Made with tender, juicy meatballs, hearty egg noodles, and a deliciously creamy sauce, this Swedish Meatball Soup recipe is my ultimate comfort food! The beefy, creamy, saucy broth is the perfect base for the beef and pork meatballs. It all comes together for melt-in-your-mouth levels of deliciousness!
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There’s nothing more comforting to me than perfectly-seasoned Swedish meatballs…unless I put those meatballs in a deliciously creamy broth with Kluski egg noodles, and then I have a perfect cozy soup! The broth tastes just like that to-die-for cream sauce, and bowls of this meatball soup are best when topped with some lingonberry jam.
Ingredients for Swedish Meatball Soup
- Ground Meat: Swedish meatballs are a mix of ground chuck (beef) and either pork or chicken–use whichever you prefer.
- Breadcrumbs: Helps bind the meatballs together.
- Dairy: Use a combination of milk, heavy cream, and sour cream for the meatballs and the sauce.
- Broth: A combination of beef broth and chicken broth complements the flavor of the ground meat, though you can use all of one or the other.
- Flour: All-purpose flour creates a roux for the sauce/soup broth.
- Herbs & Spices: Allspice, nutmeg, salt & pepper, and parsley create a warm flavor.
- Garlic & Onion: These aromatics add more earthy flavor to the meatballs.
- Beef Bouillon: Use instant bouillon granules to add deep, beefy flavor to the soup.
- Egg Noodles: Fills out the soup.
- Dijon: Adds a rich and tangy flavor to the broth/sauce.
- Sugar: Use granulated sugar to create a little bit of sweetness for balance.
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Make it Easy
I much prefer to make homemade meatballs for this soup, but you can swap in frozen Swedish meatballs for convenience if you like. Simply follow the instructions on the package of frozen meatballs to prepare them, then combine them with the rest of the soup (make as instructed in the recipe card).
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover Swedish meatball soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop over medium-high heat until warmed through.
The meatballs alone are great for freezing, but the other parts of the soup (the creamy broth and egg noodles) don’t hold up well when defrosting.
Serving Suggestions
I always finish off a bowl of Swedish meatball soup with a bit of lingonberry jam to really set off the flavors. I would serve the meatballs alone on a bed of mashed potatoes, so I often serve this soup with a side of potatoes too. Anything from a classic baked potato to these potato pancakes will do the trick!
Swedish Meatball Soup Recipe
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Ingredients
For the Meatballs
- ⅓ cup regular breadcrumbs
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 large egg
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon oil
- ½ medium yellow onion minced
- 1 large clove garlic minced
- 1 pound ground chicken or pork
- 1½ pounds ground chuck
For the Sauce & Noodles
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ¾ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon Beef instant bouillon granules
- 1½ tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Salt if needed
- 8 ounces egg noodles medium, narrow or Kluski egg noodles (1 standard package)
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
To Garnish
- Lingonberry jam or cranberry sauce
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Sour cream
Instructions
For the Meatballs
- Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and preheat oven to 400°F. Cover 2 large baking sheets with foil and spray the foil with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine breadcrumbs, milk, cream, egg, salt, pepper, allspice, nutmeg, and parsley. Set the mixture aside to allow the milk to soak into the breadcrumbs, at least 10 minutes.⅓ cup regular breadcrumbs, ½ cup milk, 2 tablespoons heavy cream, 1 large egg, 1½ teaspoons kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon allspice, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
- Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the minced onion and sauté until translucent. Add the minced garlic and sauté 30 seconds. Transfer the onion/garlic mixture to the breadcrumb mixture.1 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon oil, ½ medium yellow onion, 1 large clove garlic
- Once the breadcrumb mixture is ready, add the ground chuck and chicken. Mix well (but don’t over-mix or meatballs will be tough) using a wooden spoon.1 pound ground chicken or pork, 1½ pounds ground chuck
- Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls (or use a 1-inch scoop) and place on the prepared sheet pan 1 inch apart.
- Bake meatballs for about 12-15 minutes or until no longer pink in the center.
- Remove from the oven and place the meatballs on a paper towel-lined baking sheet until ready to use.
For the Sauce & Noodles
- While the meatballs are cooking, prepare the sauce.
- Make a roux by melting the butter in a large skillet. Add the flour to the butter and whisk well. Cook over medium-low heat, whisking often, until mixture is creamy and turns a dark golden brown.4 tablespoons unsalted butter, ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- Add beef broth, chicken broth, cream, sour cream, bouillon granules, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, cider vinegar, sugar, and black pepper. Taste, then season with salt, only if needed.3 cups low-sodium beef broth, 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth, 2 cups heavy cream, ¾ cup sour cream, 1½ tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, Salt, 1 teaspoon Beef instant bouillon granules
- Bring to a boil over medium heat, and add the noodles. Restore the soup to a boil and reduce heat to low to simmer until noodles are al dente.8 ounces egg noodles
- Add the meatballs, and simmer, stirring gently & often, until noodles are cooked through and soup has reduced to desired consistency. (See recipe note.)
- Add chopped parsley and stir gently.2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
- Serve and garnish with dollops of Lingonberry jam, sour cream, and a sprinkle of additional chopped fresh parsley.Lingonberry jam or cranberry sauce, Chopped fresh parsley, Sour cream
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- For a Thicker Soup: Before adding the meatballs, mix together 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 2 tablespoons cold milk or cold water and add it to the sauce, stir over medium-high heat until mixture thickens then reduce heat to simmer.
- Quantity: The meatball portion of this recipe makes about 60-70 (1-inch ) meatballs. Add as many meatballs as you like to the soup and save any extras for a quick snack or meal.
Nutrition Information
How to Make Swedish Meatball Soup Step by Step
Prep the Oven: Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and preheat oven to 400°F. Then cover 2 large baking sheets with foil and spray the foil with cooking spray, and set aside.
Soak the Breadcrumbs: In a large bowl, combine ⅓ cup of regular breadcrumbs, ½ cup of milk, 2 tablespoons of heavy cream, 1 large egg, 1½ teaspoons of kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon of allspice, ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg, and 1 tablespoon of minced fresh parsley. Set the mixture aside and allow the milk to soak into the breadcrumbs, for at least 10 minutes.
Sauté the Onion & Garlic: Heat 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter and 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add ½ of a minced yellow onion and sauté until translucent. Then add 1 minced garlic clove and sauté 30 seconds. Add the onion & garlic to the breadcrumb mixture.
Add the Ground Meat: When the breadcrumb mixture is ready, add 1 pound of ground chicken or pork, and 1½ pounds of ground chuck. Use a wooden spoon to fully incorporate the breadcrumb mixture into the ground meat, but don’t over-mix.
Bake the Swedish Meatballs: Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls (or use a 1-inch scoop) and place on the prepared sheet pan 1 inch apart. Bake Swedish meatballs for about 12-15 minutes, or until the center is no longer pink.
Make a Roux: While the meatballs are cooking, prepare the sauce. To make a roux, melt 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Then add ¼ cup of all-purpose flour to the melted butter, and whisk continuously until the mixture is creamy and turns a dark golden brown.
Make the Sauce: To the roux, add 3 cups of low-sodium beef broth, 3 cups of low-sodium chicken broth, 2 cups of heavy cream, ¾ cup of sour cream, 1½ tablespoons of low-sodium soy sauce, 2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard, 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of Beef instant bouillon granules. Whisk everything together, then taste and season with salt if needed.
Boil and Add Noodles: Bring the sauce/broth to a boil over medium heat, then add 8 ounces of egg noodles. Bring the soup back to a boil, then reduce heat to low, and let it simmer until noodles are cooked al dente.
Add the Meatballs: Next, add the Swedish meatballs and simmer, stirring gently & often, until the egg noodles are cooked through and the soup has reduced to desired consistency. Stir in 2 tablespoons of minced fresh parsley to finish.
Serve: Serve and garnish with dollops of Lingonberry jam, sour cream, and a sprinkle of additional chopped fresh parsley.
Let me be one of those people who reviews a recipe without following the recipe exactly:
I used frozen meatballs (sweidhs-style from Aldi), added mirepoix to the soup, sautéing it in the butter before adding the flour, forgot about the vinegar and added nutmeg to broth. It was SO GOOD! I will for sure be making this again; but will be sure to try the homemade meatballs next time.
I have made this numerous times, its has amazing depth flavor, warm, great for xmass season. I chose to use the richest sourcream i could find which is really the hardest part. These comments about authentic Swedish meatballs are a bit ridiculous. The food is so bland over there. This is real comfort food and the best recipe i could find.
Made this tonight for dinner. It was delicious. I added a few seasonings such as garlic powder, onion powder, etc. I also used coconut milk instead of heavy cream. I did thicken it with cornstarch and well. Definitely will make again.
Thanks so much for sharing what worked for you, Shea!
Soup is best served on a cold winter day after being Outside Hot Soup is a good way to warm up
I needed a burger recipe for venison and this is perfect! Flavors all worked. Yum!
Thanks for sharing, Lisa!
I am sorry it wasn’t your taste, Vaughn.
This was not what I expected. When it cools in the fridge, the ingredients congeal. I should have known it was pretty fatty by the ingredients. I didn’t think it was particularly flavorful either.
I am sorry it didn’t work out for you!
The meat depends where in Sweden you from, some, like my grandmother, use only minced pork, other places use 50/50 pork/beef. Not every where in Sweden cook put the meatballs in a sauce.
It is a brown sauce, most of the time it’s made with double cream/whipping cream and or milk.
Meatballs: bread crumbs, egg, salt, black pepper, swedish allspice, chopped onion, water/milk. The size of the meatballs varies too.
We serve it with potatoes mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam or pickled cucumber