Swedish Meatballs
These tender, savory meatballs smothered in a rich, creamy gravy are the ultimate comfort food classic.
Ingredients
- •1/2 lb (225g) ground beef
- •1/2 lb (225g) ground pork
- •1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- •1/4 cup whole milk
- •1/4 cup finely minced yellow onion
- •1 clove garlic, minced
- •1 large egg
- •1/2 tsp ground allspice
- •1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- •1 tsp kosher salt
- •1/2 tsp black pepper
- •2 tbsp unsalted butter
- •2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- •1 1/2 cups beef broth
- •1/2 cup heavy cream
- •1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- 1
In a small bowl, soak the panko breadcrumbs in the milk for 5 minutes until softened.
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, onion, garlic, egg, soaked breadcrumbs, allspice, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Mix gently by hand until just combined.
- 3
Roll the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place them on a plate.
- 4
Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs in batches and brown them on all sides, about 6-8 minutes. Remove meatballs from the pan and set aside.
- 5
In the same skillet, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute until golden.
- 6
Gradually whisk in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- 7
Simmer the sauce for 3 minutes until it begins to thicken, then stir in the heavy cream.
- 8
Return the meatballs to the skillet and simmer gently for 5-7 minutes, or until the sauce is creamy and the meatballs are cooked through.
💡 Chef tips
- For a deeper flavor, use a mix of beef and pork; the pork adds essential fat that keeps the meatballs moist.
- If you prefer a darker sauce, add a teaspoon of soy sauce to the gravy for color and umami.
- These meatballs freeze beautifully; store them in the sauce in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
✅ How it should turn out
The finished dish should feature tender, aromatic meatballs coated in a velvety, mahogany-colored gravy that tastes deeply savory with a subtle hint of warm spice.