Description
This classic Swedish Meatball recipe features tender, flavorful meatballs made from a blend of ground beef and pork, seasoned with warm spices, and served in a rich, creamy gravy. Perfectly browned and simmered in a velvety sauce made with beef broth, sour cream, and Dijon mustard, these meatballs are delicious served over mashed potatoes or egg noodles.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Meatballs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg, whisked
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 3/4 lb ground beef (80% lean)
- 1/2 lb ground pork
Sauce
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cube chicken bouillon (see notes)
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (can substitute mustard powder)
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 cup sour cream (at room temperature)
Instructions
- Prepare onion and garlic: Heat ½ of the olive oil in a large, high-walled skillet over medium heat. Add the finely diced onions and minced garlic. Cook gently for 5 minutes until softened. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- Mix meatball ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, whisked egg, milk, cooled onion and garlic mixture, salt, oregano, allspice, nutmeg, and pepper. Gently add the ground beef and pork, mixing until evenly combined, being careful not to overwork the meat to keep the meatballs tender.
- Form meatballs and chill: Roll the mixture into 1 ½-inch meatballs and place them on a plate or tray. A small cookie scoop can help create uniform meatballs. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or up to overnight (covered).
- Prepare sauce base: While the meatballs chill, mix together the beef broth, chicken bouillon cube, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and dried parsley in a large measuring cup or bowl, then set aside.
- Brown meatballs: Heat the remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs in batches, leaving space between each to allow even browning. Cook each side for about 1 minute until nicely browned. Remove browned meatballs and set aside. Adjust heat and add more oil as needed during cooking.
- Make roux and sauce: In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Use a silicone spatula to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly until the mixture starts to brown lightly.
- Incorporate broth mixture: Gradually add the prepared beef broth mixture to the skillet in small splashes, stirring continuously to prevent lumps. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- Add sour cream: Place the sour cream in a medium bowl. Spoon about ¼ cup of the hot sauce into the sour cream and stir until smooth. Slowly stir this mixture back into the skillet sauce over low heat until fully incorporated.
- Simmer meatballs: Return the browned meatballs along with any juices on the plate to the skillet with the sauce. Spoon sauce over the meatballs. Cover partially and let simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through and heated well.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve the Swedish meatballs hot over mashed potatoes or egg noodles for a satisfying meal.
Notes
- Using panko breadcrumbs helps keep the meatballs light and tender.
- The chicken bouillon cube enhances the sauce’s depth of flavor; if you prefer, substitute with extra beef broth and adjust seasoning accordingly.
- Chilling the formed meatballs before cooking helps them hold their shape during browning and simmering.
- If you don’t have Dijon mustard, mustard powder is a good substitute in the sauce.
- Serving suggestion: These meatballs are traditionally enjoyed over creamy mashed potatoes or buttered egg noodles.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 meatballs
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
