Swedish Meatball Recipe

• servings: 33 servings
• active time: 25 minutes
• total time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil (divided in half)

½ cup yellow onion (finely diced)

2 cloves garlic (minced)

½ cup panko breadcrumbs

¼ cup Parmesan cheese

1 large egg (whisked)

1/3 cup milk

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon oregano

¼ teaspoon ground allspice

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

¼ teaspoon pepper

¾ lb. ground beef (80% lean)

½ lb. ground pork

4 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons flour

2 cups beef broth

1 cube chicken bouillon (see notes)

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (can sub mustard powder)

1 teaspoon dried parsley

½ cup sour cream (at room temperature)

Directions

Heat ½ of the olive oil in a large, high-walled skillet over medium heat. Add the finely diced onions and garlic. Soften for 5 minutes. Set aside and let cool.

In a large bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, whisked egg, milk, cooled onions/garlic, salt, oregano, allspice, nutmeg, and pepper. Gently incorporate the meat until evenly combined, but without overworking it (otherwise the meatballs will be tough instead of tender).

Roll into 1 ½-inch meatballs and place on a plate. (A small cookie scoop makes it easier to roll balls of uniform size.) Transfer to the fridge and let them chill for 15 minutes, or up to overnight. Cover if chilling overnight.

While the meatballs chill, combine the beef broth, chicken bouillon, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon, and parsley in a large measuring cup with a spout. Set aside.

Heat remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Brown the meatballs in batches, leave plenty of room around each so that you can easily rotate them with a spoon to brown on all sides. Brown for about 1 minute per side. Remove and set aside. Add additional oil and/or decrease heat slightly as needed throughout cooking.

Melt the butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Use a silicone spatula to “clean” the bottom of the skillet. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes, stirring continuously, until it begins to brown.

Add the beef broth mixture in small splashes, stirring continuously. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.

Place the sour cream in a medium bowl. Spoon some of the sauce into the bowl (about ¼ cup), and stir until well-combined. Stir it into the sauce over low heat until incorporated.

Add the meatballs back to the skillet along with any juices from the plate. Spoon the sauce on top. Allow them to heat through over low heat for 10-15 minutes (or until cooked through), partially covered. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve over mashed potatoes or egg noodles.

Notes

Make Ahead Method

Roll out the meatballs, cover, and refrigerate for up to 2 days prior to serving, then follow recipe as outlined.

Tips

The chicken bouillon in the sauce adds depth of flavorand contrasts nicely with the beef broth. Beef bouillon can be used instead if needed.

Use full-fat sour cream to ensure that it doesn’t curdle.

Heavy cream can be used instead of sour cream if preferred.

Any combination of ground beef, pork, and veal can be used in this recipe.

1 + 1/4 lbs. of meat is perfect for fitting in a 12-inch, high-walled skillet.

Nutrition

• Calories: 75 kcal
• Total Fat: 5 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2.4 g
• Trans Fat: 0.1 g
• Cholesterol: 23 mg
• Sodium: 177 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 2 g
• Dietary Fiber: 0.1 g
• Total Sugars: 0.5 g
• Protein: 4 g