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Overhead view of swedish meatballs in a skillet with a wooden spoon.
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4.78 from 31 votes

Swedish Meatballs

Make Creamy Swedish Meatballs at home with a simple beef-and-pork blend, warm spices, and a rich gravy. This easy recipe tastes even better than IKEA!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Scandavian
Total Cost: $5.92 recipe / $1.48 serving
Servings: 4 servings (4 meatballs each)
Calories: 550kcal
Author: Melissa Nolan

Equipment

  • Dutch Oven or Large Skillet

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • ¼ cup plain breadcrumbs 35g, $0.08*
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg $0.02
  • ¼ tsp allspice $0.02
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder $0.02
  • ½ tsp salt $0.02
  • 1 lb. ground beef and pork blend 16 oz., $3.97**
  • ½ yellow onion grated (80g, ⅓ cup) $0.20
  • 1 large egg lightly whisked, $0.16
  • 1 Tbsp vegetable oil $0.04

Cream Sauce

  • 3 Tbsp butter $0.34
  • 4 Tbsp all-purpose flour 40g, $0.02
  • 2 cups beef broth $0.26***
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce $0.02
  • ¼ tsp black pepper freshly cracked, $0.04
  • ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg $0.01
  • ⅓ cup heavy cream 2.67 oz., $0.44****
  • 1 Tbsp fresh parsley chopped, $0.26

Instructions

  • Gather and prepare all ingredients.
  • To make the meatballs, in a medium bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, ¼ tsp nutmeg, allspice, garlic powder, and salt.
  • Meanwhile, add the beef and pork blend and grated onions to a large bowl. Lightly whisk the egg, then add it to the bowl with the meat. Lastly, add the breadcrumb mixture.
  • Use your hands to mix the meat and seasonings until evenly combined, but avoid overmixing.
  • Evenly divide and shape the meat mixture into 16 meatballs, about 1.5 Tbsp each (1.4 oz, 40g), packing tightly.
  • Add the vegetable oil to a large skillet and heat over medium. Once hot, carefully add the meatballs. Cook for three minutes on each side, or until well browned. The meatballs do not need to be cooked through at this point. Remove the browned meatballs from the skillet and set aside. (My pan was large enough to cook all the meatballs at one time. Make sure not to overcrowd the pan and work in batches if necessary.)
  • Add the butter and the flour to the skillet. Whisk the butter and flour together as the butter melts. Cook the butter and flour mixture for about two minutes.
  • Slowly whisk in the beef broth, making sure to release all of the browned bits off the bottom of the skillet. Allow the broth to come up to a simmer, at which point it will thicken, 3-5 minutes.
  • Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, pepper, nutmeg, and heavy cream. Taste the cream sauce and adjust the salt or seasonings to your liking.
  • Return the meatballs to the skillet and stir to coat in the sauce. Heat the meatballs over low, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 5 minutes.
  • Garnish with fresh parsley and enjoy.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

*I kept it simple with plain breadcrumbs, but you can also use panko or Italian breadcrumbs for additional flavor. Or make your own homemade breadcrumbs!
**I used the beef and pork blend because it’s so budget-friendly. You can also use 1/2 lb. ground beef and 1/2 lb. ground pork.
***I like to use Better Than Bouillon to make broths to keep costs low. I used 2 tsp of bouillon and 2 cups of water.
****You technically don’t have to use heavy cream to make the sauce, but it does give it that rich velvety texture and flavor. You could also use whole milk or half-and-half. Just make sure the sauce doesn’t boil, or it might curdle.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 550kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 44g | Sodium: 974mg | Fiber: 1g