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Swedish Meatball Pasta

Rich, creamy pasta dish with seasoned meatballs in a restaurant-quality sauce that transforms weeknight cooking into something extraordinary
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 520

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend)
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 small onion, finely minced
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp allspice
For the Pasta and Sauce
  • 12 oz egg noodles or penne pasta
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • fresh parsley for garnish

Method
 

  1. Combine breadcrumbs and milk in a large bowl, letting them soak for two minutes until the mixture resembles wet sand. Add ground beef, egg, minced onion, salt, pepper, and allspice. Mix gently with your hands - overworking creates tough meatballs. Roll into walnut-sized balls, about 24 total.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with a drizzle of oil. Brown meatballs in batches, turning carefully to develop a golden crust on all sides. They don't need to cook through completely - just develop that beautiful color that adds depth to the final dish. Transfer to a plate.
  3. While meatballs brown, cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve one cup of pasta water before draining - this starchy liquid becomes your secret weapon for perfect sauce consistency.
  4. In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour, cooking for one minute until it smells nutty and loses its raw flour taste. Gradually add beef broth, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. The mixture will bubble and thicken beautifully. Stir in heavy cream and Worcestershire sauce.
  5. Return meatballs to the skillet, nestling them into the creamy sauce. Simmer for 8-10 minutes until meatballs are cooked through and sauce coats the back of a spoon. Add drained pasta, tossing gently to coat every piece. If the sauce seems thick, add reserved pasta water gradually until it reaches perfect consistency.

Notes

Start boiling pasta water first to save time. Don't overmix meatballs to avoid tough texture. Brown meatballs properly for flavor development. Add cream slowly to prevent curdling. Reserve pasta water for sauce consistency. Refrigerate leftovers up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months. Reheat gently with milk or broth to restore creamy texture.