5 Easy Secrets for Bold, Flavorful Family Meals, everytime! DOWNLOAD
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to recipes navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Recipe Index
  • Collections
  • Recipe by Cuisine
    • African
    • Caribbean
    • Southern
    • Mediterranean
    • French
    • Italian
    • Mexican
    • Puerto Rican
  • Recipe by Type
    • 59 Mins or Less
    • Healthy Options
    • Comfort Foods
    • Spices & Seasonings
    • Sauces
    • How To’s
    • One Pot
    • Picnics and Cookouts
    • Baking
      • Breads
      • Cakes
      • Cookies
      • Savory
  • Recipe by Category
    • Beverage Recipes
      • Juice Recipes
      • Non-Alcoholic
      • Alcoholic
    • Mains
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Lamb
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Vegetarian
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Dinner
    • Instant Pot
    • Lunch
    • Pasta
    • Snacks
    • Side Dishes
    • Slow Cooker
    • Soups

Immaculate Bites

African and Caribbean Recipes Made Easy

  • Recipe Index
  • Collections
  • Recipe by Cuisine
    • African
    • Caribbean
    • Southern
    • Mediterranean
    • French
    • Italian
    • Mexican
    • Puerto Rican
  • Recipe by Type
    • 59 Mins or Less
    • Healthy Options
    • Comfort Foods
    • Spices & Seasonings
    • Sauces
    • How To’s
    • One Pot
    • Picnics and Cookouts
    • Baking
      • Breads
      • Cakes
      • Cookies
      • Savory
  • Recipe by Category
    • Beverage Recipes
      • Juice Recipes
      • Non-Alcoholic
      • Alcoholic
    • Mains
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Lamb
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Vegetarian
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Dinner
    • Instant Pot
    • Lunch
    • Pasta
    • Snacks
    • Side Dishes
    • Slow Cooker
    • Soups
Home / Courses

Swedish Meatballs (Plus VIDEO)

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
Author: Imma Published:8/05/2019Updated:12/03/2021
FacebookTweetPin408YummlyEmail3Shares411

Swedish meatballs are crazy delicious ground beef meatballs in a rich and creamy gravy sauce. These little beauties are so family-friendly and make for a no-fuss meal on a busy weeknight! Even better, you can serve them solo, over egg noodles, or with mashed potatoes.

Contents…

What are Swedish Meatballs?
Swedish Meatball Ingredients
Alternative Ingredients
Tips and Tricks
Serving and Storage Instructions
FAQs
What Goes with Swedish Meatballs?
More Meatball Recipes to Try
How To Make Swedish Meatballs
Watch How To Make It

Swedish Meatballs

I drove past IKEA recently, only to remember that I haven’t shared one of the most popular meatball recipes on the entire planet on this blog.

Now, you know I love me some IKEA (I could stay there all day!), and I’ve even driven there on occasion just to get a Swedish meatballs fix.

But ever since our big move last year, I decided I just don’t want to get stuck in traffic for those meatballs anymore. That gave me the perfect reason to finally make my own homemade version. 😉

What are Swedish Meatballs?

Swedish Meatballs

Compared to the traditional meatballs that most of us are accustomed to, Swedish meatballs are on the smaller side.

They are served with a uniquely Swedish gravy that is creamy and just divine.

Another thing that makes these meatballs special are the spices – parsley, allspice, and nutmeg all combine for a flavoring so good you’ll be tempted to chow down before you’ve even doused them in that famous sauce.

Swedish Meatball Ingredients

  • Ground Beef – Finely ground beef is the leading player in Swedish meatballs. Oh yeah!
  • Panko Breadcrumbs – A Japanese variety of breadcrumbs that has a light, airy, and delicate texture. These breadcrumbs absorb less oil than regular breadcrumbs.
  • Parsley – A distinctive herb that brings out the unique flavors of this dish. It also makes a picture-perfect garnish.
  • Allspice – An aromatic and savory spice with a hint of pepperiness that is warm and delightful.
  • Nutmeg – Another warm, aromatic spice that is nutty with subtle notes of clove.
  • Onion – Sharp and tangy, onions add a boost of flavor to just about any dish.
  • Garlic – Fresh, minced garlic ups the flavor game of every dish it graces. It also gives a lovely aroma to savory plates.
  • Salt – A key ingredient that brings out and intensifies the unique flavor combinations of Swedish meatballs.
  • Pepper – You can’t have salt without pepper, am I right? It adds a (mild) kick of heat with this simple ingredient.
  • Egg – A pivotal binder, the egg helps the meatballs keep their shape in this recipe.
  • Olive Oil – Aromatic and flavorful, this oil is perfect for cooking up the meatballs without making them greasy and heavy.
  • Butter – A super versatile ingredient, butter adds flavor and a creamy texture to Swedish meatball sauce.
  • Flour – This pantry staple really can do so many things. In this recipe, it helps thicken up the sauce.
  • Beef Broth – This beef-flavored liquid adds flavor and nutrients. Win-win!
  • Heavy Cream – High-fat content make this the perfect ingredient to create a rich, creamy sauce.
  • Garlic Powder – Garlic powder is less intense than fresh garlic. However, it still adds a beautiful aroma and flavor to this dish.
  • Thyme – While I prefer fresh, this wonderfully earthy herb thyme is fabulous fresh or dried.
  • Worcestershire Sauce – Sweet and bold flavors make this multi-purpose ingredient a delicious sauce base.
  • Dijon Mustard – A tangy, bold flavor makes this ingredient another key to creating that perfect meatball sauce.
  • Sour Cream – A creamy ingredient that adds just the right amount of tang.

Alternative Ingredients

Ground Beef â€“ For this recipe, you can go all ground beef, as I do, or you can try a 50-50 pork and beef ratio. You could also make meatballs with ground chicken or turkey.

Panko Breadcrumbs â€“ For a lower-carb option, you may replace Panko breadcrumbs with almond meal.

Heavy Cream â€“ If you’re watching your calorie intake, you can replace heavy cream with reduced-fat cream. Half-and-half will work, too, but be careful NOT to bring it to a boil, or it may separate.

Tips and Tricks

Swedish meatballs don’t always have garlic, so feel free to omit it if you aren’t a fan (or don’t want garlic breath 😂). Personally, I love the extra depth of flavor this potent plant adds to the dish.

Avoid overmixing the meat mixture as this can result in tough Swedish meatballs.

If you’re not sure your meatballs are cooked through, then cut one open. There shouldn’t be any pink inside when they are done.

Swedish Meatballs with Egg Noodles

Serving and Storage Instructions

Serve Swedish meatballs as soon as they are cooked with a healthy dose of sauce poured all over them. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley. You can serve these meatballs over rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes, but they’re great all on their own too.

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.

You can reheat leftovers on the stovetop at medium heat until the sauce just starts to bubble and the meatballs are warmed through.

FAQs

Why do my meatballs fall apart when cooking?

Egg and breadcrumbs serve as binding agents for the meatballs. Be mindful about your breadcrumb usage. Too many breadcrumbs can make your meatballs too loose and crumbly. Not enough breadcrumbs won’t hold the meatballs together very well either. Try to stick to the suggested proportions in the recipe.

Can I bake the meatballs instead?

Yes, you can! After rolling them into 12 balls, place them on a foil or parchment paper-lined baking pan. If you’d like, you can place them atop a wire rack on your baking sheet. Arrange the meatballs in a single layer and spray them with oil. Bake the meatballs at 375℉/190℃ until they are cooked through or browned – about 12-15 minutes.

Can I make Swedish meatballs ahead of time?

Absolutely! What I would do is make a big batch of meatballs, cook them, and freeze them in an airtight container. Then, when you feel like serving this for dinner or lunch, pull out the meatballs, make the meatball sauce, and add the meatballs to the pan. Let them warm up in the sauce for a couple of minutes, and voila! You just saved yourself a ton of time. 🙌

Another option is to freeze the uncooked meatballs, then thaw them in the fridge when ready to make this recipe. Brown them as directed and follow the rest of the recipe instructions.

What Goes with Swedish Meatballs?

Homemade Swedish meatballs are best on top of egg noodles (or any pasta, really). They also taste fantastic served with warm rice – especially if you drizzle the rice with the meatball sauce before serving. 🤤

Other amazing sides to serve with Swedish meatballs include garlic mashed potatoes and crusty garlic bread. For an authentic IKEA experience, add a dollop of lingonberry jam on the side.

More Meatball Recipes to Try

  • Baked Meatballs
  • Pineapple Glazed Meatballs
  • Chicken Meatball Soup
  • African-Style Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
  • Sausage Balls
Swedish Meatballs with Egg Noodles

How To Make Swedish Meatballs

Make the Meatballs

  • In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine ground beef, panko, parsley, allspice, nutmeg, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and egg. Mix well using a spatula until thoroughly combined. (Photos 1-3)
  • Roll the meat mixture into 12 large meatballs or 16 small meatballs. (Photo 4)
  • Heat oil in a large skillet or cast iron pan over medium-high heat.
  • Add the meatballs in batches and cook, turning continuously until brown on each side and cooked throughout. (Photos 5-6)
  • Transfer cooked meatballs to a plate and cover with foil.

Make the Sauce

  • Add butter to the skillet. Once it melts, add the flour and whisk until it turns brown and smooth. (Photo 7)
  • Slowly stir in beef broth and heavy cream, cook for about a minute. (Photos 8-9)
  • Add garlic, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard. Slowly stir until the sauce comes together. Add the sour cream and stir until the sauce is even throughout. (Photo 10)
  • Bring sauce to a boil and simmer until it starts to thicken, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  • Time for a taste test! Add salt and pepper as needed.

Complete the Dish

  • Add the meatballs back to the skillet and simmer them in the sauce for another 1-2 minutes.
  • Garnish with parsley and serve over egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or rice.
Swedish Meatballs with Egg Noodles

Watch How To Make It

This blog post was first published in August 2019 and has been updated with an additional write-up, and a video.

Looking for more recipes? Follow on…
My Newsletter
Swedish Meatballs
Print

Swedish Meatballs

Swedish meatballs are those crazy delicious ground beef meatballs in a rich and creamy gravy sauce. These little beauties are so family-friendly and make for a no-fuss meal on a busy weeknight! Even better, you can serve them solo, over egg noodles, or with mashed potatoes.
12-16 Meatballs
5 from 2 votes
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 20 mins
Swedish
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 1 pound (453.6 g) ground beef
  • ¼ cup (12.5 g) panko bread crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon (4 g) parsley, chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon (0.60 g) ground allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon (0.50 g) ground nutmeg
  • ¼ cup (29 g) onion, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon (5 g) garlic, minced
  • ¾ teaspoon (4 g) salt
  • 1 teaspoon (2 g) black pepper
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil

Swedish Sauce

  • 3 tablespoon (42 g) butter
  • 3 tablespoon (30 g) flour
  • 2 cup (500 ml) beef broth
  • ¼  cup (60 g) heavy cream
  • 2 teaspoon (10 g) garlic
  • 2 teaspoon (2 g) thyme (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon (17 g) Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon (5 g) Dijon mustard
  • ¼  cup (57.5 g) sour cream
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Swedish Meatballs

  • In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine ground beef, panko, parsley, allspice, nutmeg, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and egg. Mix well using a spatula until thoroughly combined.
  • Roll the meat mixture into 12 large meatballs or 16 small meatballs.
  • Heat oil in a large skillet or cast iron pan over medium-high heat.
  • Add the meatballs in batches and cook, turning continuously until brown on each side and cooked throughout.

The Cream Sauce

  • Add butter to the skillet. Once it melts, add the flour and whisk until it turns brown and smooth.
  • Slowly stir in beef broth and heavy cream, cook for about a minute.
  • Add garlic, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard. Slowly stir until the sauce comes together.
  • Add the sour cream and stir until the sauce is even throughout.
  • Bring sauce to a boil and simmer until it starts to thicken, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  • Time for a taste test! Add salt and pepper as needed.
  • Add the meatballs back to the skillet and simmer them in the sauce for another 1-2 minutes.
  • Garnish with parsley and serve over egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or rice.

Tips & Notes:

  1. You can go all ground pork like I do or a 50-50 pork and beef ratio. You can even make this with ground chicken or turkey!
  2. Panko breadcrumbs are a Japanese variety of breadcrumbs with a light, airy, and delicate texture that helps it beautifully crisp as it cooks. Furthermore, panko breadcrumbs actually ABSORB LESS oil than the usual breadcrumbs.
  3. For a lower-carb option, you may replace Panko breadcrumbs with almond meal.
  4. If you’re watchful with your calorie intake, you can replace heavy cream with reduced-fat cream. Half and half would work, too, but be careful NOT to bring it to a boil, or it may separate.
  5. Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on products used in the recipe.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 3g| Calories: 182kcal (9%)| Carbohydrates: 4g (1%)| Protein: 8g (16%)| Fat: 15g (23%)| Saturated Fat: 7g (44%)| Cholesterol: 57mg (19%)| Sodium: 284mg (12%)| Potassium: 214mg (6%)| Fiber: 1g (4%)| Sugar: 1g (1%)| Vitamin A: 254IU (5%)| Vitamin C: 2mg (2%)| Calcium: 24mg (2%)| Iron: 1mg (6%)
Author: Imma
Course: Main
Cuisine: Swedish
Tag Us On Instagram!Did you make this recipe? I love hearing how it turned out! Tag me on Instagram @ImmaculateBites and be sure to leave a rating below!
Follow on Instagram
Nutrition Facts
Swedish Meatballs
Amount Per Serving (3 g)
Calories 182 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Cholesterol 57mg19%
Sodium 284mg12%
Potassium 214mg6%
Carbohydrates 4g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 8g16%
Vitamin A 254IU5%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 24mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
 

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review Cancel reply

I love hearing from you! Submit your question or recipe review here. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Made this? Rate this recipe:




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments & Reviews
  1. Marilyn Williams says

    Posted on 1/24 at 2:56AM

    This recipe looks so yummy. How do leftovers do? And can you freeze them? I am only cooking for 2 & we are very light eaters. Can’t wait to try the recipe.
    Thanks, Marilyn

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 1/28 at 2:08AM

      Hi Marilyn. Usually, it is best to cook the meatballs and freeze immediately and then when you feel like serving this for dinner or lunch, pull out the meatballs from the freezer, make the meatball sauce and add the frozen meatballs. However, I do not see why you cannot freeze your leftovers (if you have any 🙂 ).

      Reply
  2. Didina Gnagnide Angorinie says

    Posted on 8/21 at 12:14PM

    Hi Imma, how’s it going? These meatballs look killer. I’d like to know if the garlic you use in the gravy is powdered or fresh, because as soon as it’s going to be Autumn I’m making this dish. Oh, and wanna know something? I did lose weight finally, but in a year or so I got it back because of life circumstances ‘^^. So now I’m starting a diet, again. I hope everything is going ok for you. Cheers from Didina

    Reply
  3. Keishondra Ray says

    Posted on 8/9 at 3:37PM

    5 stars
    These were sooo good !!! Chicken stock was what I had on hand and came out great !! Thank you for sharing !!!

    Reply
    • imma africanbites says

      Posted on 8/10 at 5:40AM

      Awesome! Glad to hear it turned out well for you. Thanks for dropping by!

      Reply
  4. Dory Solomon says

    Posted on 8/8 at 11:13PM

    Hi Imma — Love your posts and need time to try more of your recipes. Have been looking for a Swedish meatball recipe/sauce for awhile, so this will be welcomed!

    To Sandra, who commented also, and shared she was Swedish. Imma, could you ask Sanda where she gets her Lingonberry sauce?

    I’ve bought it at IKEA, but just wonder if there is a better option.

    Reply
    • Rachal says

      Posted on 9/26 at 2:59PM

      I purchased lingonberry jam at my local supermarket here in Western North Carolina. I’m willing to bet IKEA’s is much less pricey though.

      Reply
  5. Anna says

    Posted on 8/6 at 7:30PM

    5 stars
    These meatballs look amazing! My family will love this dish!

    Reply
    • imma africanbites says

      Posted on 8/7 at 12:30AM

      Thank you, Anna. I’m sure they will. 🙂

      Reply
  6. EmmGee says

    Posted on 8/6 at 9:33AM

    Can’t wait to try this- I tried PewDiePie’s recipe in YouTube and they were pretty good, this looks more tasty though, especially that sauce

    Reply
    • imma africanbites says

      Posted on 8/7 at 12:33AM

      Thank you for the kind words. Looking forward for you to try this.

      Reply
  7. Sandra says

    Posted on 8/5 at 3:39AM

    Hi!
    I am swedish and meatballs with potato or rice and sauce is a something I grow up to.
    Your receipe looks good, and it looks really tasty on the pictures!
    I would add one very important thing tho..
    Lingonberry sauce is for me a most to have in this meal so I really recommend it!
    Thanks for all the wonderful recipes, I’ve tried many of them!

    Reply
    • imma africanbites says

      Posted on 8/7 at 12:39AM

      Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Sandra. Truly appreciate it!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

  • Southern
  • African
  • latin fusion
  • comfort food

favorites...

a bowl of gumbo dish with a spoon to scoop it out

Gumbo Recipe (Plus Video)

Southern Baked Mac and Cheese with evaporated milk

Southern Baked Mac and Cheese

Easy Homemade Bread

Basic Homemade White Bread

best thanksgiving desserts

Caramel Cake

Footer

Recipe by Type

  • African
  • Caribbean
  • Southern
  • Mediterranean
  • French
  • Italian

Recipe by Category

  • Dinner
  • Desserts
  • Breakfast
  • Breads + Cakes
  • Pasta
  • How To’s

FOLLOW ALONG

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Immaculate Bites

  • About Imma
  • Subscribe by Email
  • Contact

Site Resources

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions

Copyright © 2022 · African Bites · All Rights Reserved · Website by Anchored Design

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window

Subscribe & Receive A FREE Recipe Book!

    Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

    Email sent!