Description
Festive Swedish Christmas Meatballs blend traditional Scandinavian flavors with holiday cheer, creating a comforting classic that warms family gatherings. Served with creamy lingonberry sauce, these tender morsels invite generous celebrations around the dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 pound (450 grams) ground beef
- 0.5 pound (225 grams) ground pork
Binding and Moisture Ingredients:
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 0.5 cup (50 grams) breadcrumbs
Aromatic and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley (or fresh, finely chopped)
- 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional, for a festive touch)
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 cup (250 milliliters) cranberry sauce (smooth or whole berry)
- 0.5 cup (120 milliliters) barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Carefully arrange the oven rack in the center position and warm the oven to a robust 400F (200C), preparing a baking sheet with a light coating of oil or a protective parchment paper lining.
- In a spacious mixing vessel, delicately combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, finely diced onion, minced garlic, aromatic salt, ground pepper, and freshly chopped parsley.
- Using clean hands, tenderly fold and merge the ingredients, ensuring minimal handling to maintain a light, tender texture – mix just until the components are harmoniously integrated.
- Craft uniform spherical morsels approximately 1-inch in diameter, gently rolling between palms to create smooth, consistent meatballs.
- Strategically position the meatballs across the prepared baking sheet, allowing slight spacing between each sphere to promote even heating and caramelization.
- Transfer the sheet to the preheated oven and roast for 18-20 minutes, monitoring until the exterior achieves a rich golden-brown hue and the internal temperature indicates complete cooking.
- Remove from the oven and allow a brief resting period to stabilize the internal juices before serving these festive, savory meatballs.
Notes
- Customize the meat blend by swapping ground pork with ground turkey for a leaner option, ensuring the same juicy texture.
- Enhance flavor depth by adding a pinch of nutmeg or allspice to create a subtle holiday-inspired taste profile.
- Prevent dry meatballs by avoiding overmixing the ingredients and using a light touch when forming the balls, which helps maintain moisture and tenderness.
- Make ahead and freeze unbaked meatballs for up to 3 months, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking and preserve quality.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg