This Is Our Most Popular Ground Beef Recipe of All Time (It’s Not What You Think)

The beauty of ground beef is its versatility. It transforms into chili and lasagna as easily as burgers and tacos. Keep a pound in your freezer, and it’s ready when you need a base for a simple yet satisfying dinner. What you choose to make is up to you, but there’s a clear winner among Simply Recipes readers.

Our most popular ground beef recipe of all time may actually surprise you because it isn’t, in fact, burgers or tacos. Instead, it's our recipe for Swedish meatballs. They’re tender and spiced, swimming in a creamy gravy, and so much better than Ikea’s. 

The Best (and Easiest) Swedish Meatballs

This recipe for ground beef and pork meatballs comes together easily and has been popular since its debut in 2015. It's a sure crowd-pleaser, whether as a cozy main dish or party appetizer. The meatballs are spiced with black pepper, nutmeg, and a pinch of cardamom, then browned to ensure they’re crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. 

What really makes Swedish meatballs stand out, though, is the creamy gravy they’re served in. Funnily enough, the sauce isn’t traditional in Sweden but rather something that became a classic element in the transition from Europe to this side of the Atlantic. Made with beef broth, flour, and butter, then enriched with tangy sour cream and a little lingonberry jelly, it’s a luxurious sauce for the spiced meatballs to swim in. 

How To Serve Swedish Meatballs

What’s extra fun about this recipe is that there’s no wrong way to eat it. Serve the meatballs over egg noodles or mashed potatoes for dinner, or serve them with toothpicks as a party snack.

You can make both the meatballs and the sauce up to a few days ahead, store them separately in the fridge, and simply reheat them when needed. You’ll never need to run out to Ikea to get your Swedish meatballs fix again.