Swedish Meatballs

Learn the simple, guaranteed way to creamy, delicious Swedish meatballs, but you must discover our magical secret ingredient!

meatball recipe title

Craving irresistibly tender, melt-in-your-mouth Swedish meatballs bathed in a luscious cream sauce?

Prepare to unlock the secrets to a timeless comfort food classic, guaranteed to impress even the most discerning palate!

Ingredients

ingredient preparation directions required

Okay, let's explore the ingredients you'll need to whip up this awesome Sweet & Sour Chicken stir-fry!

For the sauce, I'm using ½ cup of white sugar—I know, sounds like a lot, but trust me! Then, ⅓ cup of apple cider vinegar, 3 tbsp of pineapple juice, 3 tbsp of ketchup, and 1 tsp each of Worcestershire, soy, and oyster sauce. Oh, and a pinch of salt—¼ tsp will do.

Now, for the stir-fry, grab 1½ tbsp of peanut oil—vegetable oil works too. You'll also need 1 minced garlic clove and ½ sliced onion. Don't forget the star: 400g of bite-sized chicken thigh fillets. I'm adding 1 red and 1 green bell pepper, cut into pieces, plus a can of pineapple chunks—drain the juice, but save it! Finally, grab some sliced shallots for garnish. You can also add other items such as bite-sized chicken to change up the flavour profile.

Instructions

four word phrase

Now that we have all our ingredients ready, let's get cooking! First, I mix the sauce ingredients together—don't skip this, it's important! Then, I prep my thickener in a small bowl, mixing cornstarch and water.

Next, I heat oil in my wok until it's screaming hot! I toss in minced garlic and sliced onion, stir-frying for a minute.

It is time to add the chicken and stir-fry until it's white outside but still pink inside — be careful not to overcook it! Next, I throw in red and green bell peppers, stir-frying for two minutes.

Time for the sauce! I keep stirring while the sugar dissolves, and the sauce bubbles magically. Then, I add my thickener, simmer it, stirring constantly until it thickens to a glossy syrup. This is where the love comes in, y'all!

  • The moment when the aroma fills the kitchen, and you know something amazing is happening…
  • That first taste of the sauce, thinking, "I made this!"
  • Sharing this dish with friends and family and celebrating your achievement!

Finally, I gently fold in pineapple pieces and make sure they're warmed through. Voila!

Recipe Notes

recipe details instructions only

Also, don't skip the Worcestershire, soy, and oyster sauces! They're my "secret ingredients" – they make it taste like restaurant Sweet & Sour. You can substitute one; don't leave out all three, or the sauce will be, well, blah.

If you're using chicken breast? Tenderize it first, think velvet chicken. To achieve this, consider cornstarch and egg, a classic technique. It keeps it juicy. And if you want to know how many calories are in the dessert, check out the next section below.

Nutrition Information

food composition and data

I've got all the nutritional deets for you right here from my recipe! A serving clocks in around 398 calories! Don't freak! We're also looking at 44.7g of carbs, 28.3g of protein, and 12.2g of fat.

I know, I know, 38g of sugar sounds scary, but hey, life's too short to skip the yum! Plus, look at that Vitamin C – a whopping 130%!

Here's the lowdown, quick and dirty:

  • Too much sugar!
  • Fat? I don't need that.
  • So many carbs, it's scary.

I'm not gonna lie, it's not exactly a health food, but everything in moderation, right? I'm all about balance, so, like, maybe skip dessert if you're having these! We can cut back on the sugar if it really gets you down. We're in this together!

Short Recipe Version

Swedish Meatballs

Prep time: 20 mins

Cook time: 30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb Ground beef
  • 1/2 cup Breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup Milk
  • 1 Egg
  • 1/4 cup Onion, finely chopped
  • 1/4 tsp Nutmeg
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp Butter
  • 2 tbsp Flour
  • 1 cup Beef broth
  • 1/2 cup Heavy cream
  • 1 tbsp Soy sauce
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard

Instructions:

  1. Combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, onion, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Mix gently.
  2. Roll into small meatballs.
  3. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Brown meatballs on all sides. Remove meatballs and set aside.
  4. Whisk flour into the skillet. Gradually add beef broth, stirring until smooth.
  5. Stir in heavy cream, soy sauce, and Dijon mustard. Simmer until sauce thickens.
  6. Return meatballs to the skillet. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through.

Nutrition Information (per serving – estimated):

  • Calories: 400
  • Protein: 30g
  • Fat: 25g
  • Carbohydrates: 15g