Description
Swedish Meatballs made with a lean mix of ground turkey and beef, simmered in a flavorful broth and finished with a creamy sauce blended with reduced fat cream cheese. This hearty and comforting dish is perfect for a family meal and garnished with fresh parsley for added freshness.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meatballs
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, minced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 celery stalk, minced
- 1/4 cup minced parsley
- 1/2 pound 93% lean ground turkey
- 1/2 pound 95% lean ground beef
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs or gluten-free crumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
For the Sauce
- 2 cups reduced sodium beef broth
- 3 ounces reduced fat cream cheese
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Sauté aromatics: In a large nonstick skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced onions and garlic, sautéing until the onions are translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Then add the celery and parsley and cook until the vegetables soften, approximately 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and let the mixture cool.
- Prepare meatballs: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground turkey, large egg, cooled onion mixture, breadcrumbs, 1/4 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and allspice. Mix thoroughly until well combined. Shape the mixture into 16 evenly sized meatballs.
- Cook meatballs in broth: Pour beef broth into the same skillet and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and carefully add the meatballs into the broth. Cover the pan and let the meatballs simmer for about 20 minutes, or until they are fully cooked through.
- Prepare creamy sauce and serve: Using a slotted spoon, remove the meatballs and place them in a serving dish. Strain the broth to remove solids, then transfer the liquid broth into a blender. Add the reduced fat cream cheese and blend until smooth and creamy. Return the sauce to the skillet with the meatballs and let them simmer together briefly to combine flavors. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef with all turkey for a leaner option.
- Using gluten-free breadcrumbs makes this recipe suitable for gluten-free diets.
- For extra richness, you can add a splash of heavy cream instead of or along with the cream cheese in the sauce.
- Serve with egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
