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Authentic Swedish Meatball Soup (Köttbullsoppa)

Close-up of a white bowl filled with swedish meatball soup, featuring browned meatballs in a creamy broth topped with fresh dill.

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Make this comforting and hearty Swedish Meatball Soup, Köttbullsoppa, featuring small, seasoned meatballs in a rich, creamy dill broth. This is a perfect family friendly soup dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef and pork mixture (50/50)
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 small onion, finely minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 2 tablespoons butter or oil for browning
  • 6 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons cold water (for slurry)
  • 1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the meatballs: In a medium bowl, combine the ground meat, breadcrumbs, milk, minced onion, salt, pepper, allspice, and egg. Mix gently with your hands until just combined; do not overmix.
  2. Roll the meat mixture into very small meatballs, about 1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter.
  3. Heat the butter or oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Brown the meatballs in batches, turning them until they are browned on all sides. They do not need to be cooked through. Remove the browned meatballs and set them aside.
  4. Pour the beef broth and water into the pot. Bring the liquid to a simmer over medium-high heat. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  5. Once simmering, carefully add the browned meatballs back into the broth. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let the soup simmer for 15 minutes, allowing the meatballs to cook through.
  6. In a small bowl, whisk together the heavy cream and flour until smooth. This is your thickening agent.
  7. Whisk the flour and cream mixture into the simmering soup. Stir constantly until the soup thickens slightly, about 3 to 5 minutes. Do not let the soup boil rapidly after adding the cream.
  8. Stir in the fresh chopped dill. Taste the soup and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  9. Serve this hearty comfort soup hot, perhaps with a side of lingonberry jam for a traditional touch.

Notes

  • For a gluten free option, substitute the breadcrumbs with gluten free breadcrumbs or use 1/4 cup of almond flour as the binder.
  • If you prefer a richer broth, substitute 1 cup of the beef broth with chicken broth.
  • You can prepare the meatballs ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before cooking.

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