Keto Swedish Meatballs

Name: Keto Swedish Meatballs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 9 oz lean ground beef (250g); 9 oz ground pork (250g); 1 small yellow onion (very finely chopped (60g)); 2 garlic cloves (minced); 3 tbsp parsley (chopped (11g)); 1 medium egg; 1 tbsp coconut flour; 1 tsp salt (or to taste); 1/2 tsp ground black pepper; 1/2 tsp ground allspice; 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg; 1 tbsp olive oil; 3 tbsp unsalted butter; 1.5 cups beef or chicken broth; 1/2 cup heavy cream; 1 tsp xanthan gum (or ground chia); 1/4 tsp dijon mustard; Salt and pepper (to taste); 1 tbsp coconut aminos; Good pinch of nutmeg and allspice to taste

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My keto Swedish meatballs are a cosy dinner the whole family will enjoy. Think juicy and tender gluten-free meatballs, cooked in a creamy, flavorful sauce. They taste just like authentic ones, but with only 3.3g net carbs per serving.

Meatballs in a pan topped with fresh parsley and a spoon

When my kids were small, I would regularly drive to IKEA with a Swedish friend. Our toddlers would let off steam in the soft play area, we'd buy some tea lights and at the end we'd all eat meatballs with lingonberry jam.

And of course, I would take a bag of frozen meatballs home for quick dinners. They never lasted long.

Today, I still love meatballs for dinner. But I prefer to make my own gluten-free, keto friendly version, without breadcrumbs or flour.

This keto Swedish meatball recipe is so simple. It requires only 5 minutes prep and it is on the table in less than 30 minutes.

The hardest thing is sticking to one portion! It is that delicious.

Also try my easy oven baked pork meatballs.

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🌟 Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
Serving Suggestion
Recipe FAQs
Storage
More Ground Beef Recipes
Recipe

🌟 Why You'll Love This Recipe

Authentic flavor and texure. Firstly, the meatballs are soft, light and fluffy. And the sauce! Oh heavens, it is good. Creamy and with warming spices, it perfectly complements the meatballs. Better than IKEA, pinky promise.
Easy recipe! You are going to be amazed that a dish this delicious can be ready in just 25 minutes. It's quick and easy!
Low carb. My keto meatballs are only 3.3g net carbs per serving.

Ingredients

Traditional Swedish meatballs are ALMOST entirely low carb, except for the breadcrumbs. Here are details about the ingredients you'll need for this keto version.

Coconut flour: The perfect stand-in for wheat breadcrumbs.
Ground meat: I like to use a mix of lean ground beef and ground pork. The pork makes the meat mixture softer.
Onion and garlic: Fresh onion and garlic taste so much better than garlic powder and onion powder. To save time, you could use frozen chopped instead.
Spices: Salt and pepper, of course. Also, don't miss out on the warming goodness of nutmeg and allspice. They put the Swedishness into your low carb meatballs!
Xanthan gum: To thicken the sauce. You can also use ground chia seeds.
Coconut aminos: This is an umami flavouring sauce made from coconut. It lends a subtle salty sweetness that complements the creaminess of the sauce.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Instructions

Let me ahow you how I make keto Swedish meatballs. Here are basic steps.

Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed method, timings and nutrition information.

ground beef and pork, chopped onion, coconut flour and an egg in a bowl

STEP 1

In a large mixing bowl, add the beef, pork, onion, garlic, parsley, egg, coconut flour, salt and spices. Mix to combine and roll into meatballs.

STEP 2

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and fry the meatballs on a medium heat until browned on all sides. Remove from the pan.

melted butter and xanthan gum in a pan with a whisk

STEP 3

Heat the butter. Once you see bubbles, add the xanthan gum or ground chia and whisk to combine.

STEP 4

Add the chicken or beef broth and the rest of the sauce ingredients and whisk again. Then, whisk through the heavy cream.

STEP 5

Simmer for two minutes, then add the meatballs back into the pan. Cook until the sauce has thickened up and the meatballs are cooked through.

Katrin's Top Tips

The secret to fluffy meatballs: Keep some air in the meatballs! Handle them lightly when you form them. This way, they turn out fluffy and not tough.

For even-sized meatballs, use a small cookie scoop.

Spread out the meatballs in the frying pan so they don't touch. This way, they brown evenly. If necessary, fry them in two batches.

Serving Suggestion

You'll want something to scoop up all that lovely sauce with.

Most of the time, I serve Swedish meatballs over cauliflower mash, as seen in the image below. Sprinkle over chopped fresh parsley for a color pop.

Good alternatives are cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles or steamed low carb vegetables like green beans and broccoli.

My secret tip: It's great with a dollop of sugar free cranberry sauce - that's how the Swedes serve their meatballs!

A portion of Swedish meatballs with mashed cauliflower on a plate.

Recipe FAQs

Can you bake the meatballs in the oven?

Yes. Spread the meatballs in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in a preheated oven at 410F / 210C for 12 minutes or until browned all over.

Can you make this dish dairy-free?

Yes, you can use coconut cream instead of the heavy cream. Of course, this will change the flavor of the dish.

Are there other breadcrumb substitutions?

Yes. Instead of coconut flour, use either almond flour or crushed pork rinds. For both, you'll need to use 3 tablespoons. Almond flour and pork rinds are less absorbent than coconut flour, that's why you need more.