Swedish meatballs at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20-24 minutes. I hope you love this recipe!

      Reply

  7. Anna says

    These look delicious. My kids have always liked the IKEA Swedish meatballs but I’m sure these are a whole lot better!!
    By the way, is it OK that my cast iron skillet is lined on the outside?

    Reply

    • simplyhomecooked says

      These really are delicious and I know your kids would love these Swedish meatballs!
      Yes, it is ok to use a cast iron skillet that has an exterior coating 🙂

      Reply

Perfect Swedish Meatballs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Swedish meatball sauce made of? ›

The sauce for Swedish Meatballs is a creamy gravy that is made with butter, beef broth/stock, thickened with flour and made creamy with cream. But the most important flavour for the a really good creamy gravy is the pan drippings after searing the meatballs.

How do you keep Swedish meatballs from falling apart? ›

Eggs: Eggs help bind the meatballs together so they don't fall apart. They also help keep the meatballs soft and tender. Bread crumbs: Bread crumbs are almost always used in meatball recipes because they absorb the fat and, along with the eggs, serve as a binder.

What makes Swedish meatballs different from regular meatballs? ›

These meatballs tend to be a bit smaller in size and are more savory than their Italian counterpart. They are seasoned with aromatic allspice that balances out the rich flavor of the white, gravy-like sauce they're served in.

What is Ikea meatball sauce made of? ›

Iconic Swedish cream sauce: Melt 40g of butter in a pan. Whisk in 40g of plain flour and stir for 2 mins. Add 300ml of bouillon (or consommé) and continue to stir. Add 150ml double cream, 2 tsp of soy sauce and 1 tsp of (Dijon) mustard.

What is the Swedish meatball scandal? ›

Czech authorities alerted the discount furniture maker that they had found horsemeat in a sample of meatballs, and Ikea subsequently pulled the product from stores in 14 countries.

What is the secret to making tender meatballs? ›

You asked: What's the secret to tender meatballs?
  1. Don't overmix. When meatballs are tough, it's often because they've been overworked. ...
  2. Check the fat content. Leaner meat can easily result in dry meatballs, which need to be fully cooked to be served safely. ...
  3. Consider the other ingredients. ...
  4. Choose the right cooking method.
Mar 22, 2024

What is unique about Swedish meatballs? ›

In Sweden the meatballs are usually smaller than they are in Italy for example. We don't put it in any tomato sauce, but we serve them with potatoes, brown cream sauce and lingonberries. In the meatball mix we use heavy cream and bread crumbs and they are usually made with a mixture of pork and beef.

Should meatballs be cooked before adding to sauce? ›

Cooking them directly in the sauce allows them to absorb the flavors while staying moist and tender. However, if you prefer meatballs with a crusty exterior, you can lightly brown them in a separate pan before adding them to the sauce.

Are homestyle meatballs the same as Swedish meatballs? ›

While they are all balls of meat, the ingredients, the meat mix, the spices (perhaps the biggest difference) and the way they are served and the sauces used for service are very different.

What do you eat with Swedish meatballs? ›

Buttered egg noodles (or spaetzle) or alternately buttered and parsleyed boiled potatoes, steamed green beans. Or go with mashed potatoes, green peas and lingonberry jam.

What ethnicity is Swedish meatballs? ›

Swedish meatballs, perhaps the country's most famous culinary item, are actually based on a recipe brought back from Turkey in the early 18th century by King Charles XII of Sweden. They are a part of both traditional holiday meals and a staple in everyday home cooking.

Why do IKEA meatballs taste so good? ›

They're loaded with salt (and salt is delicious)

According to Ikea's website, the 12-meatball version of their KÖTTBULLAR plate packs a pretty serious amount of salt into your bloodstream, to the tune of 1,520 milligrams.

What is the jam they put on IKEA meatballs? ›

It's lingonberry season and the small sour berries that thrive best in cold climates are ready to be picked. Swedes love eating the jam made from lingonberries with meatballs, mashed potatoes and cream sauce.

How are IKEA meatballs so cheap? ›

If the meatballs are so delicious and so popular, why are they so inexpensive? Like many other things in business, selling inexpensive meatballs is a strategy for the company to turn more profit. To sell their products, they need to get people in the door. To do that, they entice people with cheap meatballs.

Does Swedish meatballs contain sour cream? ›

It's All About the Sauce

Flavored with nutmeg and cardamom, these little beef-and-pork meatballs are best served with a Swedish meatball sauce—a rich roux-based and beef stock gravy, spiked with sour cream and a little lingonberry jelly.

What is the difference between Swedish meatballs and stroganoff? ›

Stroganoff is a dish featuring sautéed mushrooms and onions in a creamy sauce, while Swedish meatballs are small, bite-sized balls seasoned with nutmeg and allspice. Stroganoff is typically served with egg noodles, while Swedish meatballs are usually served over mashed potatoes or sometimes egg noodles.

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