Swedish Meatballs
Biweekly

Swedish Meatballs

55 min
Serves 9
beefporkScandinavian

Milk-soaked breadcrumb meatballs with allspice and Worcestershire, pan-seared in two batches, then finished in a roux-based beef broth and heavy cream gravy. Served over warm buttered noodles.

The Story

Swedish meatballs live or die by the details in the mix. The breadcrumbs soak in milk first — not just mixed in dry — which keeps the meatballs tender instead of dense. The onion gets sweated in butter and oil before it goes into the bowl, so you're adding flavor without raw bite. Allspice is the spice that makes these taste Swedish rather than Italian; it's subtle but it's the whole character of the dish. The optional freezer step before cooking is worth doing if you have time — it firms the meatballs up so they hold their shape in the pan instead of flattening. Cook them in two batches over medium-high so they brown properly rather than steam. The gravy is built in the same pan: scrape up the fond with the butter, make a roux with flour, then whisk in beef broth and heavy cream until it just starts to boil. Add more broth at the end to dial in the consistency you want. Serve over warm buttered noodles.

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Baking sheet lined with waxed paper

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cupItalian-style breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cupmilk
  • 1/2large onion, finely diced
  • 2 lbsground beef (or 1 lb ground beef + 1 lb ground pork)
  • 1large egg
  • 2 tspWorcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tspsalt
  • 1/4 tsppepper
  • 1/8 tspallspice
  • 3 tbspbutter (for gravy)
  • 3 tbspflour
  • 3 cupsbeef broth
  • 1 cupheavy cream
  • for servingwarm buttered noodles

Pudgy's Notes

The milk soak is what keeps the meatballs tender — don't skip it and don't rush it. Sweating the onion before adding it to the mix means no raw crunch in the finished meatball. The freezer step is optional but recommended: 20 minutes firms them up enough that they hold their shape in the pan instead of flattening. Cook in two batches so the pan stays hot enough to brown rather than steam. Add the beef broth to the roux gradually and whisk constantly to avoid lumps.

Instructions

  1. 1

    Soak the breadcrumbs in the milk for about 5 minutes. Set aside.

  2. 2

    Sauté the finely diced onion in butter and oil over medium heat until sweated, about 3 minutes. Add to the bowl with the soaked breadcrumbs.

  3. 3

    Add the ground beef (or beef and pork), egg, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and allspice to the bowl. Mix by hand until just combined, about 3 minutes.

  4. 4

    Form into 1-inch balls and place on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper. Makes 40–45 meatballs. Optionally, chill in the freezer for 20 minutes to firm them up before cooking.

  5. 5

    Cook the meatballs in a large skillet with oil and butter over medium-high heat in two batches, about 7–8 minutes per batch until done. Remove from the skillet and set aside. Drain the grease.

  6. 6

    Melt 3 tbsp butter in the same skillet, scraping up the fond. Add the flour and stir to form a roux, about 2 minutes.

  7. 7

    Slowly whisk in 2 cups of beef broth over medium-high heat until a smooth gravy forms. Stir in the heavy cream. Continue heating until the gravy just starts to boil. Add remaining beef broth as needed to reach the desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  8. 8

    Reduce heat to low. Add the meatballs back to the skillet and stir to coat. Heat until warmed through, about 5 minutes.

  9. 9

    Serve over warm buttered noodles.

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