Best Swedish Meatballs

The best homemade Swedish meatballs, swimming in the most amazing creamy and rich gravy sauce! They are very hearty, tender and packed with fantastic flavors. They taste much better than the IKEA meatballs.  A must-try recipe for meatball lovers!

Check also my Swedish Meatballs Crockpot that can be made with frozen IKEA or homemade meatballs.

SWEDISH MEATBALLS IKEA

When my family have that Swedish meatball craving, we go to IKEA.  My kids are in love with their meatballs in a cream sauce and served with mashed potatoes.

Frankly speaking, whenever I like a dish, I always immediately try to find out how it is made.  I did it!!I am so proud to say my meatballs turned out to taste even better that IKEA version.

If Swedish meatballs are still in your bucket list, but you are looking for the best recipe, you should stop looking! This is the best fail-proof recipe for the Swedish meatballs. They will be a hit at potluck parties or family dinners.

HOW TO MAKE SWEDISH MEATBALLS

• Mix breadcrumbs together with milk and allow them to absorb the milk. Milk will make them juicy and tender.
• Add the cooked onion, peppers, ground beef and parsley. Mix for at least 5 minutes.
• Using a meatball baller, make 25 big or 16 large balls or roll the mixture into the balls with your hands.
• Melt butter, add vegetable oil, and fry meatballs until golden brown. You may need to fry them in batches if your skillet is small enough to accommodate all the meatballs. Transfer them to a large plate and cover with foil.

SWEDISH MEATBALL SAUCE RECIPE

I love to serve my Swedish meatballs with a rich roux-based gravy. I know it is not a traditional Swedish way but this gravy is absolutely terrific. Best of all it is very easy and quick. Takes only 5-10 minutes to make.

Method at glance.

• Don’t wash the skillet after frying the meatballs, keep the meat juices.
• Melt butter, whisk in all-purpose flour, stirring until the mixture is smooth and lumps free.
• Add the remaining ingredients and cook until well combined.

Notes: I used my own Kitchen Aid meat grinder attachment to grind meat, but if you don’t have a meat grinder, you can use a good food processor or purchase a ground meat.

In Sweden traditionally  they use a meat baller to form meatballs. It is really very handy and saves time a lot.

HOW TO MAKE SWEDISH MEATBALLS

Print Recipe

SWEDISH MEATBALLS

The best homemade Swedish meatballs, swimming in the most amazing creamy and rich gravy sauce! They are very hearty, tender and packed with fantastic flavors.

Author: Chefjar

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time45 minutes mins

Servings: 6

Calories: 145kcal

Ingredients

FOR THE SWEDISH MEATBALLS

• Panko breadcrumbs-⅓ cup
• Milk-½ cup
• Heavy cream- 2 tbsp.
• Medium egg- 1
• Garlic cloves finely chopped- 4
• Salt- ⅓ tsp.
• Ground black pepper- ¼ tsp.
• White pepper powder- ¼ tsp.
• All purpose seasoning- ½ tsp.
• Onion finely chopped & cooked until golden brown-1
• Ground beef- 800 gm /1.7 lbs
• Parsley finely chopped- 1 tbsp.
• Butter- 1 tbsp.
• Vegetable oil- 3 tbsp.

SWEDISH MEATBALL GRAVY

• Unsalted butter- 3 tbsp.
• All purpose flour- ¼ cup
• Beef/Chicken stock-1 ½ cups or 500 ml
• Heavy cream- 1 cup
• Soy sauce-1 tsp.
• Worcestershire sauce-1 tbsp.
• Salt - to taste
• Pepper- to taste

Equipment

• Electric Meat Grinder
• Meat Baller

Instructions

• Heat some oil in a pan, cook onion until golden brown.
• Mix milk together with cream, egg, Panko breadcrumbs, garlic, cooked onion, black pepper, white pepper, salt and all purpose spice mix. Allow the breadcrumbs absorb the milk.
• Add ground beef and chopped parsley. Mix to combine for at least 5 minutes .
• Roll meat into about 25 bite-sized small balls, or 17 large balls.
• In a large skillet melt 1 tbsp. of butter, add 2 tbsp. of vegetable oil and fry meatballs over medium high heat until cooked through or don’t simmer*. Transfer to plate and cover with foil.
• 
• In the same skillet melt the remaining 2 tbsp. butter, then whisk in the all-purpose flour until combined, lumps free and become brown in color.
• Stir in chicken/beef stock, cream, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a simmer, season with salt and pepper and cook until the sauce thickens a little bit.
• Return the meatballs back to skillet with gravy.
• Serve with Mashed potatoes, Jasmine rice , spaghetti or macaroni.
• Enjoy!
• 

Video

Notes

* For larger meatballs I usually add ¼ cup water once the meatballs are golden brown, cover the skillet with the lid and cook until they don't stew .
**Gluten free gravy. Use King Arthur all-purpose gluten free flour mix and substitute regular soy sauce for gluten free Tamari.

Nutrition

Serving: 100gm | Calories: 145kcal | Carbohydrates: 9.41g | Protein: 12.94g | Fat: 8.24g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 502mg | Fiber: 5.5g | Sugar: 0.78g

Course: Meatballs

Cuisine: Swedish

Keyword: ikea meatballs, meatballs, meatballs recipe, Swedish meatballs

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