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This Swedish meatball recipe is a top favorite recipe on the site for a reason! Juicy meatballs, rich creamy gravy, and SO MUCH FLAVOR! They’re easy to make and, in my opinion, way better than IKEA’s.
Reasons This Recipe is the BEST!
- Fan Favorite: With 400+ five-star reviews, these meatballs are actually the best.
- Creamy Sauce: The secret lies in the sauce. It’s rich, creamy, and full of flavor thanks to classic spices. You will be licking the spoon, I promise.
- Better than IKEA: Ever had IKEA Swedish Meatballs? These ones are so easy and WAY better!
A Reader’s Review
This is my absolute favorite Swedish meatball recipe. The flavor is mouthwatering. Thank you for sharing this with us!
-Renee
Ingredients in Swedish Meatballs
- Use lean ground beef: It helps keep the meatballs tender without making them greasy.
- Spices: Trust me, nutmeg and allspice are what make these Swedish meatballs special. Don’t skip them if you want that authentic flavor.
- No Panko Breadcrumbs? No Problem: If you’re out of breadcrumbs, make a panade by blending two pieces of bread into crumbs and mixing with 1/4 cup of milk to form a paste. Add an egg, mix it all up, and you’ll get the same great texture in your meatballs.
- Go for low-sodium beef broth: This keeps the creamy gravy from turning too salty and gives you more control over the final flavor.
How to Make Swedish Meatballs
These will come together quickly and cook in about 30 minutes total, so dinner is fast and easy! I have a few variations of this recipe you have to try! Swedish meatball casserole, soup, and slow cooker method!
- Combine: In a medium-sized bowl, combine ground beef, panko, parsley, allspice, nutmeg, onion, garlic powder, pepper, salt, and egg. Mix until combined.
- Roll Meatballs: Roll into 12 large meatballs or 20 small meatballs.
- Cook: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter. Add the meatballs and cook for 7-8 minutes, turning continuously until brown on each side and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil.
- Make the sauce: Add 4 Tablespoons butter and flour to the skillet and whisk until it turns brown.
- Whisk: Slowly stir in beef broth and heavy cream, and whisk to combine.
- Add meatballs and simmer: Add Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard, and bring to a simmer until the sauce starts to thicken. Salt and pepper to taste. Add the meatballs back to the skillet and simmer for another 1-2 minutes. Serve over egg noodles or mashed potatoes.
All Things Swedish Meatballs
I know how much you love my Swedish meatballs! I’ve rounded up every version of a Swedish meatball recipe that I have on my site, from quick and easy to homemade favorites! You can find them all in one place!
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Swedish Meatballs
Tender, flavorful Swedish meatballs that simmer in a rich, creamy sauce are pure comfort food! They're easy to make and impossible to resist.
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ cup onion, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
Sauce
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine 1 pound ground beef, 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs, 1 tablespoon parsley, 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ cup onion, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ⅛ teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon salt, and 1 egg. Mix until combined.
- Roll into 12 large meatballs or 20 small meatballs. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter. Add the meatballs and cook for 7-8 minutes, turning continuously until brown on each side and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil.
- Add 4 tablespoons butter and 3 tablespoons flour to the skillet and whisk until it turns brown. Slowly stir in 2 cups beef broth and 1 cup heavy cream. Add 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce and 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard and bring to a simmer until the sauce starts to thicken. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the meatballs back to the skillet and simmer for another 1-2 minutes. Serve over egg noodles or mashed potatoes.
Video
Notes
Can You Freeze Swedish Meatballs?
- Freezing Cooked Meatballs: Let them cool, then freeze them on a baking sheet until solid (2–4 hours). Transfer to a freezer bag or an airtight container. They’ll keep up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave or warm them up in the sauce.
- Skip Freezing the Sauce: Creamy sauces don’t freeze well—they can separate. For best results, make the gravy fresh when you’re ready to serve.
Nutrition
Calories: 499kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 17gFat: 43gSaturated Fat: 22gCholesterol: 162mgSodium: 712mgPotassium: 327mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 987IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 59mgIron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!
More Yummy Meatball Recipes
HI…TY ..GREAT WE LOVED MY HUN WANTED THIS FOR FATHERS DAY….IT WAS GREAT!
I made these tonight but substituted ground pork for the ground beef as we prefer pork to beef.They were delicious.Didn’t have any allspice so added extra nutmeg.Still came out great served them with egg noodles but will serve the leftovers with mashed potatoes.The only reason we had leftovers is because there is just the two of us.Thanks for a great recipe!
Actually, I should have read further through comments. I see others have mentioned using frozen meatballs. I feel less guilty about asking the question. I occasionally see comment threads where someone has suggested a compromise that is received as a shocking assault on the integrity of a revered dish as if it were biblical in its offense.
Sometimes quick is just the rule of the day and “good enough” is the standard. Enjoyed the comments, and I’m looking forward to making this…perhaps tomorrow.
I apologize if this sounds sacrilegious, but…dont judge me…I’m curious if anyone has made this with frozen meatballs. I’m under no illusion that they would he as tasty, but I’m looking for a couple really quick meals, and my family likes a particular brand of frozen meatball, one we’ve used with several different quick preparations: spaghetti, meatball sandwiches, and a few combinations that probably shouldn’t exist in anyone’s repertoire of culinary efforts.
I love the sound of this sauce and serving them over egg noodles. I wonder if I cheat with the frozen meatballs on the front end if the sauce would still have a rich comfort feel to it.
Always looking for fast, feel-good favorites to get us all around the table between everyone’s hectic schedules.
They are amazing. My family does not like too many new thi gs and they went crazy for these. I am glad I doubled the recipe. This will be a fav that is requested alot. Thank you!
Thanks so much Alyssa for this delicious recipe. I had frozen Swedish meatballs from IKEA that I just needed a sauce to go with them and we love this recipe. It’s the best I’ve ever had! So savory and creamy! Looking forward to trying some of yours other recipes!
I plan to take this to a potluck dinner. Is it best to put the finished meatballs in a slow cooker on low with the sauce to transport? Keep meatballs and sauce separate? What do you advise?
Yes, I would transport with the sauce on low. Great idea! Everyone is going to love your meatballs!
Ove, love love it. My man is a gravy boy and he love this dish, with creamy mash.
I made these last night, everyone RAVED. So good, thank you for sharing. I will be honest I did use premade frozen meatballs from Costco to save time but that sauce is to die for. I have three teens at home so I was worried it wouldn’t be enough to feed five of us. I doubled the recipe and had plenty left over to freeze for another day.
Fabulous! Made this on a whim when my son said he felt like eating Swedish meatballs. Licked our plates clean. Thank you!
Try serving over Chow Mein noodles
I was happy to find that I already had all ingredients on hand. This was easy to make and delicious! I prepped the meatballs the night before and this was a quick weeknight dinner.
By far my favorite swedish meatball recipe. I’ve been using it ever since I found it! Always perfectly seasoned and deliciously tender meatballs, and the sauce, my goodness! You’d have to pay me to stop making this. I’ve tried the original recipe and one where I’ve swapped the Worcestershire sauce for a sauce called “Dave’s sauce” and both are great!
Awesome! I used low sodium beef broth and threw in a bit of fresh rosemary, paprika and substituted honey mustard for the dijon. Will be making again. So simple and good- thank you!
Oh god, not pasta or rice.
It’s either boiled potatoes or mashed potatoes.
I visited Ikea during a trip to Australia and realised most ill adviced people choose FRIES to go with meatballs, and skip Lingonberries to boot. Jesus. Just nooooo.
That’s like eating a pasta Carbonara with rice as a pasta substitution. Horrible. ???
YES it must be with potatoes
My favorite TV dinner is swedish meatballs so I decided to give it a try! I’m not the best cook, but this turned out amazing!! Great recipe! So long forever frozen TV dinners!