There is perhaps no Swedish dish morewell known and beloved worldwidethan Swedish Meatballs with Gravy (Köttbullar). But what goes with them?
Keep reading for 16 delicious ideas for what to serve with Swedish Meatballs, from the essentials to complimentary side dishes!
What Are Swedish Meatballs?
Swedish Meatballs are small spiced meatballsblanketed in a creamy, savory gravy. They are typically served withlingonberry jamor homemadelingonberry sauceandpickled cucumbers. This trio of savory, sweet and tangy is an unforgettable combination that hits all the right flavor notes.
What is different about Swedish Meatballs?
Many food cultures have their own variation of the meatball. What's so special about Swedish meatballs?
- A combination of beef and pork.Most recipes for Swedish meatballs contain equal amounts of both ground pork and ground beef (usually ground chuck, about 80-85% lean).
- A blend of warm spices, usuallyallspiceandnutmeg(and sometimes groundginger).This is what gives Swedish meatballs their unmistakeable flavor.
- The meatball mixture is whipped in astand mixer.You can certainly mix these meatballs by hand, but whipping the meatball mixture gives the final product a fine texture that is unique to Swedish meatballs.
- Swedish meatballs are quite small, at most about an inch in diameter.
- As mentioned above, They are usually served in a creamy gravy withlingonberry jamorLingonberry SauceandFresh Pickled Cucumbers.
- Swedish meatballs are usually served on top ofmashed potatoesor buttered egg noodles.Both are delicious!
Start with This Recipe for Swedish Meatballs
You are going to love mysimple and streamlinedtake on traditional Swedish Meatballs with Gravy. This recipe works because:
- The meatball mix isperfectly spicedandeasy to mixtogether.
- The meatballs arebaked rather than friedwhich creates a more round, nicely shaped cooked meatball. Baking is also a hands-off cooking process (which leaves you free to do other things) and it is much less messy than frying.
- The baked meatballs areblanketed in a delicious, creamy gravyto finish things off perfectly.
Vegetarian or Vegan? Start with this Recipe Instead
Vegetarian Swedish Meatballs don't get any better than this, I promise you. Made with lentils, mushrooms, oats and the right mix of warm spices, these Vegetarian Swedish Meatballs have that quintessential flavor of traditional Swedish meatballs but in a plant-based form. Even if you are not a vegetarian, I would recommend giving these a try. They are a surprisingly tasty and satisfying alternative to traditional meatballs.
What to Serve with Swedish Meatballs
The Essentials
The traditional way to serve Swedish Meatballs is with lingonberry jam or homemade lingonberry sauce and thin slices of pickled cucumbers. See the photo above for inspiration!
My recipe for homemade lingonberry sauce calls for frozen lingonberries which may be hard to find unless you live in an area with strong Scandinavian ties. I buy my lingonberries online through Northwest Wild Foods or Sturdiwheat, but they are not cheap to have shipped.
Luckily, store bought lingonberry jam is just as delicious and relatively easy to come by. You can find it at many large grocery store chains with the other jams and preserves or at a Scandinavian specialty store. If your local store doesn't stock lingonberry jam, you can also order it from Amazon.
While you could buy sliced pickles to serve with you meatballs, I highly recommend making your own quick pickles (see my recipe for Quick Swedish Pickled Cucumbers below). They are super easy, delightfully crisp and refreshing.
Check out the recipes below for your Swedish Meatball essentials!
No Cook Lingonberry Sauce (Stirred Lingonberries or Rårörda Lingon)
Thissimple, no-cooklingonberrysauce (also known as stirred lingonberries) is an essential component of Scandinavian cuisine.This simple mixture of lingonberries and sugar is enjoyed in the Nordic region as a sort of sweet relish.You will find it served alongsideSwedish meatballsorpotato pancakesor spooned over a warm bowl ofporridgeor butterySwedish pancakes.
Check out this recipe
Quick Swedish Pickled Cucumbers
Pickled cucumbers are an essential component of Nordic cuisine. Scandinavians are experts at making the most of a short growing season and often pickle vegetables to extend their usefulness into the long, dark winter ahead.
But even if you aren't in to canning, you can make your own delicious Quick Swedish Pickled Cucumbers at homein a snap! Extremely easy, these briny little bites add flavor and crunch wherever you choose to use them.
Check out this recipe
Substantial Sides
You are going to want a warm and delicious side dish to serve as the "bed" for your Swedish Meatballs and Gravy. Mashed potatoes are a classic choice and are perfect for sopping up every last drop of the delicious sauce. You could also serve the meatballs with simple boiled potatoes tossed with butter and maybe a handful of chopped fresh herbs.
Buttered egg noodles are an easy and effortless alternative as well. Simply cook your noodles in boiling water according to the package directions, toss with butter and season with salt and pepper to taste. Shower with a little chopped fresh parsley if you like and serve! They are SO good with the creamy gravy.
If you are feeling adventurous, consider something like the Celery Root Puree recipe linked below. It's a fun alternative to mashed potatoes and a perfect pairing with the meatballs and gravy.
Check out the recipes below for your substantial side dishes!
Foolproof Everyday Mashed Potatoes
Creamy, fluffy and perfectly seasoned, thisbasic mashed potato recipe is FOOLPROOF and unfussyenough to make any day of the week. With just a few simple tips and tricks, you canelevate those everyday spudsfrom good to great every time!
Check out this recipe
Celery Root Puree
This easy and luxurious celery root puree is a delightful alternative to mashed potatoes with the delicious buttery flavor that only celery root can bring.
Check out this recipe
Other Complimentary Side Dishes
Once you have your meatballs and a starchy side to serve as a bed, why not round out the meal with a complimentary vegetable dish or a slice or two of rye bread to sop up that delicious gravy?
Check out the recipes below for some nice options that go perfectly with Swedish Meatballs!
Green Beans with Dill Caper Butter and Toasted Hazelnuts
Quick-cooking green beans are tossed with a flavorful combination of butter, fresh dill and capers and then topped with toasty chopped hazelnuts. The result is a delicious and almost instant vegetable side dish that helps you get dinner on the table in a flash without compromising freshness or flavor.
Check out this recipe
Kale Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Pecans
Crispy kale, cubes of sweet roasted butternut squash and sliced red onions and crunchy pecans come together to create a memorable salad that pairs nicely with all manner of fall and winter dishes.
Check out this recipe
Nordic Red Cabbage Slaw with Carrots and Beets
Thiszesty, colorfulslaw is much more interesting than the average coleslaw.....shredded red cabbage, carrots and raw beetsare tossed with chopped red onion, dill and a creamy skyr or Greek yogurt-based dressingto create aNordic-inspired slawyou are going to love!
Check out this recipe
Simple Green Salad with Lingonberry Vinaigrette
Say hello to your new favorite Nordic-inspired salad dressing. Tangy and mustardy with just the right amount of zip, this Lingonberry Vinaigrette is a perky addition to just about any salad situation.
Check out this recipe
Barley Salad with Asparagus, Red Pepper and Spinach
This Barley Salad with Asparagus, Red Pepper and Spinach is not to be missed! Hearty pearl barley, bright asparagus, red bell pepper and tender spinach come together to create adelicious and satisfying springtime salad. It makes a lovely first course or side dish and is even substantial enough to bea meal on its own.
Check out this recipe
Mushroom Gratin
Creamy, thyme-infused mushrooms covered with crispy, buttery bread crumbs and baked until golden brown and bubbly, this Mushroom Gratin bringscomfort and warmthto the table.
Check out this recipe
Spicy Quick Pickled Beets
These aren't your grandmother's pickled beets! Roasted rather than boiled andQUICK PICKLED in a spicy brine, these Spicy Quick Pickled Beets are a deliciously modern take on a very old-fashioned recipe. The best part?This recipe is incredibly easy.....roasted beets (a completely hands off cooking process) are immersed in a simple brine that comes together effortlessly. Let them sit for 30 minutes and they are ready to go!
Check out this recipe
Pickled Beet Salad
This Pickled Beet Salad is the pickled beet's opportunity to shine, its moment in the spotlight. And you would never know from thecomplex and delicious natureof this salad that it isincredibly simpleto prepare.
Check out this recipe
Swedish Beet Salad (Rödbetssallad)
A classic Swedish salad featuring pickled beets, crisp apples and a zippy creamy dressing.
Check out this recipe
Swedish Limpa Bread
Limpa is a classic Swedish rye bread with a tender crumb and a hint of fragrant orange and anise seed.And it's perfect for dipping in Swedish Meatball gravy! While some rye breads can be tricky to work with, this recipe isincredibly simple.If you are new to baking rye bread at home, this Swedish Limpa is the perfect place to start.
Check out this recipe
Easy Overnight Danish Rye Bread (Rugbrød)
Bursting with rye, whole grains and a variety of tasty seeds, Danish Rye Bread (rugbrød) is one of the most delicious and nutritious breads out there.
In the world of Nordic cuisine, this dense rye bread is an absolute essential. It serves as the base forsmørrebrød(the FAMOUS Nordic open face sandwiches), and is an integral part of the Scandinavian diet, not just in Denmark but throughout the region.
Check out this recipe
Variations and Leftovers
We aren't done yet! I've got a variation on the original recipe for you along with a classic idea for using any leftover meatballs.
If you are looking for a change from the original recipe for Swedish Meatballs with Gravy, consider omitting the gravy in the recipe and serving the meatballs with the Creamy Mustard Dill Sauce featured below. SO delicious and a little unexpected!
Should you have any leftover meatballs, consider serving them cold on an open faced sandwich featuring a creamy pickled beet salad. I know if sounds a little unusual, but it is incredibly tasty.
Creamy Mustard Dill Sauce
If you want to shake things up a bit, consider serving your meatballs drizzled with this delicious Creamy Mustard Dill Sauce rather than with gravy.
Check out this recipe
Swedish Meatball Open Faced Sandwich with Creamy Pickled Beet Salad
The Nordic open faced sandwich has, from its inception, been intended as a creative vehicle for leftovers. This gorgeous and tasty Swedish Meatball Smørrebrød is the perfect example of Scandinavian leftovers done right.
Check out this recipe
Serving Swedish Meatballs for Christmas
Swedish Meatballs are quite often featured as part of a traditional Christmas Smörgåsbord menu. Looking to include them as a part of your holiday gathering this year? Check out the this post for more Christmas smörgåsbord recipe ideas to go with your Swedish Meatballs!
Well there you have it! Everything you wanted to know about what to serve with Swedish Meatballs (and probably more). So tell me....what's your favorite go to dish to serve with Swedish Meatballs at your house? Please let me know in the comments below!
