Swedish Meatballs

A Scandanavian dish for cozy nights

Swedish Meatballs are a traditional Scandanavian dish comprised of lightly peppery + sweet spiced meatballs bathed in a sherry cream sauce. This gluten-free and low-carb dish is perfect for cold fall and winter nights when windows get frosty, houses get cozy with crackling fires, and comfort food is deemed essential.

Can I serve these as an appetizer or are they strictly a dinner dish?

Though I love serving these Swedish Meatballs for dinner as a main course, they also work really nicely as a hearty appetizer for holiday parties. Simply cook as directed, then transfer both meatballs and sauce to a slow-cooker and set to it's lowest warm setting.

What should I serve these Swedish Meatballs with?

I prefer to serve these on top of or alongside a neutral base so I can take advantage of all the creamy sauce and let the flavor of the meatballs take center stage. If your diet allows for a little sugar, I also love to serve them with a spoonful of lingonberry preserves. These are some of my favorite pairing options:

Low-carb / keto:

• Mashed cauliflower
• Roasted asparagus or broccoli
• Sauteed spinach or kale
• Spiralized zucchini (zoodles)

Gluten-free:

• Mashed potatoes (both traditional white potatoes and sweet potatoes are lovely)
• Roasted smashed potatoes
• Roasted carrots, asparagus, or broccoli
• Sauteed spinach or kale
• Spiralized vegetables such as sweet potatoes or zoodles
• Gluten-free egg noodles or pasta
• Gluten-free rolls

Meet Your New Favorite Binder

In addition to eggs, these Swedish Meatballs use low-carb ground pork rinds to bind the meat together so that it stays in a secure ball form.

You may be familiar with pork rinds as a popular gas station snack, but these days there are much better options available. I personally like these Epic Oven Baked Pork Rinds with Pink Himalayan + Sea Salt that I’ve found on Amazon and at Whole Foods. We originally bought them as a low-carb snack to substitute for chips when making Keto dips and spreads, but I quickly realized that they would make an awesome swap for panko bread crumbs when crumbled. Let’s just say that my low-carb meatballs, meatloaf, and “breadings” have been getting a serious structural upgrade ever since.

My preferred way to prepare the pork rinds is to just blitz them in my food processor for a few seconds and keep the granules in an airtight container to use just like you would traditional bread crumbs. *If carbs aren't an issue for you, you can, of course, swap the pork rinds in this recipe for Panko (which also comes in a gluten-free version if needed).

What tools do I need to make this recipe?

• A cutting board
• A chefs knife
• A large mixing bowl
• A large prep bowl (for reserving cooked meatballs)
• Measuring cups and measuring spoons
• 2 wooden spoons or spatulas
• A whisk
• A large cast-iron pan or oven-safe saute pan
• A meat thermometer

Are you looking to upgrade to your cooking tools or replenish your pantry? Check out my kitchen tools shop page and pantry staples shop page to find my must-have kitchen tools, pantry items, and other Whip & Wander favorites.

Storage and Freezing

When stored properly in airtight containers in the refrigerator, these Swedish Meatballs should keep for up to 4 days.

This recipe also freezes well for up to three months in airtight freezer-safe containers. To reheat, simply allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight then reheat in a pan on the stove or in a microwave-safe container in the microwave.

A note for special diets

This recipe for Swedish Meatballs is grain-free, gluten-free, low-carb, and friendly for Keto diets.

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