Make this Swedish Meatball Mac and Cheese recipe, with flavorful Swedish meatballs, authentic gravy, and lots of gooey cheese, in 30 minutes for a quick and easy family dinner recipe!
Swedish Meatball Mac and Cheese
During the Summer months, I love to make recipes that are super easy. The less time I have to spend cooking, the better. Plus, the food has to be tasty enough that I won't have to have fights at dinner every night to get my kids to actually eat it.
My kids call meatballs "magic food," so Cooked Perfect Meatballs, made with select meats, real cheeses, and savory herbs then flame broiled to sear in all that flavor, are a staple at our house. They are seriously perfect for any occasion and so easy to prep because you can find them right in the freezer section at your local grocery store! You can just grab a few bags of meatballs for dinner while the kids are searching for their favorite frozen Summer treats.
Now a little bit about this Swedish Meatball Mac and Cheese recipe I'm sharing today. You really can't go wrong with Swedish Meatballs or mac and cheese. But when you put them both together? Wow! So good. And it is so easy to make, too. I seriously made it in the midst of packing for vacation. Pack a little, stir a little, pack a little, throw it in the oven. Swedish Meatball Mac and Cheese satisfies my comfort food cravings, and the kids LOVE it. They ate it all and asked for more!
My side of the family is very, very Swedish (straight off the boat, as they say. I'm two generations removed from the boat ride), and we enjoy our Swedish food. Every Christmas, we make a huge smorgasbord with all of our Swedish favorites, but we find that come about halfway through the year, we're really missing some of our favorites. Which is why this Swedish Meatball Mac and Cheese is so amazing!
In this Swedish Meatball Mac and Cheese recipe, I used Cooked Perfect Swedish Meatballs, plus my grandma's Swedish meatball gravy recipe, and mixed in lots of gooey cheese, to make a meal that you can whip up in about 30 minutes that's pretty much a guaranteed family dinner hit! You can even freeze this dish. Just transfer to a freezer safe container (like a casserole dish with a lid) before baking. When you're ready to use, thaw and pop it in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
Make this Swedish Meatball Mac and Cheese recipe, with flavorful Swedish meatballs, authentic gravy, and lots of gooey cheese, in 30 minutes for a quick and easy family dinner recipe!
126 ounce bag Cooked Perfect Swedish Style Meatballs
116 ounce box elbow macaroni, cooked to package instructions
½cupbutter
½cupflour
4cupshalf-and-half
2cupsmilk
2teaspoonsground ginger
1tablespooninstant coffee granules
Salt & pepper to taste
4cupsgrated Swiss or Gouda cheesedivided
½cupfresh chopped parsleydivided
Instructions
In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. (I also like to cook the macaroni right now so that the sauce and noodles are done at about the same time.)
When butter is melted, add flour. Stir until completely combined allow to heat for about 1-2 minutes.
Add half-and-half, about ¼ cup at a time, stirring between each addition.
Add milk and stir to combine.
Add ginger, coffee, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
Continue cooking and stirring over medium heat until sauce thickens.
When mixture is hot and thick, begin stirring in cheese, reserving about ½ cup for topping.
Adjust salt and pepper to taste, and stir in ½ of the chopped parsley.
Pour sauce over cooked macaroni in a large oven-safe casserole dish, such as a 9"13" (Or I used a large cast iron dutch oven, and actually dumped the macaroni in with the sauce, all in one pot.) Stir to combine.
Top with remaining shredded cheese and fresh chopped parsley.
Bake in a 350°F oven for about 10-15 minutes, until cheese is melted and dish is heated through.
Serve warm.
Notes
Quick Tip: I like to cook my macaroni at the same time as the sauce, and they both usually get done at about the same time.
Did you make this recipe?I love seeing your creations. Snap a quick photo and mention @TheGraciousWife or tag #thegraciouswife on Instagram! Leave a STAR rating below!
The success of Swedish meatballs has had a profound economic impact on local businesses and the food industry. The dish's popularity has created a thriving market for local meat and ingredient producers, sustaining their businesses and bolstering the economy.
If you're wondering what's so special about Swedish Meatballs, or what they taste like, close your eyes and imagine this: incredibly soft meatballs, made extra juicy by using a combination of both pork and beef and soaked bread instead of breadcrumbs, lightly spiced with just a touch of nutmeg and all spice that gives ...
In their most traditional form Swedish meatballs ('köttbullar') are made of ground pork and beef, cream, egg and onion, and are served with creamy mashed potatoes, a thick, brown gravy, lingonberry jam and pickled cucumber. The latter adds bitter sweetness as a perfect complement to the savoury meatball.
What Is the Best Cheese for Mac and Cheese? Sharp cheddar is the overwhelming popular choice, but for extra-creamy results, we think medium cheddar is even better. Other delicious options include Gruyère, smoked Gouda, and Monterey Jack.
Czech authorities alerted the discount furniture maker that they had found horsemeat in a sample of meatballs, and Ikea subsequently pulled the product from stores in 14 countries.
Onions and garlic add flavor and texture, and milk, egg, and breadcrumbs act as a binder. Finally, Parmesan cheese is a little “Cozy” touch that adds a subtle pop of flavor. The sauce itself is an amazing combination of beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon, and sour cream.
Norwegian recipes are made with all beef, while some Swedish recipes also use pork. Norwegian meatballs tend to be larger and flatter than their Swedish cousins.
"Finnish meatballs are meatier and bigger than Swedish meatballs. They are also served with lingonberry jam and boiled/mashed potatoes, and a gravy, but they are juicier and yummier.
Spaghetti is typically served as a primo, and meatballs (or polpette) are served as the next course (secondo), on their own or with crusty bread, potatoes or other vegetables. My most memorable polpette experience in Italy was at a small place called Poplette & Co in Turin.
What do you eat IKEA meatballs with? The traditional way to eat Swedish meatballs, including the ones IKEA make, is with mashed potatoes, green peas, gravy, and lingonberry jam. Only the peas are considered “optional”.
Roasting carrots or parsnips brings out their natural sweetness, making them a fantastic companion for meatballs. This side dish adds: A Rustic Touch: Their earthy flavor complements the savory meatballs.
Milk: Keeps our cheese sauce super creamy. I use whole milk or reduced-fat milk. Mustard and spices: A combination of Dijon mustard, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt makes this macaroni and cheese extra delicious.
You can thicken cheese sauce further by adding more flour or even using a couple of teaspoons of cornstarch. In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch or flour with a cup of water. The cold water will create a slurry. Stir the slurry into the cheese sauce over medium heat, and let the sauce boil and thicken.
Whether making it from scratch or the box, sour cream is the secret ingredient to rich and creamy macaroni and cheese. This tart and tangy additive goes a long way regarding recipes, and just a dollop can transform any dish into a thick and creamy masterpiece.
Introduction: My name is Errol Quitzon, I am a fair, cute, fancy, clean, attractive, sparkling, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
