Swedish meatballs!! SO GOOD! You’ve probably had them at IKEA. Isn’t IKEA the best?!! I could drink lingonberry juice and lounge in tiny couches all day. But the best part is probably the meatballs. And what is even better is that they taste even better when you make them at home!
They’re pretty easy as far as meatballs go. Meat, breadcrumbs, some onion and spices formed into a ball. It’s also great because you can make the meatballs and gravy all in one pot! Serve over noodles or mashed taters and you’ve got a meal. Ok, you should probably serve some vegetables too.
I like to make my own breadcrumbs with leftover crusty bread, but panko works great in its place!
Here’s the toasted bread which I brushed with olive oil and toasted at 400 for about 15 minutes. Then I cut it up into tiny cubes.
Store them in the fridge in an airtight container and they will keep for a month!
First you want to soak 1 1/2 cups of bread crumbs in 1/2 cup of whole milk. This adds a lot of nice flavor and moisture.
Mix together 1 lb. of ground pork, 1/2 lb. ground beef, 8 cooked bacon strips (chopped), 1 large onion diced and sautéed, 1 clove of garlic (chopped), 1 teaspoon grated nutmeg, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, bread crumbs, and 1 egg. Use a cookie scoop to form smallish balls. Roll them in your hands to create perfect little orbs.
Place them on a baking sheet while you continue shaping the rest of the meat!
Place a few of the balls an inch or so apart in a preheated heavy bottomed pan. Cook for about 6 minutes per side on medium heat. Cover for another 2 minutes until completely cooked. Cook in batches and place all of the meatballs aside. Do not drain the drippings from the pan! You will use them to make the gravy!
Add a 1/4 cup of flour to the fat and whisk until it is totally incorporated. Let it cook for about 2 minute son medium low. This will cook off some of the flour flavor.
Add in a Tablespoon of Better than Boullion Beef Flavor and 1 cup of water or 1 cup of beef broth!
Then whisk in 1/2 cup of sour cream and 1/2 cup of milk. If it is too thick, add in more milk! Add salt and more pepper to taste! I also added in a dash of Worcestershire sauce.
Put the meatballs back in with the gravy and top with a little chopped parsley!
I served it over egg noodles with lingonberry jam. The Swedish meatballs are also great served over mashed potatoes!
- Meatballs
- 1 lb. of ground pork
- 1/2 lb. ground beef
- 8 cooked bacon strips (chopped)
- 1 large onion diced and sautéed
- 1 clove of garlic (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon grated nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 1/2 cups bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 Tablespoon Better than Boullion and 1 cup of water or 1 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup of milk
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- salt and pepper
- 1. Soak the breadcrumbs in the milk.
- 2. Combine all of the meatball ingredients together in a large bowl. Form into golf ball sized balls and place on a cookie sheet.
- 3. Cook the meatballs in a few batches. Cook for about 6 minutes on each side on medium heat. Then cover for 2 minutes. Set aside cooked meatballs.
- 4. Add flour to the meatball drippings (In the pan) Whisk on medium low for 2 minutes.
- 5. Whisk in remaining gravy ingredients.
- 6. Add back the meatballs.
- 7. Serve over cooked egg noodles or mashed potatoes! Top with chopped parsley if you like!
- Cook the bacon and use the same pan to cook the meatballs. They will absorb the delicious bacon grease!
I'm a country girl at heart. I tried living in the city and it just didn't work. Welcome to my ramblings as a teacher and wife. 
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