Chef John's Swedish Meatballs

Swedish meatballs, traditionally served with boiled potatoes and lingonberry preserves, are a hearty meal the whole family will love!

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 35 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Calories: 479 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ cup milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 pound ground pork
• ½ teaspoon white sugar
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
• cooking spray
• 1 pound ground beef chuck
• ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 ½ teaspoons fine salt
• ⅓ cup plain bread crumbs
• ½ yellow onion, finely chopped
• 3 ¼ cups beef broth

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion and salt in butter until onion begins to turn translucent, about 6 minutes.

Step 2

Transfer onion mixture to a large bowl. Stir in milk, eggs, bread crumbs, black pepper, nutmeg, allspice, and cayenne.

Step 3

Mix beef and pork into the bread crumb mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Step 4

Melt butter for gravy in a large skillet over medium heat; whisk in flour and cook until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Slowly whisk in beef broth.

Step 5

Increase heat to medium-high, whisk cream into mixture and bring to a simmer. Stir in sugar and Worcestershire. Simmer until slightly thickened, 6 to 7 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper. Remove from heat and set aside.

Step 6

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.

Step 7

Roll 2 to 3 tablespoons meatball mixture into a ball using wet hands; repeat with remaining meatball mixture. Place meatballs on the prepared baking sheet.

Step 8

Bake in the preheated oven until browned, about 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).

Step 9

Transfer meatballs to the gravy and cook over medium-low heat until warmed through, about 5 minutes.