The Simple Dinner Edit Now Available
The Simple Dinner Edit Now Available
The Simple Dinner Edit Now Available
The Simple Dinner Edit Now Available
The Simple Dinner Edit Now Available
The Simple Dinner Edit Now Available
Simple Home Edit Logo

Swedish Meatballs

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Swedish Meatballs

Swedish Meatballs are traditionally made with allspice and/or nutmeg, but I chose to omit them to make this recipe the ultimate kid-friendly, family crowd-pleaser. I promise you won’t miss the spices here! This is a go-to dinner at our place. Simple meatballs are made incredibly soft with a secret ingredient (milk!), then covered in a rich, creamy gravy and served with pasta or mashed potato. It’s a deceptively easy recipe to make, with hardly any chopping, making it perfect for a fast, delicious weeknight dinner. The meatballs can even be made in advance and stored in your freezer until you need them. I like to add a fresh cucumber salad and a dollop of cranberry sauce for contrast against the creamy richness of the gravy.

Can you make Swedish Meatballs ahead of time?

Yes, you can refrigerate pre-made, uncooked meatballs in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Pre-made Swedish Meatballs can be frozen for up to 3 months. Store the meatballs with baking (parchment) paper in between the layers to stop the meatballs sticking. Thaw completely overnight in the fridge before use. Cook as per the recipe.

Are Swedish Meatballs suitable for leftovers?

Swedish Meatballs can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave. Not suitable to freeze.

Swedish Meatballs

Swedish Meatballs

Author: Nicole
4.9 from 9 votes
“Absolutely delicious, super easy and a crowd pleaser for all the picky eaters I know!”
Share Print
Add to Shopping List
My Swedish Meatballs recipe is made without using the traditional spices, so it's super kid-friendly. The meatballs are made with minced (ground) pork and veal, then cooked in a mild, creamy gravy flavoured with beef stock powder (bouillon). With hardly any any chopping involved, you can have these tender meatballs on the table in under 25 minutes. I pair them with a cucumber salad and creamy mashed potato and a little cranberry sauce.
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 14 minutes
Total 24 minutes
Servings: 4 (makes approx 20 meatballs)

Ingredients

MEATBALLS
  • 500 g (1 lb) combined minced (ground) pork and veal (substitute with beef or use all pork)
  • 1 large onion, grated
  • 100 g (3½ oz) breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • ½ tsp sea salt flakes
  • 1 tbsp milk
SAUCE
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp plain (all-purpos)e flour
  • 500 ml (2 cups) water
  • 1 tsp beef stock powder (bouillon)
  • 125 ml (½ cup) thin (pouring) cream or thickened (heavy) cream
CUCUMBER SALAD
  • 2 cucumbers, sliced
  • 1½ tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh dill
  • 1 tsp sea salt flakes
TO SERVE

Instructions

  • Add the meatball ingredients to a large bowl and use your hands to combine. Roll the mixture into meatballs, slightly smaller than a golf ball.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium–high heat. Cook the meatballs, turning frequently, for 2–3 minutes until browned. Remove them from the pan and set aside (they will still be raw on the inside).
  • Turn the heat down to medium and add the butter to the same pan.
  • Once the butter is melted, add the flour. Use a whisk to stir for 1 minute. Once a paste is formed, add the water and stock powder. Continue whisking until the sauce begins to thicken (it will be very thin, like water initially). Return the meatballs to the sauce and cook for 8 minutes.
  • Add the cream and cook for a further 2 minutes.
  • To make the cucumber salad, combine the ingredients in a bowl.
  • Garnish the meatballs with the chives and serve with pasta or mashed potato, cucumber salad and cranberry sauce.

Nutrition information

Nutrition Facts
Swedish Meatballs
Amount per Serving
Calories
718
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
53
g
82
%
Saturated Fat
 
23
g
144
%
Trans Fat
 
0.3
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
4
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
21
g
Cholesterol
 
187
mg
62
%
Sodium
 
1308
mg
57
%
Potassium
 
741
mg
21
%
Carbohydrates
 
31
g
10
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
7
g
8
%
Protein
 
29
g
58
%
Vitamin A
 
988
IU
20
%
Vitamin C
 
8
mg
10
%
Calcium
 
136
mg
14
%
Iron
 
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Disclaimer re gluten-free and dairy-free recipes

Recipe notes

Note 1 – Traditionally, lingonberry jam is served with Swedish Meatballs. Cranberry sauce is the perfect substitute, accessible at most major supermarkets. It is tangy and sweet and pairs perfectly with the creamy sauce. 

MAKE AHEAD

Refrigerate pre-made, uncooked meatballs for up to 3 days in an airtight container, or freeze for up to 3 months. Store the meatballs with baking (parchment) paper in between the layers to stop the meatballs sticking. Thaw completely overnight in the fridge before use. Cook as per the recipe. 

LEFTOVERS

Refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Reheat in the microwave. Not suitable to freeze.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!
Course entrees, Main Course
Cuisine European, swedish

  1. 5 stars
    Such an easy and yummy recipe. Thank you so much for sharing

    • Hi Ruth, so glad you enjoyed it! Nic x

  2. 5 stars
    I am a big fan of your recipes! We are an Indian German family living in the Netherlands with a toddler. It has become challenging to find food we all eat. Our son who prefers pasta and pizza over everything else actually didnt even blink when I served him these meatballs. I did use liquid beef stock and added some wourceister sauce and mustard to the sauce and some garlic powder to the meatballs, but it turned out delicious. The meatballs were melting in your mouth, just as promised 🙂 Thank you!

  3. 4 stars
    Tried this recipe tonight. It was very nice however a better quality stock powder may have made it even better. Was going to use the stock powder you have listed in ingredients however they didn’t have it in stock at my local supermarket.

  4. Quick question – is it 500g of each for the meat or 500g total? Thanks 🙂

    • 5 stars
      I’d say Total, 500g made me approx 20 meatballs!

  5. 5 stars
    Great recipe. Whole family loves it

  6. 5 stars
    This was super easy and very tasty. My kids and husband really enjoyed this meal and I was able to prep it all earlier in the day and just quickly cook it at dinner time.

    • So fantastic to hear – You’ve reminded me to add this one to an upcoming meal plan! x

  7. 5 stars
    Absolutely delicious, super easy and a crowd pleaser for all the picky eaters I know!

    • You’ve reminded me to make this again soon! So glad you guys love it! 😍

  8. 5 stars
    Our families FAVOURITE! This recipe is easy and delicious, thank you!

    • Ahh this is so wonderful to hear Lisa! 😍 I am so glad you love it as much as we do! Nic x

  9. 5 stars
    This is regularly cooked for our family and is a winner.

    • Wonderful to hear – Thank you so much! x

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Disclaimer re gluten-free and dairy-free recipes 

For recipes labelled ‘gluten-free’ or ‘dairy-free’, the ingredients included in the recipe are typically gluten- or dairy-free. However, it is the user’s responsibility to carefully check the ingredient panels on the specific brands of products purchased and used. Simple Home Edit cannot be held responsible for any adverse reactions.