Description
This Swedish Meatball Pasta Bake is a cozy, easy dinner that tastes like a hug in a bowl—juicy Swedish-style meatballs, tender pasta, and a rich, creamy gravy baked under a blanket of melty cheese. It’s perfect when you need quick breakfast leftovers for the next day’s lunchbox, simple dinner ideas for busy weeknights, or just a satisfying comfort-food dish to add to your favorite easy recipe collection of family-friendly food ideas and dinner ideas.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
0.5 lb ground pork
0.5 cup breadcrumbs
0.25 cup milk
1 large egg
0.25 cup finely minced onion
2 cloves garlic minced
0.5 teaspoon salt
0.5 teaspoon black pepper
0.5 teaspoon ground allspice
0.25 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons butter or oil for browning
12 oz short pasta shells or egg noodles
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
2.5 cups low sodium beef broth
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
0.5 teaspoon onion powder
0.5 teaspoon salt or to taste
0.25 teaspoon black pepper
0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish and set aside.
2. In a mixing bowl, stir together the breadcrumbs and milk and let sit for 5 minutes to soften.
3. Add the egg, minced onion, garlic, salt, pepper, allspice, and nutmeg to the breadcrumb mixture and mix until combined.
4. Add the ground beef and ground pork and gently mix with clean hands or a fork just until everything is evenly combined.
5. Shape the mixture into small meatballs, about 1 to 1.5 tablespoons each, and place them on a plate or tray.
6. Heat the butter or oil for browning in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the meatballs in batches and brown on all sides, about 6 to 8 minutes total, then transfer them to a plate.
7. While the meatballs are browning, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until just shy of al dente, 1 to 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain and set aside.
8. In the same skillet used for the meatballs, reduce the heat to medium and melt the 3 tablespoons of butter. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until lightly golden and nutty.
9. Slowly pour in the beef broth while whisking to avoid lumps, then whisk in the heavy cream. Continue to cook, whisking often, until the sauce is smooth and beginning to thicken.
10. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
11. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
12. In the prepared baking dish, combine the cooked pasta with about two thirds of the sauce, stirring to coat the pasta evenly.
13. Nestle the browned meatballs on top of the sauced pasta, spacing them evenly, and spoon the remaining sauce over the meatballs and exposed pasta.
14. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the top of the casserole.
15. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling around the edges and the cheese is melted and lightly golden.
16. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes so the sauce can thicken slightly.
17. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley, then scoop into bowls and serve warm.
Notes
For the most tender meatballs, avoid overmixing the meat and use a light touch when shaping them.
If the sauce becomes too thick after baking or reheating, stir in a splash of beef broth or cream to loosen it back to a silky consistency.
You can assemble the casserole up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate it; add 5 to 10 extra minutes to the baking time if it goes into the oven cold.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 35
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Swedish inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 950
- Fat: 36
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Unsaturated Fat: 15
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 46
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 32
- Cholesterol: 155
Keywords: swedish meatball pasta bake, easy dinner, dinner ideas, pasta bake, comfort food, easy recipe