I love Swedish Meatballs and these plump, juicy meatballs are the best!  It’s been a very long time since I’ve made them–probably a couple of decades. But when I saw this recipe a couple of weeks ago when I was looking for Christmas cookie ideas, I knew I had to make it. I sent my husband to the store to get a couple of ingredients I didn’t have on hand, and made this recipe that night for dinner!

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These Swedish Meatballs have a scrumptious taste since they include nutmeg in the meatball itself. Most of my Swedish Meatball recipes use ground pork, but this one uses only beef. I’m sure you could also use ground chicken, turkey or venison if you prefer.

The sauce for Swedish Meatballs is also wonderful. It uses evaporated milk, beef broth, garlic powder, pepper and dill weed. It was such a succulent recipe. Obviously, we served Swedish Meatballs over dumpling noodles, but you can serve it over any type of pasta or even rice. We loved this tasty dish and can’t recommend it highly enough.

I have to admit I love meatballs in recipes, which is probably kind of strange because I didn’t grow up in a family where my mom ever cooked meatballs! I can’t remember my mom serving meatballs–once. It’s only since I’ve moved away from home that I started collecting meatball recipes. I love our Pizza Meatballs recipe, but I’ve also served meatballs in BBQ sauce, in cranberry sauce, in fettucini sauce and stroganoff. I’ve served meatballs in spaghetti squash and regular spaghetti (two different ways) and with Baked Penne. Even my Polynesian-style  Waikiki Meatballs is fabulous. If meatballs are made with the right ingredients, they can be quite tasty. They don’t have to be boring or bland.

This recipe is not too difficult, and it’s a warm and comforting dish to serve this time of year when winter has blown in (disguised as fall!). Swedish Meatballs are fairly quick and easy to make, too. I had this recipe table ready in about 40 minutes. While the meatballs are baking in the oven, you prepare the sauce and the noodles so everything is ready to go at about the same time. I would have garnished this with fresh dill, but mine has died out by now, so I used dried dill weed as a garnish instead.

One note in making this recipe. I used a 93% lean ground beef to make the meatballs. They will NOT yield any drippings to be used in the sauce. So if you prefer to make this recipe with lean ground beef, round or sirloin, use all oil to make the sauce and begin it while the meatballs are cooking. That way everything will be ready at the same time. You will be waiting needlessly if you expect to gain any drippings from the meatballs while using a lean meat. This is probably also the case for chicken, turkey or venison.

If you want a hearty, stick-to-the-ribs supper for your family that’s filling and so very satisfying, I highly recommend Swedish Meatballs. The flavors of the meatballs and sauce are just wonderful. The combination of nutmeg and dill weed make this recipe spectacular and one you will certainly want to make often for your family. Prepare yourself for a tasty and succulent entree when this Swedish Meatballs recipe is on the menu.

Swedish Meatballs are so tasty. You will love this quick and easy main dish recipe.

We loved the combination of flavors from the meatballs and sauce in Swedish Meatballs.

If you’re looking for an excellent Swedish Meatballs recipe, this one qualifies!

Here’s what I did.

I used these ingredients for the meatballs. This recipe calls for non-fat dry milk powder. 

I used these ingredients for the sauce. Because I used a lean ground beef to make the meatballs, I didn’t get ANY drippings from the meat which are supposed to be used in the sauce. I ended up using all oil instead. If you prefer, you can use olive oil instead of canola.

Place lean ground beef in a mixing bowl with Italian style bread crumbs, diced onion, dry milk granules, an egg, nutmeg and garlic salt. Add evaporated milk.

Mix ingredients together with your hands.

Roll beef mixture into balls and place on lightly sprayed cookie sheets. Bake at 400 for about 30 minutes.

I knew I wasn’t going to get any drippings from my meat because it was so lean so I started with canola oil. You can also use olive oil or avocado oil if you prefer. (They are much healthier oils). Whisk flour into drippings/oil and cook a couple of minutes.

Pour evaporated milk into the thickened flour mixture and whisk until smooth.

Add beef broth.

Add garlic powder, dill weed, salt and pepper and whisk again to combine. Cook until thickened.

Here the meatballs are ready. You can see there were no drippings that I was able to use for the sauce.

Allow sauce ingredients to cook over a medium heat until thickened. Stir meatballs into the sauce.

Serve Swedish Meatballs over hot, cooked noodles and garnished with additional dill weed.

This close up allows you to see the texture of the dish.

Here’s the recipe.

SWEDISH MEATBALLS

(Recipe adapted from Nestle’s Very Best Baking)

Swedish Meatballs

Teresa Ambra

Swedish Meatballs is a succulent and delicious recipe made with homemade meatballs. It's old-world flavor that's perfect for company or weeknight dinners since it only takes about 45 minutes to make. Mouthwatering comfort food at its best!

No ratings yet

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Beef Main Dish

Cuisine Swedish

Servings 8

Calories 576 kcal

Equipment

• 1 large mixing bowl
• 1 18x26" cookie sheet pan
• 1 large stock pot with lid
• 1 medium sauce pan
• 1 wooden spoon
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons
• 1 whisk
• 1 sharp knife to cut vegetables

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

MEATBALLS:

• 2 1/3 lbs. lean ground beef
• 1 cup Italian bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup evaporated milk
• 1 tsp. garlic salt
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 2 tbsp. instant dry milk granules
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup chopped onions

SAUCE:

• 1 cup evaporated milk
• meatball drippings plus enough oil to equal 1/2 cup avocado oil or olive oil preferred
• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 1/2 cups beef broth
• 1 tsp. dill weed
• 1 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1 tsp. sea salt or kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 lb. dry noodles
• 1 tbsp. butter for noodles
• 1/2 tsp. dill weed for garnish
• 1 tsp. Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 

MEATBALLS:

• Mix ingredients in a mixing bowl with your hands.
• Roll mixture into golf-sized balls and place on cookie sheets that have been sprayed with cooking spray.
• Bake at 400° for about 30 minutes.
• Reserve any drippings.
• Makes 57 meatballs.

SAUCE:

• Cook noodles according to package directions.
• Drain, add a tablespoon of butter and stir to combine.
• Set aside and keep warm.
• In saucepan, heat remaining meatball drippings plus oil.
• Whisk in flour and cook a minute or so until mixture boils.
• Slowly add milk, beef broth and seasonings.
• Continue heating until mixture has thickened.
• Add meatballs and stir to combine.
• Serve over hot, cooked, buttered noodles.
• Garnish with dill weed, salt and pepper, as desired.

Notes

NOTE: I used a lean ground beef (93%) and it had NO drippings to use in the sauce so I had to use ALL oil instead. Avocado or olive oil are preferred.

 

Recipe adapted from Nestle.

 

^© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 576kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 46gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 163mgSodium: 1386mgPotassium: 931mgFiber: 3gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 443IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 249mgIron: 6mg

Keyword beef, main dish, meatballs, noodles

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Swedish Meatballs are big on flavor. These meatballs are juicy and appetizing.

Swedish Meatballs look and taste amazing.

I love meatballs and these Swedish Meatballs are terrific for family or company dinners.

You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!

Pizza Meatballs

Slow Cooker Cocktail Meatballs

Spaghetti and Meatballs in Pepperoni Sauce

Swedish Meatballs

Teresa Ambra

Swedish Meatballs is a succulent and delicious recipe made with homemade meatballs. It’s old-world flavor that’s perfect for company or weeknight dinners since it only takes about 45 minutes to make. Mouthwatering comfort food at its best!

No ratings yet

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Beef Main Dish

Cuisine Swedish

Servings 8

Calories 576 kcal

Equipment

• 1 large mixing bowl
• 1 18×26" cookie sheet pan
• 1 large stock pot with lid
• 1 medium sauce pan
• 1 wooden spoon
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons
• 1 whisk
• 1 sharp knife to cut vegetables

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

MEATBALLS:

• 2 1/3 lbs. lean ground beef
• 1 cup Italian bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup evaporated milk
• 1 tsp. garlic salt
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 2 tbsp. instant dry milk granules
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup chopped onions

SAUCE:

• 1 cup evaporated milk
• meatball drippings plus enough oil to equal 1/2 cup avocado oil or olive oil preferred
• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 1/2 cups beef broth
• 1 tsp. dill weed
• 1 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1 tsp. sea salt or kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 lb. dry noodles
• 1 tbsp. butter for noodles
• 1/2 tsp. dill weed for garnish
• 1 tsp. Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 

MEATBALLS:

• Mix ingredients in a mixing bowl with your hands.
• Roll mixture into golf-sized balls and place on cookie sheets that have been sprayed with cooking spray.
• Bake at 400° for about 30 minutes.
• Reserve any drippings.
• Makes 57 meatballs.

SAUCE:

• Cook noodles according to package directions.
• Drain, add a tablespoon of butter and stir to combine.
• Set aside and keep warm.
• In saucepan, heat remaining meatball drippings plus oil.
• Whisk in flour and cook a minute or so until mixture boils.
• Slowly add milk, beef broth and seasonings.
• Continue heating until mixture has thickened.
• Add meatballs and stir to combine.
• Serve over hot, cooked, buttered noodles.
• Garnish with dill weed, salt and pepper, as desired.

Notes

NOTE: I used a lean ground beef (93%) and it had NO drippings to use in the sauce so I had to use ALL oil instead. Avocado or olive oil are preferred.

 

Recipe adapted from Nestle.

 

^© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 576kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 46gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 163mgSodium: 1386mgPotassium: 931mgFiber: 3gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 443IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 249mgIron: 6mg

Keyword beef, main dish, meatballs, noodles

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!