Cooking Swedish meatballs might sound daunting, but they are actually easy to make. Add some fun to your recipe rotation and give them a try! This delicious Swedish meatballs recipe is one that your family will ask for often.

After tasting the Ikea famous Swedish meatballs, I knew that I had to try my hand at making them. This is another delicious but easy one-pot meal.

I recommend reading this entire post for more information and tips on how to make this dish. But if you’re in a hurry, just click on the jump-to-recipe button beneath the title, and you’ll be taken to the top of the recipe card.

Since I always look for quick and easy ways to make my favorite foods, I started out with a convenience food—frozen meatballs that I picked up when they went on sale. This is one of my favorite easy dinners for any special occasion.

Swedish Meatballs – Easy Family Dinner

This delicious recipe is perfect for a cozy night in with family or friends. You only need a few basic ingredients, so this is a budget-friendly meal. The process is also pretty quick. In fact, you can have a yummy meal on the table in no time.

Ingredients

I like to lay all of the simple ingredients out on the counter before I start cooking. I also like to measure everything to make the process as easy as possible.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Package frozen fully cooked meatballs, regular or gluten-free (22 ounces)
• Butter
• Beef broth
• Heavy cream
• Cream cheese
• Ground nutmeg
• Allspice
• Dill weed
• Salt 
• Black pepper 
• Parsley flakes (optional)

Other Ingredients You Can Add

If you want to add some of your favorite seasonings to suit your personal taste, feel free to do so. Here are some you might want to try:

• Sour cream
• Worcestershire sauce
• Chicken broth instead of beef broth
• Soy sauce
• Garlic powder
• Dijon mustard

Don’t be afraid to try something a little different. I recommend testing other ingredients on small amounts of the gravy and give it a taste. If you like it, add it to the rest.

How to Make Swedish Meatballs

This is one of the easiest but delicious recipes I make. So it’s perfect for dinner on a busy weeknight or meals that you can make without a lot of hassle.

First, heat up the meatballs. I recommend following the directions on the package to keep it simple.

You can also put them in your air fryer on 350 for about 10 minutes or until they turn golden brown.

While you wait for the meatballs to heat up, it’s time to make the sauce. Melt the butter in a large skillet (stainless steel, cast iron, or nonstick) over medium heat.

Next, add the cream cheese and stir until the 2 ingredients are well blended. It’s best to stir often so the mixture is even. It will be very thick.

Now add the broth, heavy cream, nutmeg, allspice, salt, pepper, and dill weed to the mixture.

Give it another stir until it is well mixed. Cook the mixture until the sauce thickens.

Place the heated meatballs in the sauce and spoon the sauce over them. 

Note: If the sauce isn’t as thick as you want it, you can make a cornstarch slurry with a tablespoon of cornstarch and 1/2 cup of water. Whisk the cornstarch and water before pouring into the sauce. It will thicken the sauce pretty quickly as it heats up.

How to Serve Swedish Meatballs

There are different ways you can serve these meatballs in cream sauce. I like to serve these delicious meatballs with a creamy gravy sauce over flat egg noodles, but it’s also good over rice. You can even serve them over creamy mashed potatoes. 

You can put the food on each person’s plate. Or if you want everyone to serve themselves, put the noodles and meatballs in a large bowl with a couple of spoons. If you want to add more color to the plate, garnish with either dried or fresh parsley. Another thing you can add is a little bit of paprika.

Some people like to serve Swedish meatballs with lingonberry jam. I’ve never made this type of jam, so I don’t have a recipe for it … at least, not yet. But you can buy it in some grocery stores or specialty shops.

Swedish Meatballs from Scratch

If you have a favorite meatball recipe, feel free to make them from scratch. You’ll need to cook the meatballs all the way through before you add them to the sauce. One of my favorite homemade Swedish meatballs recipes is made with a mixture of ground beef and ground pork. Or, if you’re trying to keep the fat content low, make turkey meatballs with ground pork. 

I’ve found that meatballs have more flavor with a blend of ground meat than using a single type of meat. Add that to some eggs (whole eggs or egg yolks) and some bread crumbs before forming them into balls. The frozen meatballs are precooked, so that isn’t an issue. Fortunately, if the homemade meatballs are small, they will cook very quickly.

Swedish Meatballs – Comfort Food When You Need It

Between the aroma from the kitchen and the deliciousness of the dish, this will probably become one of your main comfort foods. It’s also a good option when you’re hosting a dinner party or celebrating a special event.

You can also cook this delicious dish in your slow cooker for a couple of hours. However, I prefer it on the stovetop. 

What to Do with Leftover Swedish Meatballs

There’s a good chance you won’t have any leftovers. But if you do, put them in an airtight container and put them in the refrigerator. They should be good for 2 or 3 days.

More Delicious Comfort Foods

Between work and everything else that goes on in life, it’s nice to sit down at the table at the end of a long day and enjoy a dinner of comfort food. It brings the family closer while enjoying a nourishing and satisfying meal.

Chicken and Gravy – This chicken and gravy is absolutely wonderful. Serve it over mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice.

Hobo Casserole – Also known as hobo hubby casserole, this is a dish made with beef, cheese, and all kinds other wonderful ingredients.

Mac and Cheese Casserole – Everyone, including the adults and kids, will enjoy this delicious casserole filled with pasta and gooey cheese. 

Southern Fried Chicken – This amazingly delicious fried chicken from Julia’s Simply Southern is made just like my great-grandmothers and grandmothers did back in the day. And it’s something that brings a wonderful ending to any day.

Frozen Burrito Casserole – No, you don’t eat a burrito while it’s still frozen. You put it in this casserole along with a few more ingredients and bake it. Minutes later, you have a delicious dinner that is so comforting to anyone who enjoys south-of-the-border dinners.

Keto Breakfast Casserole – Just because you’re watching your carbs doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some delicious comfort food. In fact, I would call this the perfect Keto comfort food. You don’t have to serve it for breakfast. It’s just as good at dinnertime!

Pork Sausage and Rice Skillet Dinner – Lots of color in the pan means a ton of nutrition in this absolutely delicious one-pan meal. It has become one of our favorite dishes when we want something tasty that doesn’t take a lot of time.

Always in the Mood for Swedish Meatballs

Any time you ask someone in your family if they’re in the mood for Swedish meatballs, I can almost promise you they’ll say, “Yes!” They’re delicious, comforting, and filling.

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