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    Home » Recipes » Entrees

    Published: Apr 24, 2018 · Modified: Dec 7, 2022 by Ashley · This post may contain affiliate links. · Leave a Comment

    Traditional Norwegian Meatballs (Kjottkaker)

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    Norwegian Meatballs are a favorite traditional meal served in Norway. These meatballs are packed with a variety of flavorful spices and served with a creamy brown gravy. They are great with a side of mashed potatoes, seasonal veggies, and lingonberry jam.

    A cast iron skillet full of Norwegian Meatballs. this recipe

    This recipe for Norwegian Meatballs was inspired by my trip to Norway. If you love the oh-so-popular Swedish Meatballs, then I can guarantee you'll love these ones too! Plus, this recipe can be in 30 minutes. It's the perfect meal when you want to get some tasty comfort food on the table fast.

    Jump to:
    • 🍴 What is the Difference Between Swedish and Norwegian Meatballs?
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 💭 Faqs
    • 🍲 More Comfort Food Recipes
    • 📋 Recipe
    Norwegian meatballs on a serving plate with veggies, mashed potatoes and lignonberry jam.

    🍴 What is the Difference Between Swedish and Norwegian Meatballs?

    The main difference between Swedish Meatballs and Norwegian Meatballs (or "kjøttkaker") is that Norwegian Meatballs are typically larger and flatter than their meatball cousin. The seasonings are also slightly different from what you would normally find in Swedish Meatballs.

    🥘 Ingredients

    • Milk
    • Bread crumbs
    • Eggs
    • Salt and pepper
    • Nutmeg
    • Ginger
    • Allspice or cinnamon
    • Ground beef
    • Ground pork
    • Butter
    • All-purpose flour
    • Beef broth
    • Sour cream
    • Heavy whipping cream
    A cast iron skillet full of Norwegian Meatballs.

    🔪 Instructions

    1. In a large bowl, add the milk and bread crumbs.
    2. Let the bread crumbs soak for a minute, and then whisk in the eggs and spices.
    3. Add the ground beef and pork to the mixture, and use your fingertips to incorporate them.
    4. Roll the meat into golf balls, then slightly flatten each ball.
    5. Heat a skillet over medium heat, and melt 4 tablespoons of the butter.
    6. Add the meatballs to the hot skillet and fry until browned on all sides and cooked through. Set aside.
    7. Melt the rest of the butter over medium-low heat. Stir in the flour and cook for a minute. Slowly whisk in the beef broth.
    8. Once the broth has been incorporated, return the heat to medium. Allow the gravy to come to a boil. Continue boiling the gravy until it reaches the desired consistency. 
    9. Remove the pan from the heat. Whisk in the sour cream. Add up to ¼ cup of whipping cream if desired to thin the gravy.
    A close up of Norwegian Meatballs in a cast iron skillet.

    💭 Faqs

    What is the difference between meatballs and Norwegian meatballs?

    Meatballs AKA Italian meatballs are made with the same base as Norwegian meatballs (i.e. breadcrumbs, beef/pork, milk, etc.) However these meatballs are flavored with seasonings more unique to Italian cooking like oregano, marjoram, garlic, etc. These meatballs are also served with a tangy, chunky tomato sauce unlike Norwegian which are flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg and served with a creamy gravy.

    What to serve with Norwegian meatballs

    Norwegian meatballs are traditionally served with potatoes, lingonberry, and steamed veggies. Although, they'd be equally delicious served with a side of rice or egg noodles.

    Norwegian Meatballs are divine, served with mashed potatoes, seasonal veggies, and lingonberry jam. And that gravy...oh my goodness. I can't even...

    🍲 More Comfort Food Recipes

    • Crispy Chicken Schnitzel
    • The Best New England Clam Chowder
    • Potato and Cheese Pierogi
    • Creamy Chicken Quesadillas

    If you make this recipe, let me know what you think! I’d love it if you could add a star rating ★ and a comment below. Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, too!

    Print

    📋 Recipe

    Norwegian Meatballs

    A cast iron skillet full of Norwegian Meatballs.
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    5 from 1 reviews

    Norwegian Meatballs are a favorite traditional meal in Norway. These meatballs are packed with a variety of flavorful spices and served with a creamy brown gravy.

    • Author: Ashley
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Inactive Time: 0 hours
    • Cook Time: 30 minutes
    • Total Time: 40 minutes
    • Yield: 46 meatballs 1x
    • Category: Entrees
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: Norwegian

    Ingredients

    Units Scale

    Meatballs

    • 1 cup milk
    • 1 ½ cups bread crumbs
    • 2 eggs
    • 2 teaspoons salt
    • 1 teaspoon pepper
    • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ¼ teaspoon allspice or cinnamon
    • 1 pound ground beef
    • ½ pound ground pork

    Sauce

    • 8 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • ½ cup flour
    • 4 cups beef broth
    • ¼ cup sour cream
    • ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
    • salt and pepper

    Instructions

    1. In a large bowl, add the milk and bread crumbs.
    2. Let the bread crumbs soak for a minute, and then whisk in the eggs and spices.
    3. Add the ground beef and pork to the mixture, and use your fingertips to incorporate them.
    4. Roll the meat into golf ball-sized balls (or scoop them with a cookie scoop), and then slightly flatten each ball.
    5. Heat a skillet over medium heat, and melt 4 tablespoons of the butter.
    6. Add the meatballs to the hot skillet and fry until browned on all sides and cooked through about 2-3 minutes. Place cooked meatballs on a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
    7. Melt the rest of the butter (4 tablespoons) in the same skillet over medium-low heat.
    8. Stir in the flour and cook for a minute; the roux will be golden in color.
    9. Slowly whisk in the beef broth. Once the broth has been incorporated, return the heat to medium.
    10. Allow the gravy to come to a boil. The gravy will thicken as it boils. Continue boiling the gravy until it reaches the desired consistency. 
    11. Once the desired consistency has been reached, remove the pan from the heat. Whisk in the sour cream. At this point, you can add up to ¼ cup of whipping cream if desired to thin the gravy.

    Equipment

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    Notes

    • Adapted from Kitchen Dreaming.
    • Meatballs make great leftovers! Refrigerate any leftovers for up to one week. Warm them up in the microwave for a minute or two, and enjoy them for a tasty lunch.
    • This recipe makes around 46 meatballs, which was way more than my husband and I could eat. I cooked up all of the meatballs and froze half of them, without the sauce, in the freezer for later use. 

    Keywords: meatballs, entree, norwegian, comfort food

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @wanderestblog on Instagram. I'd love to see what you made!

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    Ashley

    Hi, I'm Ashley! I created Wanderzest as a place to share recipes inspired by different cultures. I hope you enjoy experiencing the world through food with me!

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