Tender homemade Swedish meatballs are seared and smothered in a creamy gravy sauce and taste so much better than IKEA Swedish meatballs! It's a delicious, flavourful, and comforting meal that you can make in just 30 minutes. Serve these meatballs on their own as an appetizer on game day or as dinner over creamy mashed potatoes, rice or noodles with a generous drizzle of gravy on top. Make a big batch and freeze any extras for another day because these are seriously crave-worthy and so delicious.
When I can't think of what to make on a busy weeknight, meatballs always come to mind because they are quick, easy and delicious. Plus, you can customize meatballs in an endless variety of ways. Some of my other favourites are Sticky Honey Garlic Meatballs, Baked Turkey Meatballs, and Spaghetti and Meatballs.
Ingredients in Swedish Meatballs
To make creamy Swedish meatballs, you will need the following ingredients:
- ground beef - you can also use a combination of ground beef and ground pork.
- breadcrumbs
- egg
- milk
- onion
- parsley
- seasonings - garlic powder, and ground all-spice powder, and salt and pepper.
For the cream sauce, you will need:
- butter
- olive oil
- all-purpose flour
- beef broth
- heavy cream - or you can use sour cream.
- dijon mustard
- Worcestershire sauce
- salt and pepper
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowl, and a large skillet or shallow saucepan.
How to Make the Best Swedish Meatballs
- Prepare the meatballs. In a large mixing bowl, stir well to combine ground beef with breadcrumbs, egg, milk, onion, parsley, garlic powder, all-spice, salt and pepper. Mix well to form a uniform consistency. Take 2 spoonfuls of the beef mixture at a time and roll into meatballs. Set aside and lightly coat with some oil to keep them from sticking, if needed.
- Cook the meatballs. In a large skillet, heat butter over medium high heat for 2 minutes until the melted butter sizzles. Add meatballs and cook until browned on all sides, about 7-8 minutes. Make sure to stir gently to prevent the meatballs from disintegrating. Set aside on a plate.
How to Cook Swedish Meatballs in the Air Fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 375 F, about 3 minutes. Place meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking oil to coat evenly. Air fry the meatballs for 12-14 minutes until browned and the center of the meatball reaches 160 F as read on a meat thermometer. Shake the basket halfway during cooking to brown evenly.
- Make the creamy gravy sauce. In the same skillet, add olive oil and heat over medium-high heat for one minute. Stir in the flour, it should start to bubble and thicken. Whisk in beef broth and heavy cream. Keep stirring to combine until uniform and thickened, about 1 minute. Stir in dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce and season with salt and pepper.
- Toss in the meatballs. Add the meatballs into the skillet and toss well to coat. Cover the lid and cook over medium-heat until meatballs are cooked through, about 5 more minutes. Then continue to stir the cream sauce until thickened to a desired consistency, about 2 minutes.
- Serve. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately as an appetizer on it's own or over a bowl of mashed potatoes, cooked pasta, or rice.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
- How to store: Store Swedish meatballs in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply reheat in a shallow saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through (or in the microwave). You may need to add a little water if the sauce thickened up too much in the refrigerator.
- How to freeze: You can freeze uncooked Swedish meatballs by placing them on a large half sheet baking pan lined with parchment paper. Then transfer to the freezer and freeze until hard, about 1 hour. Then transfer the meatballs to a freezer bag or freezer-safe airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can also freeze cooked meatballs (before making and tossing into the sauce) in the same way, although I would recommend not cooking them first as you want to use all the meatball juices to flavour the sauce.
- How to use from frozen: Allow the meatballs to thaw overnight in the refrigerator first, then cook as per recipe instructions on the stove.
More Ground Beef Recipes
- Ground Beef Meat Pie
- Beef Potstickers (Dumplings)
- Easy Meat Lasagna
- Sheet Pan Nachos
- Beef Cabbage Barley Soup
- Classic Juicy Hamburgers
- Spaghetti Bolognese
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Swedish Meatballs
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 15 meatballs
Description
Delicious, comforting homemade Swedish meatballs are seared and smothered in a creamy gravy sauce and taste so much better than IKEA meatballs.
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
- 1 lb. ground beef
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup milk
- ⅓ cup onion, finely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground all-spice powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
For the Cream Sauce:
- ¼ cup butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup heavy cream (or sour cream)
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, stir well to combine ground beef with breadcrumbs, egg, milk, onion, parsley, garlic powder, all-spice, salt and pepper. Mix well to form a uniform consistency.
- Take 2 spoonfuls of the beef mixture at a time and roll into meatballs. Set aside and lightly coat with some oil to keep them from sticking, if needed.
- In a large skillet, heat butter over medium high heat for 2 minutes until the melted butter sizzles. Add meatballs and cook until browned on all sides, about 7-8 minutes. Make sure to stir gently to prevent the meatballs from disintegrating. Set aside on a plate.
- In the same skillet, add olive oil and heat over medium-high heat for one minute. Stir in the flour, it should start to bubble and thicken. Whisk in beef broth and heavy cream. Keep stirring to combine until uniform and thickened, about 1 minute. Stir in dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce and season with salt and pepper.
- Add the meatballs into the skillet and toss well to coat. Cover the lid and cook over medium-heat until meatballs are cooked through, about 5 more minutes. Then continue to stir the cream sauce until thickened to a desired consistency, about 2 minutes.
- Garnish with parsley and serve immediately over a bowl of mashed potatoes, cooked pasta, or rice.
Notes
Air fryer instructions: Preheat the air fryer to 375 F, about 3 minutes. Place meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking oil to coat evenly. Air fry the meatballs for 12-14 minutes until browned and the center of the meatball reaches 160 F as read on a meat thermometer. Shake the basket halfway during cooking to brown.
How to store: Store Swedish meatballs in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply reheat in a shallow saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through (or in the microwave). You may need to add a little water if the sauce thickened up too much in the refrigerator.
How to freeze: You can freeze uncooked Swedish meatballs by placing them on a large half sheet baking pan lined with parchment paper. Then transfer to the freezer and freeze until hard, about 1 hour. Then transfer the meatballs to a freezer bag or freezer-safe airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can also freeze cooked meatballs (before making and tossing into the sauce) in the same way, although I would recommend not cooking them first as you want to use all the meatball juices to flavour the sauce.
How to use from frozen: Allow the meatballs to thaw overnight in the refrigerator first, then cook as per recipe instructions on the stove.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Beef
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Swedish
Leisha says
Absolutely delicious! My husband said the sauce tastes like something you’d order at a fine restaurant. Cooked with sautéed mushrooms and onions, and fingerling potatoes. Will be making again!
Renee W. says
This was an excellent way to use the ground beef that had to be cooked. My husband absolutely loved it. No doubt, I will totally make this again!
Rob Oliver says
Absolutely delicious. My family is already asking me to make it again. I added a little more Dijon, Worcestershire, and sour cream for a bit more punch.
Deanna Arneson says
Did I miss when to add the butter to the cream sauce?
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
It's in step 3 of the recipe in the recipe card. The butter is used to cook the meatballs.
Deanna says
Oh Ok thanks. The butter is listed in the ingredients for the sauce so that was confusing. Other than that it was a good recipe. Thanks!
LM says
This was an instant family favourite! Served over rice with cauliflower on the side. I sautéed mushrooms in the butter before cooking the meatballs. Yum!
Katarina Sjögren says
If you want it truly swedish: Let breadcrum + water/milk rest for 15 mins before adding the rest (make the balls fluffier) . Let finely chopped onion caramelize in a pan for 15 mins before adding it. Serve with boiled potato, cranbarriesauce (or lingonberriejam) and pickled cuecomber for the real swedish taste. Having said that - this recepie is still great! //Katarina from Stockholm Sweden (and sorry for my poor english)
Maureen says
Thank you for the information, there are many recipes claiming to be Swedish but other people comment that the seasoning is wrong without further information.