Swedish Meatballs – Juicy Meatballs in a Velvety Cream Gravy

Swedish Meatballs are a rich comfort dish built around juicy browned meatballs coated in a thick, glossy cream gravy.

As the meatballs sear, they develop a deep golden crust that locks in juices and adds strong pan flavor. The sauce is built in the same skillet with butter, broth, and cream, creating a silky gravy that wraps around every meatball.

The final texture is tender, saucy, and deeply savory with a smooth finish that looks especially good spooned over mashed potatoes or buttered noodles.

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Ingredients (Serves 3–4)

For the meatballs
500 g ground beef
1 egg
½ cup breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons milk
1 small onion, finely grated
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon allspice

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For the cream gravy
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon flour
1½ cups beef broth
½ cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon black pepper

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For garnish
Chopped parsley

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Step-by-step cooking

Step 1 – Mix meatballs
Combine ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs, milk, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and allspice.

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Step 2 – Shape
Roll the mixture into small meatballs.

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Step 3 – Brown
Heat a skillet with a little oil and sear the meatballs until deeply golden on the outside.

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Step 4 – Remove
Transfer the meatballs to a plate.

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Step 5 – Build roux
In the same pan, melt butter and stir in flour.

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Step 6 – Add broth
Slowly pour in beef broth while whisking until smooth.

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Step 7 – Add cream
Stir in heavy cream, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper.

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Step 8 – Thicken
Simmer until the sauce becomes silky and slightly thick.

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Step 9 – Return meatballs
Add the meatballs back into the skillet and spoon sauce over them.

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Step 10 – Finish
Simmer gently until the meatballs are cooked through and fully coated in gravy.

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Pro Tips
Do not overcrowd the pan when browning meatballs.
Let the sauce simmer gently so it stays smooth.
A little Dijon gives the gravy more depth without overpowering it.

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Why This Performs
Glossy cream gravy visual
Juicy meatball cross-section
Strong comfort-food appeal
Easy skillet-to-plate presentation