Description
Swedish Meatballs are a classic comfort food featuring tender meatballs made from a blend of ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and spices, simmered in a rich, creamy gravy made from beef broth and heavy cream. Perfect for a hearty family dinner, this recipe combines simple ingredients and straightforward steps to deliver a warm, satisfying meal in about 40 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Gravy
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Prepare the meatball mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, finely chopped onion, egg, salt, black pepper, and ground nutmeg. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Form the meatballs: Shape the mixture into small, evenly sized meatballs to ensure they cook uniformly.
- Brown the meatballs: Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook them until they are browned on all sides, which helps develop flavor and texture. Remove the browned meatballs from the skillet and set aside.
- Make the roux for gravy: In the same skillet, add the flour to the remaining butter and stir constantly for about one minute. This will cook out the raw flour taste and start thickening the sauce.
- Add liquids and simmer: Slowly pour in the beef broth while stirring continuously to avoid lumps. Next, add the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, allowing it to thicken into a creamy gravy.
- Cook the meatballs in gravy: Return the browned meatballs to the skillet with the gravy. Simmer them for about 10 minutes, ensuring they are cooked through and have absorbed the flavors of the sauce.
- Serve hot: Once the meatballs are fully cooked and the gravy has thickened, serve immediately for a comforting and delicious meal.
Notes
- You can swap ground beef with a mix of beef and pork for a richer flavor.
- To keep meatballs tender, avoid overmixing the meat mixture.
- Serve Swedish meatballs over egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or rice for a complete meal.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- For a gluten-free version, replace breadcrumbs and flour with gluten-free alternatives.
