Description
Classic Swedish meatball casserole brings Scandinavian comfort directly to dinner tables. Creamy sauce and tender meatballs create a hearty meal you’ll savor with each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 0.5 pound (227 grams) ground pork
Binding and Moisture Ingredients:
- 0.5 cup breadcrumbs
- 0.25 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 0.25 cup finely diced onion
Spices and Seasonings:
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon allspice
- 0.25 teaspoon nutmeg
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 350F (175C) and lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, diced onion, garlic powder, allspice, nutmeg, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl. Gently shape the mixture into compact, bite-sized spheres approximately 1 inch in diameter.
- Heat a skillet over medium temperature and cook meatballs in batches, rotating to ensure uniform browning and complete cooking, approximately 7-8 minutes per batch. Transfer cooked meatballs to a separate plate.
- Using the same skillet, melt butter and create a smooth roux by whisking in flour. Slowly incorporate beef broth, continuously stirring to prevent lumps and achieve a thickened consistency. Integrate cream of mushroom soup, Worcestershire sauce, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Allow the sauce to simmer for 3-4 minutes, developing rich flavors.
- Distribute cooked egg noodles evenly across the prepared baking dish, creating a uniform base layer.
- Arrange the browned meatballs atop the noodles in a distributed pattern.
- Pour the creamy sauce uniformly over the noodles and meatballs, ensuring complete coverage.
- Generously sprinkle shredded cheese across the surface.
- Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the cheese melts and develops a golden, bubbling texture.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Create uniform-sized meatballs using a small cookie scoop or tablespoon to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the casserole.
- Browning meatballs in batches prevents overcrowding the pan, allowing proper caramelization and developing deeper flavor profiles.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute breadcrumbs with gluten-free alternatives like almond flour or crushed gluten-free crackers and use cornstarch instead of flour in the sauce.
- Elevate the dish’s richness by mixing different cheese varieties like sharp cheddar and gruyere for a more complex and sophisticated flavor experience.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Swedish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 508 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 370 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg