This weeknight meal was absolutely delicious! The recipe comes from a good friend and neighbor who is an excellent cook and she posted this recipe to a neighborhood recipe blog a while back. I am so glad I tried it – not only was I a fan, but my husband and kids loved it. I think my four-year old son must have eaten at least six meatballs on his own before I told him he had to have some more peas before requesting another meatball! It is a great way to change up meatballs and serve with a creamy, light sauce over noodles. By the way, it made fantastic leftovers.
Meatballs with Cream Sauce
Printable Version
Printable Version with Picture
INGREDIENTS:
Meatballs:
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup milk
2 T. ketchup
1 t. Worcestershire sauce
3/4 cup quick oats
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1 1/2 lb. lean ground beef
3 T. flour
Cream Sauce:
2 T. butter
3 1/2 T. flour
1/4 t. dried thyme
1/4 t. salt
1/8 t. pepper
14 oz. can chicken broth (If you want your sauce thicker, cut down the chicken broth to 1 cup)
2/3 cup milk
2 T. minced fresh parsley
DIRECTIONS:
In a bowl, combine all of the meatball ingredients EXCEPT the beef and flour. Add beef and mix well. Shape into balls. Roll in flour, shaking off excess. Place 1 inch apart on cookie sheet and bake, uncovered, at 400 for 10 minutes. Turn meatballs, bake 8-10 minutes longer or until no longer pink. Meanwhile, for the sauce, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour, thyme, salt and pepper until smooth. Gradually add broth and milk; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes, until slightly thickened. If using the full can of chicken broth, the sauce doesn’t thicken overly much, but it is delicious that way. If you want it slightly thicker, cut down the chicken broth to 1 cup. Drain meatballs on paper towels; transfer to a serving dish. Top with sauce and parsley. Serve over rice or egg noodles (I used egg noodles and loved the result!).
Recipe Source: adapted from Lesli D.’s recipe posting
{ 47 comments… read them below or add one }
I just discovered your blog and love it. My son can’t have oats. What and how much would I substitute for the quick oats in this recipe?
This looks fantastic. I can’t wait to give it a try!
This dish is so delicious! I made it for my family tonight and they loved it, even my 11 month old! I loved it with a thicker sauce (just added a little cornstarch to thicken it up). And I used the tube noodles and it was wonderful!
Hi I’ve never left a comment but I steal recipies all the time. This looks like tonights menu. My kids love the meatballs at IKEA and this seems a little like that. I’m sure it will be fab. Keep up the good work.
Krista – I’m glad you liked this! Thanks for commenting and letting me know – and I’m glad Kai liked it, too!
I made these last night and oh my goodness.. they are BETTER than IKEA. This is probably my new favorite dish. I have been craving it ever since. Thanks for posting it!
Andy and Jessica – thanks for your comment! My boys eat this one up like crazy, too. I appreciate you letting me know you like the blog – it makes it worth it!
OH yum..this is a nice change from red sauce!!
I made it last night and my family and I say “It’s a keeper!” Thanks for all the wonderful recipes and cooking tips!
heddomarie – wow, your comment was so nice! Thanks for letting me know you liked these meatballs. I make them a lot for my family and they are definitely a favorite for us, too!
Evelyn – now that is the utmost compliment…thank you! I’ll have to tell my friend who gave me the recipe about your rave review. Thanks for checking and letting me know!
Jschmalle – wow, thanks for letting me know you liked this and for your nice comment. I’m glad your family thinks it is a keeper!Melissa – don’t worry about not commenting. I lurk around blogs all over the place, too! I’ve never had the meatballs at IKEA but have heard they are great…hope these meet up to the standard!
i’ve never had (or thought to have) meatballs in anything other than a tomato sauce. silly me. this would be wonderful–certainly worth eating your peas for!
love meatballs…andRAVES over your creamy chicken and wild rice soup! It was soooo delicious. I feel like a bowl right now and its 730 am!
Yum-E! This sounds good and hearty! Great for a fall feast!
I have never commented before, but love all of your delicious recipes.My three boys loved this meatball one, no left overs they ate it all up.Thank you so much for keeping up such a great blog, it really helps me get out of my recipe boredum.
We were just at IKEA last weekend and picked up some meatballs and cream sauce – but now I want these instead!
One word: YUMMMY!! I’ve lived in Sweden, I’ve had Swedish meatballs with white sauce and this recipe was just as good as those! Thanks for another awesome dinner idea!!
That looks delicious.
Hi! I just wanted to drop in and let you know that I love your blog! Thanks for the great recipes!
Jaesi – I’m glad you tried and liked the chicken and wild rice soup. It is a pleaser, that is for sure. Thanks for letting me know!
My family would love this one! Yum!
This looks like such a warm and comforting meal! Meatballs are also great with a handful of grated parmesan cheese tossed into the meat mixture before baking.
This looks like a great recipe! Thanks for posting!
Anonymous – I would substitute 1/2 cup saltine crackers crushed for the oats – they will probably absorb a little more moisture than the oats. Let me know if you try it that way!
Thanks for the recipe–my family loved it! I served it over mashed potatoes and I made double the sauce so there would be plenty of gravy. It smelled so good while baking!
Hi Mirien – I love this recipe, too, so I’m glad your family loved it as well! I bet it would be delish over mashed potatoes.
My husbands birthday was yesterday and he loves swedish meatballs. I usually buy the pre-packaged stuff to make them. I came across this recipe and thought it sounds kinda similar but better. LOVED it! Huge hit with my family…I also made your cheddar bisquits to go with. Will definitely be saving this one. Thanks Mel for sharing!
Dawn – great birthday meal! I’m so glad that these meatballs proved to be better than the prepackaged ones you’ve used. Thanks for letting me know!
This sounds delicious–I’m giving it a try. Also, I normally would never call you out on a typo–but this one was too funny and I thought some people might get worried that you are feeding not only kids, but “husbands” (plural) as well:)
kristen – I can’t believe no one has ever pointed that out to me before! It gave me a good laugh…and the typo has been corrected. Trust me, one husband is plenty for this girl!
Made this for a quick lunch today and it was good. Served it over mashed potatoes…a real comfort food. Thanks!
Tannis – glad you liked this one! Your lunches definitely sound better than my peanut butter and jelly!
Hahaha!! It was Sunday and we were having leftovers for dinner (after we went trick or treating), so I thought a nice lunch was in order.
Just wondering if you’d ever be reduced to substituting dried parsely for the fresh. And if so, do you know the conversions from the one fourth cup in the meatballs and the 2 T in the sauce? Thanks so much!
Jessica, if it were me, I’d sub 1 tablespoon dried parsley for the 1/4 cup fresh and then 1 teaspoon dried for the 2 tablespoons fresh called for in the sauce.
We just tried this for dinner last night and everyone licked their plates clean (some of us multiple times) Thank you for this recipe. We will definitely be making it again and again.
This looks great. I can’t wait to try it. Could someone tell me how big I should make the meatballs?
Cathy – I make my meatballs about 1-2 inches in diameter.
Wow, I just came accross your blog while looking for a taco recipe and I’ve been browsing it the last hour or so and have already shared it with a friend!
All your recipes look delicious and I love the fact that you try to make everything from scratch and seem to be very healthy – I really hope to try some of your recipes very soon!
Thanks for this recipe. It was delicious!
Discovered your recipes a few months ago and have loved every one so far, including this one. Thanks!
Made this for my family tonite and all loved it!! Yummy! Made a double batch to take some to a new momma down the road. Any thoughts on freezing? I know the meatballs would be fine, but what about the sauce? Freeze with the meatballs or separate? Or wld it just better to wait and make the sauce when I take the meal? She doesn’t want me to bring it for a week or so cuz she has mom staying right now
Leigh Anne – I don’t think this sauce would freeze very well (I can see it turning kind of grainy upon reheating based on the milk). You are right, the meatballs will freeze fine but I’d wait and make the sauce until you take it to your friend.
Thx Mel!! Will do
. Always appreciate your opinion and recipies!
Wow this looks wonderful! I bet the cream sauce would be good with a pinch of cayenne pepper, a dash of worcestershire sauce, and a little sour cream too.
These were so good! Husband kept saying how delicious they were and I agree!