Swedish Meatball Pasta
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Swedish Meatball Pasta – This spin on a classic recipe gives you an entire meal-in-one made with pasta shells cooked down in a rich, creamy sauce, and loaded with flavorful meatballs. You’ll need just one pot and 30 minutes to turn this dreamy, creamy dinner into a reality!
The Best Swedish Meatball Pasta Recipe
If you’ve been following my blog and the recipes I create over the years, you’ll come to learn the three things I love more than anything: Pasta, meatballs, and making dinner in just one pot. Is this Swedish meatball pasta my dream meal realized? I think so!
These meatballs are made with warm spices that cook down to perfectly flavor that simple creamy sauce. I know everyone will be pining for seconds after finishing their plate, so this recipe will make lots to mitigate any duels over the last scoop. Good thing it’s made with such easy kitchen staple ingredients! You’re going to need to add it to your dinner rotation.
What’s So Special About Swedish Meatballs?
There’s a reason these little meatballs have gained such popularity and traction all over the world! Every country has their own version of meatballs, but the Swedes could rival Italy with their version loaded with warm flavor and cooked in a flavorful, creamy sauce.
Swedish meatballs are smaller than what you’d usually see in an Italian restaurant, and they’re also flavored with a mixture of nutmeg and allspice rather than herbs.
If you’re familiar with making Swedish meatballs, you’ll notice I’ve replaced the classically used sour cream with heavy cream. For this one-pot pasta dish, cream is much easier to cook into the pasta and the rich flavor simply works better with pasta.
- Panko breadcrumbs – You can use Italian breadcrumbs if that’s what you have handy.
- Onion – White or yellow, doesn’t matter.
- Milk – Any type, even a non-dairy alternative, will work.
- Ground beef – I used lean ground beef. You can use ground pork instead. Ground poultry will also work, but keep in mind the meatballs will be drier.
- Egg – A large egg.
- Spices – Nutmeg and allspice. You can use one or the other if you don’t have both on hand.
- Salt & pepper – Season to taste.
- Olive oil – Grape seed, avocado, canola, vegetable, sunflower, or safflower oils can be used instead.
- Chicken broth – Use low-sodium. Beef or veggie broth can work too.
- Heavy cream – Any cream with at least 35%MF. A can of full fat coconut milk will work too if you need a non-dairy alternative.
- Worcestershire sauce – Soy sauce can be used instead.
- Dijon mustard – If you aren’t a fan of dijon, you can use regular yellow mustard.
- Pasta – I used mini shells, but use your favorite.
- Parmesan cheese – Freshly grated.
- Parsley – Chopped for a fresh, bright garnish.
- Form the meatballs: Add all the meatball ingredients to the bowl and mix well to combine. Use your hands to form small meatballs, using about 2 tbsp of the meat mixture per meatball. I find it easier to use a small scoop, this way all the meatballs will be the same size.
- Sear the meatballs: Heat the olive oil in a large braiser or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs, cooking in batches if needed, and brown on all sides. Transfer the meatballs to a paper towel lined plate.
- Mix the sauce: To the same skillet add the chicken broth, cream, Worcestershire, mustard, salt, and pepper to the pot. Stir everything well. Bring the mixture to a bubble, add the pasta, then reduce the heat to a simmer.
- Cook the noodles & finish: Stir often, until the noodles are cooked through and tender. It should take 10 to 12 minutes depending on your noodles. Stir in the parmesan cheese and the meatballs. Taste for seasoning, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve.
What To Serve With Swedish Meatball Pasta
This creamy, dreamy pasta dish is perfect with some fresh greenery. You can serve up your favorite simple salad, some steamed or roasted vegetables, plus a good crusty bread to get every last bit of that fantastic sauce out of the pan. Here are some of my favorite sides:
- Kale and Quinoa Salad
- Avocado Tomato Salad
- Ultimate Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
- Skillet Green Beans
- No Knead Bread
- Artisan Bread
How To Store Leftovers
Transfer your leftovers to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days. They’ll reheat best in the microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until heated through. You can reheat on the stovetop if you prefer, but make sure to use a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add a splash more broth if needed.
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 1-2 months frozen. Make sure everything has cooled down to room temperature before transferring to an airtight container.
Let the pasta thaw slowly overnight in the fridge before reheating. Be very careful when reheating and stirring the pasta to avoid breaking them.
Other Easy One Pot Meals To Try
- Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Pasta
- One Pot Chicken and Peas Fettuccine Alfredo
- Pasta Alla Gricia
- Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff
- Haluski
- Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs
- One Pot Creamy Chicken Pot Pie Pasta
- Meatballs with Mushroom Sauce
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Swedish Meatball Pasta
Ingredients
For the meatballs
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (I used Panko)
- 1 medium onion (grated or minced)
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 egg
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
For the pasta
- 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)
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- Form the meatballs: Add all the meatball ingredients to the bowl and mix well to combine. Use your hands to form small meatballs, using about 2 tbsp of the meat mixture per meatball. I find it easier to use a small scoop, this way all the meatballs will be the same size.
- Sear the meatballs: Heat the olive oil in a large braiser or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs, cooking in batches if needed, and brown on all sides. Transfer the meatballs to a paper towel lined plate.
- Mix the sauce: To the same skillet add the chicken broth, cream, Worcestershire, mustard, salt, and pepper to the pot. Stir everything well. Bring the mixture to a bubble, add the pasta, then reduce the heat to a simmer.
- Cook the noodles & finish: Stir often, until the noodles are cooked through and tender. It should take 10 to 12 minutes depending on your noodles. Stir in the parmesan cheese and the meatballs. Taste for seasoning, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve.
Equipment
Notes
- Transfer your leftovers to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days. They’ll reheat best in the microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until heated through. You can reheat on the stovetop if you prefer, but make sure to use a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add a splash more broth if needed.
- 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 1-2 months frozen. Make sure everything has cooled down to room temperature before transferring to an airtight container.
- Let the pasta thaw slowly overnight in the fridge before reheating. Be very careful when reheating and stirring the pasta to avoid breaking them.
Nutrition Information
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
An authentic Swedish meatball has at least 1/2 beef and 1/2 pork in it. It is often made with 1/3 beef, 1/3 pork, and 1/3 veal for the absolute best meatball. In my 30 years living in Denmark and frequenting often the eastern shore of Helsingborg where close friends live, I have never seen a “Swedish” meatball with only beef. Nutmeg is one of the ingredients that gives it its delicious and unique flavor. Also. I was taught to make them oval shaped with two teaspoons or tablespoons, depending on how big one wants to make them.
Thank you for sharing your insights and experiences with traditional Swedish meatballs! You’re absolutely right about the combination of meats traditionally used, including beef, pork, and sometimes veal, and the unique touch of nutmeg. My recipe may take a slightly different approach, focusing more on ease and accessibility for a wider audience, but I appreciate your authentic perspective. As for the shape, that’s a fantastic tip – I’m sure readers who want a more authentic experience will appreciate knowing about the oval shape.
Hi there
Really tasty recipe, I love me anything creamy! 🙂
I love all the variants of meatballs you put up on the website and will try the Philly cheese steak ones next!
Just a sidenote, we don’t actually eat meatballs with pasta in Sweden, nor do we cook them in any sauce. There’s generally two ways to eat them; served alongside boiled potatoes, lingonberry jam and pickled cucumbers, or with mashed potatoes and ketchup (the way most kids eat it).
Do I drain the pan first after cooking the meatballs before adding the broth & other ingredients?
If you have a lot of fat, yes, I’d drain the pan first, but otherwise you want all those brown bits, it’s what’s going to give your sauce lots of flavor.
Made this today after church. I was surprised at the great flavor!! I changed a couple of things to make it a more traditional beef stroganoff. Instead of meatballs, I just browned the meat after adding the ingredients, and I used egg noodles instead of shells. Turned out great!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Any suggestions on baking the meatballs instead of searing them?
Yes, you can bake them for 20 to 25 minutes at 400°F.
Huge winner! I was unsure about the parmesan because I’ve never used it in a sauce for Swedish meatballs but it was fantastic! Another well-deserved FIVE STARS!!
Can you use frozen meatballs instead of making them from scratch? I am only coking for 1 and this would be too much. This recipe sounds really good and I do want to try.
Of course!
Followed exactly and tasted good. BUT it was too wet… saved the “soup” for another recipe. What do I have to adjust? May I add cornstarch slurry?
Thanks, J
You can do that to thicken it, but it could also have to do with the ingredients used. For example, using milk instead of heavy cream etc.
Has anyone made this recipe with precooked pasta? I’m not a fan of cooking the pasta in the sauce, would the sauce be too thin?
I would definitely not make that much sauce, probably half of it.
Did anyone have luck leaving out the nutmeg and allspice? I just can’t handle those in savory dishes, so if you have other suggestions I’ll take them.
You can leave them out! They’re used in such small quantities you won’t have to substitute. If anything some dried herbs would be nice.
Delicious! Family loved it
Leftovers not to be found. First time making this dish followed recipe exactly, it was delicious. Fast easy meal on the table less than 30 mins. Bowls didn’t need to be washed, they were licked clean. Thank you Jo