🍝 Swedish Meatball Pasta Bake

🍝 Swedish Meatball Pasta Bake

Description:
Juicy homemade meatballs in a luscious, creamy gravy, tossed with pasta and baked until bubbly and golden. It’s the perfect family dinner — cozy, filling, and full of Scandinavian comfort.

🍽️ Serves

6–8 people

🕐 Total Time

• Prep: 25 minutes

• Cook: 30 minutes

• Bake: 20 minutes

• Total: ~1 hour 15 minutes

🧂 Ingredients

🧆 For the Meatballs:

• 1 lb (450 g) ground beef

• ½ lb (225 g) ground pork

• ½ cup breadcrumbs

• ¼ cup milk

• 1 egg

• 1 small onion, finely grated

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• ½ tsp allspice

• ½ tsp nutmeg

• Salt & pepper, to taste

• 2 tbsp butter (for browning)

🍲 For the Creamy Sauce:

• 3 tbsp butter

• 3 tbsp flour

• 2 cups beef broth

• 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)

• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

• 1 tsp Dijon mustard (optional but adds great flavor)

• Salt & pepper, to taste

🍝 For the Pasta Bake:

• 12 oz (340 g) pasta (penne, fusilli, or egg noodles)

• 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella (or a mix of mozzarella & Swiss cheese)

• ½ cup grated Parmesan

• Fresh parsley, for garnish

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Make the meatballs

1. In a large bowl, mix breadcrumbs and milk; let sit 5 minutes.

2. Add beef, pork, egg, onion, garlic, allspice, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.

3. Mix gently until combined. Roll into 1-inch meatballs.

4. In a large skillet, melt butter and brown the meatballs on all sides.
   (They don’t need to be cooked through — they’ll finish in the sauce.)
   Remove and set aside.

2. Cook the pasta

• Boil pasta in salted water until just al dente.

• Drain and set aside.

3. Make the creamy sauce

1. In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat.

2. Whisk in flour and cook 1–2 minutes to make a roux.

3. Slowly whisk in beef broth until smooth, then add cream, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard.

4. Simmer until slightly thickened (about 5 minutes).

5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. Combine everything

• Add meatballs and pasta into the sauce, gently tossing to coat.

• Pour into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.

• Top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

5. Bake

• Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20–25 minutes, until hot and bubbly with a golden top.

• Let rest for 5–10 minutes before serving.

🌿 Garnish

Sprinkle with fresh parsley and a little extra Parmesan before serving.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

Serve with:

• Garlic bread or buttered rolls

• Green beans or a crisp cucumber salad (a nod to the Swedish side)