Description
Swedish meatball pasta bake blends Nordic comfort with creamy, savory goodness. Hearty layers of pasta, tender meatballs, and rich sauce promise a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 medium onion
- 2 cloves garlic
Binding and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce and Finishing Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 16 ounces (1 pound) pasta
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F, preparing a comfortable cooking environment for this Nordic-inspired dish.
- Combine ground meats with finely chopped aromatics, binding agents, and traditional Scandinavian spices. Gently roll mixture into uniform spherical portions.
- Sear meatballs in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat until exterior develops a rich, caramelized brown crust. Transfer to a separate plate.
- Within the same pan, craft a silky sauce base by whisking butter and flour into a golden roux. Slowly incorporate beef broth and cream, stirring continuously until smooth and thickened.
- Simultaneously cook pasta in salted water until it reaches a tender al dente consistency, ensuring optimal texture.
- Integrate cooked pasta with prepared sauce and browned meatballs inside a ceramic baking vessel, creating a harmonious blend of flavors.
- Generously sprinkle Parmesan cheese across the surface, providing a crisp and savory crown.
- Bake for 20 minutes, allowing ingredients to meld and cheese to transform into a golden, bubbling layer.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant finishing touch. Serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Choose ground meats with balanced fat content to ensure juicy, tender meatballs that won’t dry out during baking.
- Sauté onions and garlic before mixing into meat mixture to enhance depth of flavor and reduce raw onion sharpness.
- Add a pinch of extra allspice or nutmeg for more authentic Scandinavian taste profile in the meatballs.
- For gluten-free adaptation, replace breadcrumbs with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs and use cornstarch instead of flour in roux.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Swedish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg