Homemade Swedish Meatballs that IKEA would Envy!
This is by far “Handy’s” favorite meal, In his opinion these are the best Swedish Meatballs
It’s one of my almost-from-scratch recipes and it’s not a quick meal so he doesn’t get it very often.
Trust me when I tell you that even though it takes a bit of time and effort, it is completely worth it.
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What Makes This Recipe So Yummy
It’s the three different types of ground meat. I use a combination of ground beef, ground pork, and ground veal.
I know some people are opposed to ground veal but I’ve made it without and it’s still good but not as good as it is with the veal. If you choose not to use veal then you would do half beef and half pork
The Swedish meatball sauce is also a game-changer. It’s a thick, rich creamy gravy sauce with so much flavor.
I love beef stroganoff and the gravy of this reminds me a lot of that even though it doesn’t use sour cream, it has that same creamy flavor from the cream of mushroom soup.
Swedish Meatballs
Equipment
- large skillet or fry pan
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Meatball Mix
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 pound ground veal
- 2 large egg, beaten with whisk beat slightly with whisk in a small bowl
- 1 tbsp salt
- 3/4 tsp black pepper
- 1-1/2 slices white bread pulse in food processor to make bread crumbs. If you don't have a food processor, then cut or break into very small pieces
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp sage
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp celery salt
- 3 dashes tabasco sauce (hot sauce)
- 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped I pulse it in my food processor after the bread.
Dredging Mix
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tbsp paprika
Sauce Mix
- 1 can french onion soup or beef broth
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°
- Combine the ground beef with the next 13ingredients together in a large bowl to make meatball mixture.
- In a prep bowl, whisk the flour and paprika together
- Add the butter and olive to a large skillet, or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Use a wooden spoon to help melt butter and combine with the olive oil.
- Working in groups roll enough meatballs to fit in a single layer in the pan with space between them. I make about 1 inch meatballs. Dredge to coat completely in flour mixture and place meatballs in a single layer in the pan. Turning with tongs until all sides are golden brown but not cooked through.
- Place the browned meatballs in the large casserole dish
- Continue working until all meat has been rolled, floured and browned.
- Once you have all the meat in the casserole dish, add the soups to the pan juices in the frying pan and mix the brown bits from the bottom of the pan with the soups. It will create a creamy gravy sauce.
- Pour the sauce over the meatballs into the casserole dish. Cover the dish and place it in the oven.
- Cook for 45 minutes with the lid on and then take the lid off and cook for 30 more minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
What do You Serve with Swedish Meatballs
Traditionally a Swedish Meatball is served over or with mashed potatoes.
In our house, we are divided. The girls and I like it over egg noodles and “Handy” likes it over rice. I typically make both.
Swedish Meatball: Köttbullar
Different ways to use this Recipe
I’ve been making these meatballs for over 40 years and the original recipe was for tiny meatballs and was served in a chafing dish as an appetizer at parties.
I now make it as a main dish with a much larger meatball as Swedish Meatballs were intended.
Makes More than One Meal
This recipe makes a lot of meatballs but it’s a great way to have a meal today and then several more meals to take out of the freezer on a busy weeknight. To store leftovers put the meatballs and sauce in an individual freezer-safe container. Put in the freezer for up to 6 months.
When ready to use, let thaw completely. Then either warm up in a saucepan or the microwave.
Swedish Foods
I grew up with Swedish/Finnish Traditions that are still alive in our family today.
The tradition of Lutefisk on Christmas Eve however died with my Dad. It’s a boiled cod served over boiled potatoes and topped with a white cream sauce. It was awful!
Swedes are also famous for their herring which I along with my siblings really enjoy but we only seem to have it during the holidays.
They also enjoy sweets and have some very good dessert treats. I’m not a baker so my skill in this area is not good. I found THIS article about some of the popular foods in Sweden that I thought were very interesting.
If you’re looking for a more traditional meatball or Italian meatball, you can find my recipe HERE. This meatball is what I use in our pasta sauce.
I hope you enjoy this great recipe. It’s a favorite recipe in our family and perfect for this time of year when we are looking for great comfort food. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes a Swedish Meatball Different?
A Swedish meatball compared to an Italian meatball is two-fold. The Swedish meatball has a creamy white sauce gravy and traditionally just salt and pepper for seasoning. Altho as I mentioned before some might argue that authentic Swedish meatballs also include allspice and nutmeg.
Italian meatballs are served with the traditional red sauce and are seasoned with basil, oregano, and garlic.
However, the base of both meatballs tends to be the same ground beef and ground pork.
What do You Serve with a Swedish Meatball?
As I mentioned before, mashed potatoes are traditionally served with Swedish Meatballs but Lingonberry Jam is also a very famous side.
I’ve also heard of it being served with a pickled cucumber salad which if this Swedish girl’s palette has anything to say about it would be a delicious side.
Is it Better to Bake or Pan Fry Meatballs?
From everything that I’ve read, it’s preferable to bake the meatballs but I pan-fry them. I find the crispy pieces and the browned flour that is left over from the frying, mixed with the soup is part of the secret of the creamy sauce.
Why is IKEA famous for its Swedish Meatballs?
IKEA was founded by Ingvar Kamprad in 1953 and came to life as a mail-order catalog business in the forested town of Älmhult, Sweden.
So it stands to reason that at an IKEA store restaurant, they would serve a dish that is one of Sweden’s most famous. I personally am not a fan of IKEA Meatballs. I think mine are much better!
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Created by Lynn Vogeler, Small House Kitchen is a celebration of the joy found in mostly from-scratch cooking and the magic that happens when great ingredients meet limitless imagination. In our small house, we turn simple ingredients into extraordinary meals with big flavors.
You can find out about all of my other passions; decorating, entertaining, organizing, and gardening over at livinglargeinasmallhouse.com
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This sounds delicious!