Description
Hearty Swedish meatball casserole brings comfort straight from Scandinavian kitchens, blending rich beef, creamy sauce, and tender pasta. Nordic flavors mingle deliciously, inviting you to savor a warm, satisfying meal that celebrates classic European cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 egg
Starches and Binding Agents:
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 8 ounces (225 grams) pasta (such as egg noodles)
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F and prepare pasta according to package directions, draining and setting aside.
- Combine ground beef with bread crumbs, finely chopped onion, egg, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl.
- Gently shape the meat mixture into uniform, bite-sized spheres, ensuring even consistency.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high and thoroughly brown meatballs, cooking until completely done and developing a rich, golden exterior.
- Without cleaning the skillet, melt butter and sprinkle flour, whisking continuously to create a smooth roux.
- Gradually pour beef broth into the roux, stirring constantly to prevent lumps and allow the sauce to thicken and develop a silky texture.
- Fold sour cream into the sauce, creating a creamy, luxurious consistency that will envelop the meatballs.
- Return meatballs to the skillet, coating them generously with the velvety sauce.
- Transfer the pasta to a casserole dish, arranging meatballs evenly throughout the pasta.
- Pour the entire sauce mixture over the pasta and meatballs, ensuring complete coverage.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until the casserole is bubbling and heated completely through.
- Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley on top before serving for a vibrant, fresh garnish.
Notes
- Enhance meatball tenderness by avoiding overmixing the meat, which can make them tough and dense.
- Opt for ground beef with slightly higher fat content (80/20) to ensure juicier, more flavorful meatballs that won’t dry out during cooking.
- Customize the dish for gluten-sensitive diets by substituting breadcrumbs with gluten-free alternatives like almond flour or crushed pork rinds.
- Create a lighter version by using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream and replacing some beef with ground turkey for reduced calories and fat.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Swedish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 80mg