Swedish Meatball Recipe (2024)

Published: Feb 5, 2017 · Modified: Dec 5, 2022 by Julie Carlyle · This post may contain affiliate links · 33 Comments

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I've been drooling over all the pictures of Swedish meatballs which have been popping up all over Instagram and Pinterest. It seems like everybody is making these delicious meatballs! I wanted to try my hand at making them in the Thermomix so I trawled through the internet and combine a few traditional recipes. After making the Swedish meatballs using the traditional stove top method I wanted to convert the recipe for the Thermomix.

The traditional method means you need to stand over the frying pan to cook the meatballs and then you make a gravy with the pan juices. Standing over a frying pan in this heat was not very much fun but it did give the gravy a nice flavour.

Making the meatballs in the Thermomix was simple! Meatballs become super moist and tender when they're steamed in the Varoma but unfortunately, there aren't then pan the juices to make a gravy.

To combat this small problem I've introduced flavour into the gravy with the addition of a few extra ingredients. I modelled the sauce from a recipe that was shared with me by a chef at alocal restaurant. The restaurant has now closed but when we used to visit my husband would always have this dish because he loved the sauce. The owner was German and he used to tease us that we would never guess his secret ingredient. He was right, I didn't guess that the magic ingredient in the sauce was actually Vegemite. Only a little is used in the recipe, but it gives the sauce a savoury "lift".

The resultswere delicious and happily making the gravy was completely "hands-free" in the Thermomix.

Swedish Meatballs Thermomix Style

Julie Carlyle

These meatballs are a delicious main which can be served over noodles, rice or creamy mashed potato.

4.93 from 13 votes

Print Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Swedish

Servings 6 people

Calories 350 kcal

Ingredients

Meatballs

¼ cup breadcrumbs
150 g onion
300 g beef mince
300 g pork mince
1 egg
½ teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon all spice
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon salt
1 Tbs tomato paste

Gravy

120 g onion
10 g garlic
30 g oil
40 g butter
65 g plain flour
500 g liquid beef stock
100 g sour cream
4 teaspoon dijon mustard
2 TBS fresh parsley Chopped
¼ teaspoon vegemite
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Instructions

Add onion TM bowl. Blitz 4 sec/Speed 9
Add the tomato paste, salt, pepper, egg, spices and breadcrumbs to the chopped onion. Combine 5 sec/Speed 5.
Add the pork and beef mince to the ingredients in the TM. Combine 1 min/Knead dough setting.
Remove the mince mixture from the TM bowl and roll into 35 meatballs.
Place a layer of meatballs into the large deep Varoma tray.
Make another layer of meatballs on the top Varoma steaming tray.
Add 1000ml of hot water the TM bowl.
Stack the Varoma steaming trays on top of the TM bowl. Steam 20min/105 Degrees/Speed 2.5.
Reserve the cooked meatballs in the Thermoserver. Discard the water.

Gravy

Place onion and garlic to TM boil. Blitz 3 sec/Speed 9.
Add oil to the onion. Saute 3min/Varoma/Speed 1.
Add butter and flour to the onion mixture. Heat 3 min/Varoma/Speed 2.
Reset the TM to 1min/100 degrees/ Speed 2. While the TM is operating pour 100mls of beef stock into the flour mixture via the MC.
Add the remainingbeef stock. Cook 3 min/100 degrees/Speed 3.
Add sour cream, mustard, vegemite, apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper. Cook 5 min/100 degrees/speed 4
Pour the gravy over the meatballs.
Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcal

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

Tracy Wilkinson says
June 09, 2022 at 3:01 pm

Honestly one of my family favourites and easy to make. I use the TM6 for the meatballs and then pan fry and then remove, using the same pan make the delicious sauce. I add sautéed mushrooms and add spinach leaves to the end just before serving. Kids have mash potatoes and my husband and I have cauliflower rice or mash cauliflower. This is an extremely tasty and visually appealing dish and looks like its taken ages to make. Thanks Julie xx
Reply
- Julie Carlyle says
  June 14, 2022 at 8:57 am
  Hi Tracy
  I’m so pleased you enjoyed this recipe 🥰
  It’s one of our favourite too!
  Love the mushroom suggestion! YUM!
  Happy cooking
  J
  Reply
Sage Venn-Dennis says
May 22, 2022 at 9:23 am
Is this stilln just as good with just pork meatballs???
Reply
- Julie Carlyle says
  December 04, 2022 at 10:56 am
  Hi Sage
  Yes pork would be just as good... maybe even better 🙂
  Happy Cooking
  j
  Reply
Michelle Hardy says
March 13, 2022 at 6:20 pm

Family fave already!!
Reply
- Julie Carlyle says
  March 13, 2022 at 6:46 pm
  I’m so pleased Michelle
  J xx
  Reply
Cynthia Cole says
March 13, 2022 at 4:25 pm

Made these on Thursday night and served with cranberry sauce. Very delicious. Froze the remainder of the gravy that I made for next time, as there will definitely be a next time. Thanks for a great recipe Julie.
Reply
- Julie Carlyle says
  March 13, 2022 at 5:47 pm
  Hi Cynthia
  Thank you so much for your kind words. I love having leftover sauce in the freezer, it halves the cooking time for another meal.
  Happy cooking
  J
  Reply
Pam Warburton says
March 13, 2022 at 4:22 pm

I watched you making this wonderful dish, then completed it and ate it that night. Both my husband and I loved it and there was plenty left over for a second meal for us. The sauce was delicious and could be used on chicken or fish as well. 5/5 and a big thumbs up from us!
Reply
- Julie Carlyle says
  March 13, 2022 at 5:48 pm
  Hi Pam
  I love having you join us for the cookalongs.
  Thank you so much for you lovely feedback.
  Happy cooking
  J xx
  Reply
Raelene Tarrant says
See Also
Easy Taco Soup Recipe (5 Ingredients!) - Wholesome Yum
March 13, 2022 at 3:45 pm

These Swedish Meatballs have been on my list to do for so long. Don’t know why I left it so long to give them a go. Added to my favourites now. The sauce is absolutely delicious. Being just two of us I had extras to freeze. Served with Mash potatoes, carrots and peas. Thank you for showing us this awesome recipe Julie.
Reply
- Julie Carlyle says
  March 13, 2022 at 5:50 pm
  Hi Raelene
  Thank you so much for coming back and reviewing the recipe. I’m going to steam some green beans with my meatballs next time. Your Veges made me jealous 🙂
  Happy cooking
  J
  Reply
Dellas says
July 05, 2021 at 7:53 pm

NOM NOM NOM for my tum. These were amazing thank you for a easy mid week meal too
Reply
- Julie Carlyle says
  July 30, 2021 at 7:06 am
  Haha yes nom nom,
  My family totally agree. I’m so pleased you enjoyed the recipe Dellas.
  Thank you for leaving a lovely comment. Made me smile 🙂
  Have a happy day.
  J
  Reply
Leanne says
June 25, 2019 at 8:29 pm
I made it, and thought the sauce tasted too much like last night's Salmon Valoute meal, so I added half a tablespoon of something Indian, and it tasted great!
Thanks for the recipe, the meatballs were good - even though I only had pork mince in the freezer - I'll probably make the balls again 🙂
Reply
Rossemarie Avalos says
January 06, 2019 at 11:13 pm

Hi! Can this be frozen? Thinking of the cream in the gravy. Thanks
Reply
- Julie Carlyle says
  January 08, 2019 at 9:50 am
  Yes, this recipe is fine for freezing 😊
  Reply
Hayley says
April 30, 2018 at 6:12 pm

Totally delicious! Thankyou. I subbed coconut milk for sour cream and veg stock for beef. I also subbed out vegemite for braggs soy sauce. Plus i used more mince. Sauce is devine
Reply
- Julie Carlyle says
  May 01, 2018 at 10:56 am
  I'm so pleased you enjoyed it 🙂
  Reply
Eve says
April 11, 2018 at 1:59 pm
Hi Julie,
Do you think these would be ok with all beef mince! I’ve pukled out mince but don’t have any pork and don’t fancy a shop run!
Reply
- Julie Carlyle says
  April 12, 2018 at 6:32 am
  Hi Eve, yes it will be fine with just beef mince ? (its best to NOT use heartsmart mince or low fat) ?
  Reply
GirlFriday says
April 04, 2018 at 8:11 pm

Delicious! Thanks for the recipe
Reply
- Julie Carlyle says
  April 09, 2018 at 9:47 am
  My pleasure, I'm so pleased you enjoyed the dish 🙂
  Reply
Heidi Battley says
November 05, 2017 at 11:36 am
Hi Julie, could this be made with chicken mince?
Thanks.
Reply
- Julie Carlyle says
  November 06, 2017 at 11:46 am
  Hi Heidi,
  I'm sure it would be lovely with any type of mince, including chicken mince 🙂
  Reply
Sally White says
September 21, 2017 at 8:27 pm

These were delicious ????Thanks for the recipe, a new family favourite!
Reply
- Julie Carlyle says
  September 22, 2017 at 6:20 am
  I'm so pleased your family enjoyed the recipe, thanks for stopping by ????
  Reply
Tracey says
July 19, 2017 at 11:29 am

I made mashed potato before I started the meatballs and instead of cleaning the bowl just left the last bit of mash in their and didn't add the breadcrumbs. I didn't have beef stock so I used 1 tablespoon of vegie stock paste in 500g water. Delicious! My fussy kids gave it a big thumbs up!
Reply
- Julie Carlyle says
  July 19, 2017 at 12:16 pm
  Awesome! I'm so pleased the kids like the dish. Thanks for leaving the comment, it's good to know you can make those substitutions. ????
  Reply
Chris says
May 30, 2017 at 1:05 pm
I don't understand instruction 3 (meatballs). What are the remaining meatball ingredients? Thanks
Reply
- Julie Carlyle says
  May 30, 2017 at 1:46 pm
  The two minced meats get added at step 3. I've re-written the step to save confusion. Thanks for your input 🙂
  Reply
Simone says
February 13, 2017 at 11:00 pm

Great recipe! Much better than standing over the stove stirring the sauce.
Reply
Denise says
February 12, 2017 at 10:44 am

This is my new favourite recipe! They taste just link the IKEA meatballs!
Reply

FAQs

What is the sauce for Swedish meatballs made from? ›

The sauce for Swedish Meatballs is a creamy gravy that is made with butter, beef broth/stock, thickened with flour and made creamy with cream. But the most important flavour for the a really good creamy gravy is the pan drippings after searing the meatballs.

Explore More ›

How do you keep Swedish meatballs from falling apart? ›

Eggs: Eggs help bind the meatballs together so they don't fall apart. They also help keep the meatballs soft and tender. Bread crumbs: Bread crumbs are almost always used in meatball recipes because they absorb the fat and, along with the eggs, serve as a binder.

What is the secret to firm meatballs? ›

Massage your meat

Get your hands into your mixing bowl and combine the ingredients for your meatballs using your fingers. The heat from your hands will help release the proteins in the meat which will in turn help the mixture stick together when it cooks. Don't overmix, just a few minutes will do.

See Details ›

How many meatballs is enough? ›

If you're planning to buy ready made, I'd go with at least 3 per person. Maybe 4 if you have a lot of big eaters. Plus the longer meatballs simmer in sauce the better they taste. And they can be frozen,sauce and all.

Why is my Swedish meatball sauce not thickening? ›

How to Thicken Swedish Meatball Sauce. The all-purpose flour in this recipe should do the trick to thicken your Swedish meatball sauce to the right consistency. But if it doesn't, you can add a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon of cornstarch to 2 tablespoons of water) to thicken it up.

What makes Swedish meatballs different from regular meatballs? ›

While both varieties include ingredients such as grated onion and panade (milk-soaked bread) or bread crumbs, plus the usual salt and pepper, Swedish meatballs traditionally use spices like allspice, nutmeg, white pepper, and sometimes ground ginger as flavoring.

Keep Reading ›

What not to do when making meatballs? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Meatballs

Not seasoning the meat.
Not adding any moisture to the meat.
Over-mixing the meat.
Not shaping the meatballs correctly.
Not forming evenly-sized meatballs.

May 1, 2019

See Details ›

What happens if you put too much breadcrumbs in meatballs? ›

Using the wrong amount of bread crumbs (or flour)

Bread crumbs are another popular binder for meatballs that can become problematic if used incorrectly. Adding too many bread crumbs to the mix will cause your meatballs to become loose and fall apart. The same applies to flour.

Get More Info ›

What is unique about Swedish meatballs? ›

Meatballs are as quintessentially Swedish as it gets. In their most traditional form Swedish meatballs ('köttbullar') are made of ground pork and beef, cream, egg and onion, and are served with creamy mashed potatoes, a thick, brown gravy, lingonberry jam and pickled cucumber.

Read The Full Story ›

What does adding milk to meatballs do? ›

When it comes to adding liquid to meatball mixtures, milk is often used for its versatility, depth of flavor, and richness. Without the use of milk, you may be faced with a plate of dry meatballs. Milk adds a certain level of moisture that helps produce perfectly tender meatballs.

See Details ›

What is the best binding agent for meatballs? ›

An egg is usually a good start, as that can help with the tenderness and texture, but the king of meatball binders is breadcrumbs soaked in milk (also known as a panade). Soaking the breadcrumbs first makes them pliable and soggy, which allows them to easily and evenly mix into the ground meat.

Why do you chill meatballs before baking? ›

Chill your meatballs: refrigerating your meatballs an hour before cooking helps them hold their shape throughout the cooking process. They can chill in the fridge for up to 24 hours before cooking, making meatballs a great make-ahead dish, too.

Is it better to bake meatballs at 350 or 400? ›

A good rule of thumb is to bake meatballs for 20-25 minutes at 400 degrees fahrenheit. Every oven is different so the cooking time will not be the same for everyone.

See Details ›

How many meatballs for 4 adults? ›

If you are making 1-ounce meatballs for a main course you should make 6 meatballs per person. If you have some big eaters at the party I suggest making 6-10 bite sized meatballs per person. As you can see, the number of meatballs you need depends on their size.

Can I cook raw meatballs in sauce? ›

YES! I do this every time I make meatballs. You can freeze the meatballs after you fry them, but before you cook them in the sauce. Let them cool and then store them in a ziploc bag.

What is Ikea meatball gravy made of? ›

Iconic Swedish cream sauce: Melt 40g of butter in a pan. Whisk in 40g of plain flour and stir for 2 mins. Add 300ml of bouillon (or consommé) and continue to stir. Add 150ml double cream, 2 tsp of soy sauce and 1 tsp of (Dijon) mustard.

See Details ›

What is the difference between stroganoff and Swedish meatball sauce? ›

Stroganoff sauce has mushrooms, while Swedish meatball sauce does not. Another key difference is the seasoning for each sauce. Swedish meatballs are typically seasoned with spices like nutmeg and ginger, while Stroganoff sauce includes paprika, onion powder, and thyme.

Do Swedish meatballs contain sour cream? ›

It's All About the Sauce

Flavored with nutmeg and cardamom, these little beef-and-pork meatballs are best served with a Swedish meatball sauce—a rich roux-based and beef stock gravy, spiked with sour cream and a little lingonberry jelly.

Swedish Meatball Recipe (2024)

Swedish Meatballs Thermomix Style

Ingredients

Meatballs

Gravy

Instructions

Gravy

Nutrition

More All Recipes

Reader Interactions

Comments

Leave a Reply

FAQs

What is the sauce for Swedish meatballs made from? ›

What is the best binding agent for meatballs? ›