Swedish Meatballs Recipe

Swedish meatballs are a comforting classic, celebrated for their tender texture and rich, savory flavor. This recipe blends ground beef and pork, seasoned with warm spices like nutmeg and allspice, and finished in a creamy, luscious brown gravy. Ideal for family dinners, holiday meals, or special occasions, these meatballs are straightforward to prepare and bake to perfection. They pair beautifully with mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or steamed vegetables and can easily be doubled for entertaining or meal prep. With their authentic taste and simple steps, this Swedish meatballs recipe is destined to become a kitchen favorite.

Ingredients

• 2 slices day-old white bread, crumbled
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon butter
• 1 small onion, finely minced
• ⅔ pound ground beef
• ⅓ pound finely ground pork
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
• ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger (optional)
• 1 tablespoon butter (for skillet)
• ¼ cup chicken broth
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, or as needed
• 2 cups beef broth, or as needed
• ½ (8 ounce) container sour cream

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs and heavy cream, letting them soak for about 10 minutes until fully absorbed.
3. Melt 1 teaspoon butter in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté the minced onion until lightly browned, about 10 minutes, then transfer to a large mixing bowl.
4. Add ground beef, ground pork, egg, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger to the bowl with the onions. Gently fold in the soaked bread crumbs and cream until evenly incorporated.
5. In a large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Shape the meat mixture into meatballs, about 1½ tablespoons each. Brown the meatballs on all sides for roughly 5 minutes; centers may still be slightly pink.
6. Transfer the browned meatballs to a baking dish, pour in the chicken broth, and cover with foil. Bake in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes, until tender. Remove meatballs and set aside.
7. Pour the pan drippings into a saucepan over medium heat and whisk in the flour until smooth. Gradually stir in beef broth to create about 2½ cups of liquid.
8. Bring the gravy to a gentle simmer, whisking constantly until thickened, about 5 minutes. Just before serving, stir in the sour cream and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve the gravy alongside the meatballs.

Preparation Details

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Additional Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
• Servings: 6
• Yield: Approximately 24 meatballs

This Swedish meatballs recipe produces tender, juicy meatballs in a rich, creamy gravy. The combination of beef and pork along with aromatic spices ensures authentic, flavorful results that are perfect for cozy family dinners or special occasions.