Description
Hearty Swedish meatball pasta bake combines classic Nordic flavors with comforting pasta layers. Creamy sauce and tender meatballs create a satisfying meal you’ll savor to the last bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 pounds ground meat
- 2 cups shell pasta
- 5 cups beef broth
- 1 1/2 sticks butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Binding and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs
- 2/3 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Aromatics and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 medium sweet onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Blend finely diced sautéed onions with aromatic herbs, milk, and minced garlic into breadcrumbs, creating a moist and flavorful base.
- Gently fold the cooled breadcrumb mixture with ground meat and eggs, carefully forming uniform spherical meatballs without overworking the protein.
- Stabilize meatball structure by chilling in refrigerator for approximately 30 minutes while preheating oven to 375°F.
- Cook pasta until just tender, maintaining slight firmness, and simultaneously brown meatballs in batches to develop rich caramelized exterior.
- Construct creamy sauce by whisking butter and flour into a smooth roux, gradually incorporating liquid ingredients and simmering until achieving velvety consistency.
- Artfully arrange cooked pasta and browned meatballs in baking dish, generously coating with prepared sauce, then bake for 30 minutes until golden and bubbling, ensuring thorough heating and flavor melding.
Notes
- Crumb Consistency Ensure breadcrumbs are finely ground for a smoother, more uniform meatball texture that helps bind ingredients perfectly.
- Meat Temperature Mix ground meat when it’s slightly chilled to prevent fat from breaking down, creating firmer, juicier meatballs.
- Spice Flexibility Swap traditional spices with smoked paprika or nutmeg for a personalized flavor profile that elevates the classic Swedish taste.
- Dietary Adaptations Replace beef and pork with ground turkey or plant-based alternatives to accommodate different dietary preferences without compromising rich, comforting flavors.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Swedish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 720
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg