Description
Swedish Christmas Meatballs blend traditional Nordic flavors with holiday comfort. Tender, seasoned beef and pork mingle with a creamy lingonberry sauce, inviting you to savor festive culinary warmth.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 0.5 lb (225 g) ground pork
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsps milk
- 0.5 cup (50 g) breadcrumbs
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried parsley (or fresh, finely chopped)
- 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon (optional, for a festive touch)
- 1 cup (250 ml) cranberry sauce (smooth or whole berry)
- 0.5 cup (120 ml) barbecue sauce
- 2 tbsps brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preparation Setup: Position the oven rack centrally and preheat to 400F (200C), lining a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly oiling the surface.
- Mixture Creation: In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and parsley, using gentle folding techniques to maintain a light texture without overmixing.
- Meatball Formation: Craft uniform 1-inch spherical meatballs by delicately rolling the mixture between palms, ensuring consistent size and smooth surfaces.
- Baking Process: Arrange meatballs on the prepared baking sheet with slight separation, then roast in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes until achieving a golden-brown exterior and reaching safe internal temperature.
- Serving Technique: Allow meatballs to rest briefly after removing from the oven, enabling internal juices to stabilize before presenting these festive, flavorful delicacies.
Notes
Avoid Overworking Mixture: Gentle mixing prevents tough, dense meatballs by keeping protein strands relaxed and tender.
Control Moisture Balance: Use fresh breadcrumbs and precisely measured milk to maintain perfect meat texture without becoming soggy or dry.
Check Internal Temperature: Verify meatballs reach 160°F (71°C) center to guarantee safe, fully cooked protein while preserving juiciness.
Customize Protein Options: Swap ground meats with turkey or chicken for lighter version, or use plant-based alternatives for vegetarian adaptation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 296
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 509 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 66 mg