Description
This Creamy Swedish Meatball Noodle Bake is a comforting and hearty casserole combining tender homemade Swedish meatballs with egg noodles in a rich, creamy sauce, topped with melted mozzarella cheese and fresh parsley. Perfect for a satisfying family dinner, this bake brings classic Swedish flavors to an easy-to-make oven dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Pasta
- 12 ounces egg noodles
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Topping
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare dish: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Sauté aromatics: In a skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil and sauté the finely chopped onion for 3–4 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Make meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, sautéed onion and garlic, salt, black pepper, allspice, and nutmeg. Mix well to incorporate. Form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place them on a baking sheet.
- Bake meatballs: Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 15–18 minutes until browned and cooked through.
- Cook noodles: While the meatballs bake, cook egg noodles according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare creamy sauce: In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1–2 minutes to form a roux. Gradually whisk in beef broth and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens. Reduce heat to low and stir in sour cream, heavy cream, and Worcestershire sauce until the sauce is smooth and heated through.
- Assemble bake: In the greased baking dish, combine the cooked egg noodles, baked meatballs, and creamy sauce. Gently stir to evenly combine the ingredients.
- Add topping and bake: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top. Bake in the oven for 20–25 minutes until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese is golden brown.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from the oven and sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley if desired before serving warm.
Notes
- This dish can be made ahead and refrigerated before baking to save time on serving day.
- Substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version of the meatballs.
- Use frozen cooked meatballs to shorten preparation time.
- For a dairy-free version, replace sour cream and heavy cream with alternatives like coconut cream and omit the cheese.
- Ensure meatballs are cooked through before combining to guarantee food safety.
