Who among us doesn’t love the Swedish meatball? It’s not so much that the meatball itself is that unique (except maybe the fact that it’s generally seasoned with nutmeg instead of basil and oregano), it’s that it’s usually served in a delicious and creamy sauce. While you might like them served over mashed potatoes, I’m partial to pairing them with egg noodles, myself, and this casserole brings you all of that goodness in one baked dish.
There are three major components to this bake – the meatballs, the noodles, and the sauce. But it all starts with the meatballs, which are a combination of ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, and a touch of nutmeg.
They’ll finish cooking in the oven, but you brown the meatballs up before nestling them into a bed of tender egg noodles.
INGREDIENTS
MEATBALLS:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 pound ground beef
1 large egg, beaten
½ c. breadcrumbs
½ onion, grated
½ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp Kosher salt
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
CASSEROLE:
2 ½ c. egg noodles
1 c. beef broth
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1-pint heavy cream
1 ½ c. Swiss cheese, grated
Fresh parsley, chopped, for serving
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1: Prepare the oven. Preheat it to 375 degrees F. Using a nonstick spray, grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and set aside.
Step 2: Place the beef, bread crumbs, egg, onion, nutmeg, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Mix well until just combined. Scoop and roll 1 ½ tablespoons of the mixture into a ball. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
Step 3: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. To the hot oil, add the meatballs and cook until all sides are browned. To a plate, transfer the meatballs and set aside.
Step 4: In the meantime, cook the noodles in a large pot of salted boiling water for two minutes less than the package directions.
Step 5: Add the broth, heavy cream, and Worcestershire sauce to the now-empty skillet and scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 10 minutes until a little thickened. To taste, season with salt and pepper. Then, take the skillet off the heat.
Step 6: Into the prepared baking dish, add the pasta and top with meatballs. Over the pasta and meatballs, evenly pour the sauce and sprinkle with cheese.
Step 7: Place in the preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes or until the cheese has melted and is bubbly. Remove from the oven when done and allow the casserole to sit for about 5 minutes.
Step 8: Serve and enjoy!