Description
Festive Swedish christmas meatballs bring Nordic holiday cheer to winter dinner tables. Rich blend of ground meats, warm spices, and creamy sauce offer comfort and tradition for family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- ½ lb (225 g) ground pork
- 1 egg
- ½ cup (50 g) breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsps milk
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried parsley (or fresh, finely chopped)
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon (optional, for a festive touch)
- 1 cup (250 ml) cranberry sauce (smooth or whole berry)
- ½ cup (120 ml) barbecue sauce
- 2 tbsps brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Mixture Preparation: Combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, onion, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Blend ingredients thoroughly yet gently to maintain meat’s tender texture.
- Shaping and Initial Cooking: Form mixture into uniform 1-inch meatballs and arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Preheat oven to 400F and roast meatballs for 18-20 minutes until golden brown and fully cooked through.
- Glaze Creation: In a skillet, merge cranberry sauce, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and optional cinnamon. Heat mixture, stirring consistently to develop a smooth, integrated sauce with balanced flavor profile.
- Final Simmering: Carefully transfer roasted meatballs into the prepared sauce, ensuring each sphere becomes completely enveloped. Allow meatballs to simmer for 5-7 minutes, enabling complete flavor absorption and maintaining optimal temperature.
Notes
- Meat Mixing Mastery: Avoid overworking the meat mixture to prevent tough, dense meatballs; use a light touch when combining ingredients for tender, delicate texture.
- Uniform Sizing Strategy: Use a small ice cream scoop or consistent hand-rolling technique to create evenly sized meatballs, ensuring uniform cooking and professional presentation.
- Moisture Maintenance Trick: Include milk and egg in the mixture to keep meatballs juicy and prevent dry, crumbly results; don’t skip these binding ingredients.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Substitute breadcrumbs with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs to make the recipe suitable for individuals with gluten sensitivities.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg