Swedish Meatballs (Svenska Kottbullar)

These Swedish meatballs are a Christmas tradition in our family. We frequently double the recipe and keep it warm in a slow cooker. Worth the effort, and the meatballs are even better the next day! Reserve brown gravy and

Basic Details:

Prep time:

25 mins

Cook Time:

1 hr

Total Time:

1 hr 35 mins

Servings:

6

Yield:

1582863 B2d22789df024772b8f9db5e5a804726

Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings

  • 2 slices day-old white bread, crumbled
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon butter
  • 1 small onion, minced
  • ⅔ pound ground beef
  • ⅓ pound finely ground pork
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar (Optional)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger (Optional)
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • ¼ cup chicken broth
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, or as needed
  • 2 cups beef broth, or as needed
  • ½ (8 ounce) container sour cream

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

  2. Place bread crumbs into a small bowl; mix in cream. Allow to stand until crumbs absorb cream, about 10 minutes.

    Overhead view of a bowl with breadcrumbs and cream from Swedish Meatballs (Svenska Kottbullar) recipe

  3. Meanwhile, melt 1 teaspoon butter in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion until light brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer onion to a mixing bowl.

    Overhead view of butter and onions cooking in a skillet for Swedish Meatballs (Svenska Kottbullar) recipe

  4. Mix ground beef, ground pork, egg, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger with onion in the mixing bowl. Lightly mix in bread crumbs and cream.

    Overhead view of a bowl of ground beef, ground pork, egg, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, nutmeg, allspice, ginger and onion from Swedish Meatballs (Svenska Kottbullar) recipe

  5. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Pinch off about 1 ½ tablespoons meat mixture per meatball; form into balls. Place meatballs into the skillet and cook, turning often, until browned, about 5 minutes. Insides of meatballs will still be pink.

    Overhead view of Swedish Meatballs (Svenska Kottbullar) cooking in a skillet

  6. Place browned meatballs into a baking dish, pour in chicken broth, and cover with foil.

  7. Bake in the preheated oven until meatballs are tender, about 40 minutes. Remove meatballs to a serving dish.

    Overhead view of cooked Swedish Meatballs (Svenska Kottbullar) recipe in a baking dish

  8. Pour pan drippings into a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk flour into drippings until smooth.

    Overhead view of skillet with meatball drippings and flour from Swedish Meatballs (Svenska Kottbullar) recipe

  9. Gradually whisk in enough beef broth to total about 2 ½ cups liquid.

    Overhead view of beef broth mixture in a skillet from Swedish Meatballs (Svenska Kottbullar) recipe

  10. Bring gravy to a simmer, whisking constantly, until thickened, about 5 minutes.

    Overhead view of beef broth gravy cooking in a skillet for Swedish Meatballs (Svenska Kottbullar) recipe

  11. Just before serving, whisk in sour cream. Season with salt and black pepper. Serve gravy with meatballs.

    High angled view of finished Swedish Meatballs (Svenska Kottbullar) recipe in a serving dish garnished with fresh herbs
     

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Calories

309

Fat

21g

Carbs

12g

Protein

17g