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    Cooking Gorgeous » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Spicy And Creamy Swedish Meatball Pasta

    Published: Sep 21, 2021 · Modified: Oct 14, 2022 by Ayla Clulee · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    This delicious Spicy And Creamy Swedish Meatball Pasta is a perfect weekday meal made with juicy homemade meatballs cooked in a creamy white wine sauce.

    It is very easy to make, and full of flavor. You can prepare it in advance for a lazy Sunday lunch or a delicious dinner that would please everyone.

    Jump to:
    • What Are Swedish Meatballs?
    • Why This Recipe Works?
    • Ingredients You'll Need
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Top Tips From the Chef
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Related Recipes
    • Spicy And Creamy Swedish Meatball Pasta

    If you are bored of the usual tomato-based meatball pasta dishes and looking for something hearty, try this spicy, creamy, and cheesy pasta with meatballs recipe.

    For more hearty and comforting pasta dishes, have a look at my Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese (Baked), Lasagna Recipe Without Ricotta Cheese, and Lamb Bolognese with Linguini recipes.

    What Are Swedish Meatballs?

    Swedish meatballs contain nutmeg and/or allspice as an ingredient. These spices are not used for making regular meatballs. I add the nutmeg to the sauce instead of the meatball mixture for a richer taste. Also, Swedish meatballs are smaller in size than normal meatballs!

    Why This Recipe Works?

    • These homemade Swedish Meatballs are creamy, spicy, and extremely delicious.
    • You can prepare the meatballs in advance and keep them refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
    • You can adjust the spiciness by increasing or reducing the amount of chili.

    Ingredients You'll Need

    Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with measurements, complete recipe method, recipe notes, and nutritional information.

    Ingredients for Meatballs

    Labelled picture of ingredients for creamy and spicy meatball pasta dish
    • Ground beef - Try and use mince with a minimum of 15% fat for extra flavor. Mince with a high-fat ratio is the key to soft and juicy meatballs. Minced lamb or pork would also work perfectly with this recipe.
    • Onions - They add umami flavor and sweetness to the meatballs. Use a grater or chop them very finely with a knife. You can use yellow, white, brown, or red onions.
    • Egg - It is necessary to bind the meat with the rest of the ingredients.
    • Parsley - Finely chopped flat-leaf or curly parsley brightens the flavor of the meatballs. You can use half the amount of dried parsley if you don't have fresh ones.

    Ingredients for the Sauce

    Labelled picture of ingredients for spicy meatball pasta sauce
    • Turkish green peppers- They are one of my favorite peppers I use for cooking, especially in my Turkish recipes. They are usually mild but some of them can be quite hot. Always check the spiciness before using them in your dishes. You can replace them with bell pepper or Spanish Padron peppers.
    • Red pepper - Use a sweet type of red pepper such as romano peppers or bell peppers. Wash and slice the same size as green peppers.
    • Mushrooms - Use any type of mushroom you can find. Wild mushrooms such as chanterelles or morels work great with this creamy sauce.
    • White wine - Skip the wine if you want to make this pasta dish for your kids.
    • Double cream - It is very similar to heavy cream. You can substitute it with whipping cream or milk and butter.
    • Parmesan Cheese - No pasta is complete without parmesan cheese. Use a good quality block cheese and try to avoid already grated versions. Some of the best substitutes for parmesan are Grana Padano, Pecorino, or Manchego cheeses.
    • Cheddar Cheese - It is optional, you can use any other cheese of your choice such as stilton, feta, or mozzarella.
    • Pasta - Penne or any other tubular type of pasta works perfectly with this creamy sauce.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Although this is a very easy recipe to make, you need to follow a few simple tips and steps to achieve the best results:

    Prepare the Meatballs

    Place ground beef, grated onions, egg, salt, freshly ground black pepper, coriander powder, chili, and chopped parsley in a large bowl. Use ground beef with a minimum of %15 fat for juicy and tasty meatballs.

    ground beef, egg, parsley, onion and spices are placed in a bowl for making kofta mixture

    Mix to combine and then knead for a few minutes.

    kofta mixture ready to shape

    Take a small amount from the mixture and then turn it into a bite-size meatball. Place them on a plate. Repeat until you run out of the mixture.

    kofta mixture is shaped into small balls

    Place a large pan or a wok on high heat and then heat some vegetable oil. Add half of the meatballs and then nicely sear all sides until brown.

    saute the meatballs with oil

    Make sure the oil is hot enough before adding the meatballs. We only want to give some color to the meatballs, not to cook them. Remove them to a plate and then repeat with the rest of the meatballs.

    meatballs are sautéed until brown and removed to a plate

    Prepare the Spicy and Creamy Sauce

    When you finish browning the meatballs, add chopped onions to the pan. Nicely brown the onions for a few minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the sliced peppers and then sauté them for a few minutes before adding the sliced mushrooms.

    sautéing the sliced peppers and onions in a pan

    Sauté the mushrooms until soft and then add the chili, salt, black pepper, nutmeg, and white wine. Let the white wine reduce totally and then add the double cream. Let the sauce bubble up for a few minutes before adding the browned meatballs. 

    Cook for 8-10 minutes until the meatballs are thoroughly cooked. Start cooking your pasta in boiling water meanwhile.

    Cook the Pasta and Combine it with Swedish Meatballs

    While preparing the sauce, put some water to boil for pasta. While the meatballs are cooking in the sauce, start cooking your choice of pasta in boiling water. Make sure to follow the instructions on the packaging.

    Add grated cheese to the sauce before adding the cooked pasta and then add the chopped herbs. Give it a good stir, check the seasoning, and then garnish with some parmesan shavings.

    boiled pasta is added to creamy meatball sauce

    Top Tips From the Chef

    • Cook your pasta in plenty of salted boiling water for the best results. Don't add any oil to pasta water as it prevents the sauce from sticking to the pasta and also delays boiling the pasta water.
    • Homemade meatballs have a soft texture and should be handled with extra care while pan-frying them.
    • You can double the recipe for the meatballs and freeze some for later. They will keep frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
    • Omit the wine and chili if you are cooking this delicious meatball pasta dish for kids!

    Serving Suggestions

    This creamy and cheesy dish goes well with a nice bowl of salad. Try it with Rocket Salad With Parmesan, Gavurdagi Salatasi (Tomato and Walnut Salad), or some lovely refreshing Greek Cucumber Salad.

    You can also serve Spicy And Creamy Swedish Meatball Pasta with some bread such as Little Caesars Italian Cheese Bread, Pakistani Roghni Naan, Garlic Naan - Indian Flatbread, or Bazlama (Turkish Flatbread).

    Recipe FAQs

    Can you reheat meatballs and pasta?

    Yes, you can reheat the meatballs and pasta in a microwave oven. Make sure you set the microwave to medium heat to heat the meatballs gently.
    Alternatively, you can reheat it in an oven. Cover the pasta with tin foil or a lid and reheat for 1o to 15 minutes or until the meatballs are thoroughly hot.

    Which pasta goes with creamy and spicy Swedish meatballs?

    Although I prefer to use tube-type pasta for this dish to let the sauce sneak in, you can choose any type of your favorite pasta. If you prefer flat-ribbon-type pasta, you can use Fettuccine, Linguine, Tagliatelle, and Pappardelle. 

    How to store the leftovers?

    The leftovers would keep for up to 5 days when refrigerated in an airtight container, or up to 3 months in the freezer.

    Related Recipes

    For more delicious pasta recipes why not try:

    • pasta with salmon and spinach
      Salmon and Spinach Pasta
    • chicken and chorizo pasta with creamy tomato sauce
      Chicken and Chorizo Pasta
    • creamy Cajun Chicken and prawn pasta served with a bowl of pasta
      Cajun Chicken and Shrimp Pasta
    • Creamy Shrimp Pasta

    Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.

    I hope you enjoy the process of making this delicious Swedish Meatball Pasta dish as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂

    Bon appétit! / Afiyet Olsun! 

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    Swedish meatballs served with pasta and parmesan

    Spicy And Creamy Swedish Meatball Pasta

    Ayla Clulee
    Spicy, juicy, and delicious Swedish meatballs cooked in a creamy & cheesy mushroom sauce and then served with your favorite pasta.
    5 from 3 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 30 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Mediterranean
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 890 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 digital kitchen scale
    • 1 Rubber spatula
    • 1 grater
    • 1 measuring spoons
    • 1 Measuring cups

    Ingredients
     
     

    For the Meatballs

    • 400 g minced beef (minimum of %15 fat for soft and juicy meatballs)
    • 1 medium onion (grated)
    • 1 small egg
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon coriander powder
    • ½ teaspoon chili flakes or powder
    • ¼ cup chopped parsley
    • 2-3 tablespoon vegetable oil for frying

    For the Creamy Sauce

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 medium onions (thinly sliced or finely chopped)
    • 2 Turkish green peppers (or 1 green bell pepper or 3-4 padron peppers)
    • ½ red pepper
    • 250 g button or chestnut mushrooms (use wild mushrooms for a deeper and stronger taste)
    • 1 red chili (finely chopped)
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
    • ½ cup white wine (120 ml)
    • ⅞ cup double cream (200 ml)
    • 100 g grated parmesan
    • 50 g grated cheddar
    • ¼ cup chopped parsley
    • few sprigs fresh thyme (finely chopped)
    • 400 g penne pasta (or any of your favourite)
    • parmesan shavings (to garnish)

    Instructions
     

    Making the Swedish meatballs

    • Place ground beef, grated onions, egg, salt, freshly ground black pepper, coriander powder, chili, and chopped parsley in a large bowl.
    • Mix until nicely combined and knead for a few minutes.
    • Take a small amount from the mixture and turn it into a bite-size meatball. Place on a plate. Repeat until you finish the mixture.
    • Place a large pan or a wok on high heat and heat some vegetable oil.
    • Add half of the meatballs and nicely sear all sides until brown. Remove to a plate and repeat with the rest of the meatballs.
    • Add grated cheese to the sauce before adding the cooked pasta and then add the chopped herbs.
    • Give it a good stir, check the seasoning and garnish with some parmesan shavings.

    Preparing the creamy sauce

    • When you finish browning the meatballs, add chopped onions to the pan.
    • Nicely brown the onions for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.
    • Add the sliced peppers and saute for a few minutes before adding the sliced mushrooms.
    • Saute the mushrooms until soft and then add the chili, salt, black pepper, nutmeg, and white wine.
    • Let the white wine reduce totally and then add the double cream.
    • Let the sauce bubble up for a few minutes before adding the browned meatballs.
    • Cook for 8-10 minutes until the meatballs are thoroughly cooked. Start cooking your pasta in boiling water in meanwhile.

    Cook the pasta and combine with the sauce

    • While the meatballs are cooking in the sauce, start cooking your choice of pasta in boiling water. Make sure to follow the instructions on the packaging.
    • Add grated cheese to the sauce before adding the cooked pasta and then add the chopped herbs.
    • Give it a good stir, check the seasoning and garnish with some parmesan shavings. 

    Video

    Notes

    • Cook your pasta in plenty of salted boiling water for the best results. Don't add any oil to pasta water as it prevents the sauce from sticking to the pasta and also delays boiling the pasta water.
    • Use ground beef with a minimum of %15 fat for juicy and tasty meatballs.
    • Homemade meatballs have a soft texture and should be handled with extra care while pan-frying them.
    • You can double the recipe for the meatballs and freeze some for later. They will keep frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
    • Omit the wine and chili if you are cooking this delicious meatball pasta dish for kids!
    • The leftovers would keep for up to 5 days when refrigerated in an airtight container, or up to 3 months in the freezer.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 890kcalCarbohydrates: 93gProtein: 52gFat: 54gSaturated Fat: 25gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 207mgSodium: 1739mgPotassium: 1156mgFiber: 7gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 1953IUVitamin C: 91mgCalcium: 475mgIron: 5mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cookingorgeous or tag #cookingorgeous!

    This post uses affiliate links. This means that if you click on them and then buy something, we get a small amount of commission to keep the site running, but it doesn’t cost you anything more.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Janet

      January 04, 2022 at 4:34 pm

      5 stars
      Super delicious, great flavour combo.

      Reply
    2. Semira

      March 21, 2022 at 5:50 am

      5 stars
      The meatballs are flavoursome and the sauce is to die for! A new favourite in the household.

      Reply
    5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Welcome to Cooking Gorgeous, where delicious easy-to-follow recipes and culinary inspiration await you! My name is Ayla Clulee, a passionate and professional Cordon Bleu-trained chef, recipe developer, and food content creator with decades of experience. I am based in the UK, and I'm thrilled to have you here.

    The kitchen is my happy place and cooking is my therapy.

    More about me →

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