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There is no dish more cozy and comforting than tender Swedish Meatballs and noodles. This is my son Hunter’s Favorite Baked Swedish Meatballs & Noodles – a recipe that he requests weekly, in my household, and one that I have absolutely perfected! These meatballs are a better-for-you recipe inspired by the IKEA café classic recipe, and comes together with the creamiest, most delicious sauce. Your family is going to love it!
Friends, whenever I ask my boys what they want for dinner, my youngest son, Hunter, requests the same dish: meatballs and noodles! While most kids ask for pizza or mac n’ cheese, there is nothing that Hunter loves more than meatballs and noodles. Since he loves this dish so much, I’ve spent SO much time creating the perfect recipe, to ensure that it satisfies his cravings, every time! And, as it turns out, both of my boys can’t get enough of this recipe.
These meatballs are not just an incredible recipe – they also happen to be my take on the classic IKEA Swedish meatballs. If you’ve never had the food at the IKEA cafe, then you are missing out. Their Swedish meatballs are classic for a reason. They’re tender on the inside, with the perfect crust on the outside. But dare I say… my version is even better. That’s because these meatballs are served alongside a rich and creamy sauce that is truly so good, that you could drink it. I mean that! Plus, when served atop a bed of fluffy egg noodles? It’s the perfect combination. Believe me when I say that you won’t be able to get enough of this recipe!
What You Need to Make These Classic Meatballs and Noodles
- Ground Beef & Pork: The secret to making these meatballs is to use a combination of ground beef and ground pork. The two meats together add the best flavor, so be sure not to skip out on using both of them!
- Italian Parsley: Fresh Italian parsley not only adds a pop of color to these meatballs, but also adds the best finishing touch.
- Onion: You’ll need one onion for these meatballs – I recommend using a yellow onion here.
- Garlic: I highly recommend using fresh garlic here, for the best flavor.
- Spices: You’ll need a combination of nutmeg, allspice, kosher salt, and ground black pepper, in order to make these meatballs.
- Panko Breadcrumbs: Panko bread crumbs add texture to these meatballs and help them stay together. If you prefer, you can also substitute these out for gluten-free breadcrumbs instead.
- Eggs: Eggs work as the binder, to keep these meatballs together.
- Olive Oil: A little bit of olive oil helps the meatballs stay together.
- Butter: The secret to making a rich and creamy sauce? It’s butter!
- All-Purpose Flour: The flour makes the sauce nice and thick, so that it can fully coat the meatballs. You can also opt to use gluten-free flour here, if you prefer.
- Beef Broth: Rich beef broth adds a delicious flavor to the sauce. I like to use Kettle & Fire beef bone both for added protein and flavor.
- Dijon Mustard: Dijon mustard adds a delicious tang to the sauce. Don’t skip this!
- Heavy Cream: A little heavy cream makes the sauce perfectly creamy! You can also substitute full fat coconut milk for a dairy-free option!
- Egg Noodles: Meatballs with noodles is a classic combination! I recommend using egg noodles, for this recipe.
How to Make These Tender & Flavorful Swedish Meatballs
To make these meatballs, start by preheating your oven to 400ºF. Next, grease a large baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside. Then, add all of the meatball ingredients to a bowl and use your hands to work them together, until they’re fully combined.
Use a cookie scoop and scoop out some of the meat, forming it into a 2-inch meatball. Repeat until all of the meat has been formed into meatballs, and line them up on the baking sheet. You should get approximately 28-30 small meatballs. Transfer the tray to the oven and bake the meatballs for 15-20 minutes, or until they are browned and cooked through.
While the meatballs are baking, prepare the sauce. Heat a large skillet, on the stove, over medium heat, and add in the butter. Once the butter is melted and bubbling, add the flour and whisk until there are no clumps. Then, add in the beef broth, dijon mustard, kosher salt, nutmeg, allspice and heavy cream, and continue to whisk until the sauce is smooth.
Once the meatballs are done, remove them from the oven and add them to the pan with the sauce. Then, place the cover on the pan and allow the meatballs to cook for 10 minutes. While they’re cooking, prepare the egg noodles according to the package instructions. Once the noodles are done, drain the water from them and coat them well, with butter.
Finally, transfer the meatballs and sauce to the noodles, then garnish with chopped parsley. Once they’re done, serve and enjoy!
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.
** Photography by Tanya Pilgrim
There is no dish more cozy and comforting than tender Swedish Meatballs and noodles. This is my son Hunter's Favorite Baked Swedish Meatballs & Noodles – a recipe that he requests weekly, in my household, and one that I have absolutely perfected! These meatballs are a better-for-you recipe inspired by the IKEA café classic recipe, and comes together with the creamiest, most delicious sauce. Your family is going to love it!
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
- 1 Pound Ground Beef
- ¾ Pound Ground Pork
- ½ Cup Italian Parsley finely chopped
- 1 Yellow Onion grated
- ½ Teaspoon Nutmeg
- 1 Teaspoon Allspice
- 5 Cloves Garlic mashed
- 1 Cup Panko Breadcrumbs
- 2 Eggs
- 2 Teaspoons Kosher Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
For the Sauce:
- 5 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- ½ Cup All-Purpose Flour
- 4 Cups Beef Broth I am using Kettle & Fire beef bone broth for added protein and flavor!
- 2 Teaspoons Dijon Mustard
- 1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ¼ Teaspoon Nutmeg
- ¼ Teaspoon Allspice
- 1 ¼ Cups Heavy Cream
For Serving:
- Egg Noodles
- Parsley chopped
Instructions
- To make these meatballs, start by preheating your oven to 400ºF.
- Next, grease a large baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.
- Then, add all of the meatball ingredients to a bowl and use your hands to work them together, until they're fully combined.
- Use a cookie scoop and scoop out some of the meat, forming it into a 2-inch meatball. Repeat until all of the meat has been formed into meatballs, and line them up on the baking sheet. You should get approximately 28-30 small meatballs.
- Transfer the tray to the oven and bake the meatballs for 15-20 minutes, or until they are browned and cooked through.
- While the meatballs are baking, prepare the sauce.
- Heat a large skillet, on the stove, over medium heat, and add in the butter. Once the butter is melted and bubbling, add the flour and whisk until there are no clumps.
- Then, add in the beef broth, dijon mustard, kosher salt, nutmeg, allspice and heavy cream, and continue to whisk until the sauce is smooth.
- Once the meatballs are done, remove them from the oven and add them to the pan with the sauce.
- Then, place the cover on the pan and allow the meatballs to cook for 10 minutes.
- While they're cooking, prepare the egg noodles according to the package instructions.
- Once the noodles are done, drain the water from them and coat them well, with butter.
- Finally, transfer the meatballs and sauce to the noodles, then garnish with chopped parsley.
- Once they're done, serve and enjoy!
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WHAT DID YOU THINK?
Rate + Review
I made these for my family this past weekend and EVERYONE loved them, even my super picky son! I love that the meatballs are baked and not pan fried.
* I served them with egg noodles, a side of zucchini/portabellas and had some cranberry sauce on the side. DELISH.
Oh my gosh! We had this for dinner tonight and it was incredible!!! Served over egg noodles just as you recommended and everyone loved it! My daughter (5) said these are her new favourite meatballs. And that sauce!! So delicious!
Woohoo!! I’m so happy to hear that, Ashley! Thank you for your review!
This recipe was fantastic! Meatballs were very tender and flavorful, and the sauce was creamy and delicious. Served it over mashed potatoes as well as egg noodles, and it was great both ways. I’ll be saving this recipe to make when I have guests over for dinner!
I am so thrilled to hear that, Steph! Thank you so much for making this recipe and for leaving such a kind review!
OMG – this was so good! Leftovers were even better the second day. I craved this all week after making it and got all the ingredients to make it again this week! I love that all the ingredients are also easy to find in the grocery store.
I am so happy to hear that, Yolanda! Thank you so much for making this recipe and for leaving such a kind review!