Swedish Meatballs | Kidco Kitchen (2024)

Swedish Meatballs | Kidco Kitchen (1)

Swedish Meatballs | Kidco Kitchen (2)Swedish Meatballs | Kidco Kitchen (3)

Fork Facts:

For many of us, Swedish Meatballs are only something we get to experience on our annual trip to IKEA. Believe it or not, this homemade version blows IKEA’s out of the water. Did you know that Swedish meatballs may actually have not originated in Sweden? According to the official Twitter page of the country, Swedish meatballs actually originated in Turkey! What we now know as Swedish meatballs are based on a recipe that King Charles XII brought home from Turkey in the early 18th century. One component of the famous dish actually does originate in Sweden — the lingonberry jam. While the berries are not unique to the country, Sweden has a generous amount of wild Lingonberries. These berries have a taste not much different than cranberries; somehow they are sweet, sour and tart all at once. While the origin of Swedish meatballs may be up for debate, there is one thing we know for certain … they’re delicious!

Swedish Meatballs | Kidco Kitchen (5)

SERVES: 6 portions

RECIPE TIME: 50 - 60 Minutes

Palate Profile

Swedish meatballs are a wonderfully satisfying food this time of year. They’re rich in flavour and warm — the ultimate comfort food. While traditional Italian meatballs are often served in a tangy, thick tomato sauce, Swedish meatballs have an entirely different flavour profile. Swedish meatballs are slightly smaller than traditional meatballs — think the size of a golf ball — so that they can be easily picked up by a toothpick and popped into your mouth. As for the sauce, Swedish meatballs are cooked in a rich, creamy gravy that is most often created from bone broth and cream.

Additional Tips:

  • If you’re looking to serve these meatballs as an appetizer at your next Holiday party, place them on a large serving plate and stick a toothpick in each one! Garnish the plate with parsley for some added colour and flavour.
  • Traditional Swedish meatballs are often made with a mixture of both pork and beef. If you’re feeling experimental, try this recipe with 1lb of ground beef and 1lb ground pork!
  • In Sweden, these meatballs are often served with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam. If you can’t find lingonberry jam on this side of the pond, you can substitute it with raspberry jam or red currant jelly.
  • If your family loves these meatballs, but you don’t always have time to make them between swimming lessons and hockey practice, you can double or even triple the recipe. Freeze the extra cooked meatballs and save them for busy days!

What you need:

  • ½ Cup Bread Crumbs
  • 2 lbs Ground Beef
  • 2 Egg
  • 2 Tbsp Minced Garlic
  • 1 Tbsp Veggie Oil
  • 1 Cup Diced Onion
  • 1 Cup Diced Celery
  • 1 Tbsp Butter
  • ¼ Cup Flour
  • 1 Cup Milk
  • 2 Cup Veggie Stock

What to do:

  1. Make sure to wash your hands before you begin.
  2. Preheat oven to 350F.
  3. In a medium bowl mix together bread crumbs, ½ the garlic, ground beef and eggs.
  4. Roll meat into small golf ball sized meatballs. Place about 1 inch apart on a parchment lined baking dish.
  5. Bake for 15 minutes then turn them over and continue baking for another 5-10 minutes, or until somewhat crispy on the outside.
  6. In a large skillet heat veggie oil over medium heat. Add onions, celery and garlic and cook until translucent, set aside.
  7. Melt butter in pan. Add flour, whisking for 1 minute gradually adding milk and broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until sauce thickens.
  8. Add all remaining ingredients and simmer sauce for 10 minutes.
  9. Serve immediately, enjoy!
Swedish Meatballs | Kidco Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What is the sauce for Swedish meatballs made from? ›

The sauce for Swedish Meatballs is a creamy gravy that is made with butter, beef broth/stock, thickened with flour and made creamy with cream. But the most important flavour for the a really good creamy gravy is the pan drippings after searing the meatballs.

How many meatballs is enough? ›

If you're planning to buy ready made, I'd go with at least 3 per person. Maybe 4 if you have a lot of big eaters. Plus the longer meatballs simmer in sauce the better they taste. And they can be frozen,sauce and all.

Why are my Swedish meatballs falling apart? ›

ANSWER: Usually when meatballs fall apart, it's the binder that is the problem. Most meatball recipes call for using bread crumbs and eggs. But too much bread crumbs make them too loose, and not enough bread crumbs won't help them hold together either.

What makes Swedish meatballs different from regular meatballs? ›

While both varieties include ingredients such as grated onion and panade (milk-soaked bread) or bread crumbs, plus the usual salt and pepper, Swedish meatballs traditionally use spices like allspice, nutmeg, white pepper, and sometimes ground ginger as flavoring.

Why is my Swedish meatball sauce not thickening? ›

How to Thicken Swedish Meatball Sauce. The all-purpose flour in this recipe should do the trick to thicken your Swedish meatball sauce to the right consistency. But if it doesn't, you can add a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon of cornstarch to 2 tablespoons of water) to thicken it up.

Why do Swedish meatballs taste so good? ›

The pork in the meatballs lends saltiness and moisture while the beef is where that hardy flavor and uniform texture comes from. Following that are onions, water, egg, salt, pepper, allspice, and potato starch - and the last two are those 'secret' ingredients.

Is it better to bake meatballs at 350 or 400? ›

For 1-2 inches of beef, pork, or turkey meatballs without any pre-cooking, use these guidelines for your wall oven:
  • 350°F wall oven:
  • 8–14 minutes for 1-inch meatballs.
  • 14–18 minutes for 2-inch meatballs.
  • 400°F wall oven:
  • 6–10 minutes for 1-inch meatballs.
  • 10–14 minutes for 2-inch meatballs.
  • 425°F wall oven:
Aug 16, 2023

Is it OK to eat meatballs everyday? ›

Meatballs are often high in sodium and fat, but they are also a good source of protein. Choose meatballs made with leaner meats or eat them in moderation.

How many meatballs for 4 people? ›

If you are making 1-ounce meatballs for a main course you should make 6 meatballs per person. If you have some big eaters at the party I suggest making 6-10 bite sized meatballs per person. As you can see, the number of meatballs you need depends on their size.

Should I roll my meatballs in flour before baking? ›

A traditional size for this sort of meatball is 2 to 3 inches across, but you can make them any size you want. Once you roll the meatball in your hands, roll it in the flour to give it a good coating. Set each one on a baking sheet as you work.

Do meatballs get more tender the longer they cook in sauce? ›

The longer the simmer, the more tender and succulent the meatballs become. 3. Concentration of Flavors: Simmering at a low temperature for an extended period also encourages the sauce to reduce and thicken.

What not to do when making meatballs? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Meatballs
  1. Not seasoning the meat.
  2. Not adding any moisture to the meat.
  3. Over-mixing the meat.
  4. Not shaping the meatballs correctly.
  5. Not forming evenly-sized meatballs.
May 1, 2019

What can you use instead of breadcrumbs in Swedish meatballs? ›

I have done them with panko, crusty bread, crushed Ritz crackers, and once a few packages of Cheese sandwich crackers because I didn't have anything else that night. All of them add different characteristics to the end product but all came out good and unique. Try both and see how you like it.

What is Ikea meatball sauce made of? ›

Iconic Swedish cream sauce: Melt 40g of butter in a pan. Whisk in 40g of plain flour and stir for 2 mins. Add 300ml of bouillon (or consommé) and continue to stir. Add 150ml double cream, 2 tsp of soy sauce and 1 tsp of (Dijon) mustard.

Do Swedish meatballs contain sour cream? ›

It's All About the Sauce

Flavored with nutmeg and cardamom, these little beef-and-pork meatballs are best served with a Swedish meatball sauce—a rich roux-based and beef stock gravy, spiked with sour cream and a little lingonberry jelly.

What is served with Swedish meatballs? ›

Swedish meatballs are quite small, at most about an inch in diameter. As mentioned above, They are usually served in a creamy gravy with lingonberry jam or Lingonberry Sauce and Fresh Pickled Cucumbers. Swedish meatballs are usually served on top of mashed potatoes or buttered egg noodles. Both are delicious!

Where did the recipe for Swedish meatballs come from? ›

Last week, Sweden's official Twitter account tweeted out a brief but momentous statement: “Swedish meatballs are actually based on a recipe King Charles XII brought home from Turkey in the early 18th century.

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