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Swedish Meatball Pasta

Swedish Meatball Pasta

The ultimate comfort food, Swedish Meatball Pasta is creamy, savory, and incredibly satisfying. Perfect for easy weeknight dinners, this dish combines tender meatballs with pasta in a rich sauce that will have you craving for more. Make it tonight for a delicious meal the whole family will love!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Swedish
Calories: 600

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup breadcrumbs (I used Panko)
  • 1 medium onion (grated or minced)
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon allspice
  • 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • ½ teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 cups chicken broth (low sodium)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 3 cups pasta (dry, about 8 oz)
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoon parsley (freshly chopped)

Equipment

  • Le Creuset 3.75-Quart Braiser

Method
 

  1. Form the meatballs: Add all the meatball ingredients, including breadcrumbs, onion, milk, ground beef, egg, nutmeg, allspice, salt, and pepper, to a large bowl. Mix well until everything is combined. Use your hands to form small meatballs, about 2 tablespoons of the mixture each. I find it helpful to use a small scoop to ensure uniform size for even cooking.
  2. Sear the meatballs: Heat olive oil in a large braiser over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the meatballs in batches if necessary, browning them on all sides. Cook until they have a nice golden crust, which should take about 5 to 7 minutes. Carefully transfer the meatballs to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
  3. Mix the sauce: In the same skillet, add chicken broth, heavy cream, Worcestershire sauce, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Stir everything well, bringing the mixture to a bubble over medium heat. This step is important as it creates a deeply flavored sauce.
  4. Cook the noodles & finish: Add the pasta to the bubbling sauce. Stir often as the noodles cook, ensuring they absorb the delicious flavors. It should take about 10 to 12 minutes, depending on your pasta choice. Once the noodles are cooked through, mix in the parmesan cheese and the seared meatballs. Taste for seasoning, adjusting as necessary. Finish by garnishing with fresh parsley.

Notes

  • Storage: Transfer your leftovers to an airtight container and store in the fridge for three to four days. They’ll reheat best in the microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until heated through.
  • Freezing: While it’s not ideal to freeze cooked pasta, you definitely can if you don’t mind a softer texture once the pasta thaws back out. This dish will last one to two months frozen.
  • Thawing: Let the pasta thaw slowly overnight in the fridge before reheating. Be very careful when reheating to avoid breaking the pasta.
  • Variations: Feel free to experiment with different herbs or spices in the meatballs for a unique twist!