Ahhh yes—Köttbullar! 🇸🇪 The iconic Swedish meatballs. Tender, juicy little bites of comfort, usually served with creamy gravy, mashed potatoes, and lingonberry jam on the side. IKEA made them famous, but the homemade version? Next level.
Here’s an authentic, cozy version that’ll have you saying “Smaklig måltid!” (That’s Swedish for “Enjoy your meal.”)
🍽️ Classic Swedish Meatballs (Köttbullar)
Serves: 4–6
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 30 min
Total Time: ~50 min
🛒 Ingredients
For the meatballs:
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½ lb ground beef
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½ lb ground pork
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½ cup breadcrumbs
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¼ cup milk or cream
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1 small onion, finely chopped
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1 egg
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½ tsp salt
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¼ tsp black pepper
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¼ tsp ground allspice
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¼ tsp ground nutmeg
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Butter or oil for frying
For the gravy:
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2 tbsp butter
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2 tbsp flour
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2 cups beef broth
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½ cup heavy cream (or sour cream for a tangier version)
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Salt & pepper, to taste
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Optional: a dash of Worcestershire sauce or Dijon mustard
👨🍳 Directions
1. Soften breadcrumbs:
Mix breadcrumbs and milk in a bowl. Let them soak for 5 min until softened.
2. Sauté the onion:
In a little butter, cook the chopped onion until soft and translucent. Let cool a bit.
3. Mix the meatball mixture:
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, soaked breadcrumbs, sautéed onion, egg, salt, pepper, allspice, and nutmeg. Mix until just combined—don’t overmix!
4. Roll into balls:
Form into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter. Chill for 10–15 minutes if you have time—it helps them hold their shape.
5. Fry ‘em up:
In a large skillet, heat butter or oil over medium heat. Fry meatballs in batches until browned on all sides and cooked through (about 7–8 minutes total). Remove and set aside.
🥣 Make the gravy:
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In the same pan (don’t clean it—flavor town!), melt 2 tbsp butter.
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Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute.
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Gradually whisk in beef broth until smooth. Simmer 3–4 min until it thickens.
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Stir in cream and cook another 3–5 min.
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Season with salt, pepper, and any extras like Worcestershire or Dijon.
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Return meatballs to pan and simmer gently in the sauce for a few minutes to soak up flavor.
🥔 Serve with:
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Creamy mashed potatoes
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Lingonberry jam (or cranberry as a backup)
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Steamed green beans or pickled cucumbers
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Maybe a little fresh parsley on top
Want a twist with mushroom gravy? Or the baked version for a lighter take? Happy to riff on this one!