This easy homemade Swedish Meatballs Recipe is inspired by Princess Anna and Princess Elsa from Frozen. Tender beef meatballs cooked to perfection in a cast iron skillet, surrounded by a delicious and easy cream sauce. Topped with lingonberry preserves, this weeknight meal is like no other comfort food! Get your children excited to try new foods as they learn to eat like a princess!
These homemade Swedish Meatballs can be done in one skillet and in 30 minutes, making them perfect for a weeknight meal – an Anna and Elsa from Frozen Inspired Recipe your kids will love! Serve them with mashed potatoes or egg noodles, and lingonberry preserves!
Welcome to the Eat Like A Princess Series!
I designed this series as a fun way to teach my daughters about new cultures through the Disney Princesses in hopes that they will become more open to trying new foods, to understand other cultures better, and to enjoy exploring the world around them. And still staying within the 30 minute weeknight dinner theme. You can see other “Eat Like A Princess” Recipes here, like:
- Easy Chicken and Sausage Gumbo for Princess Tiana
- American Harvest Bison Bowl for Pochahontas
- Eat Sausage Rolls for Princess Merida
Frozen is big in my house. Like – SUPER BIG.
My youngest can barely go a day without watching Frozen, reading a Frozen book, or playing with her Frozen dolls. And since I am always experimenting with ways in which to explore new cuisines with my children, and help them discover new and interesting things, I have developed this “Eat Like A Princess” series to help bridge the gap between what people typically think of as “kid food” and what children can actually enjoy. I decided to create an Anna and Elsa from Frozen Inspired Recipe!
Frozen’s Princess Anna and Princess Elsa
Elsa and Anna are some of our favorite princesses (yes, I know Elsa is technically a Queen). Princess Anna is brave, quirky, and so loyal to her sister. Queen Elsa constantly shows that she is selfless and how deeply she cares for her sister. She also learns to be confident in who she is. I also totally loved the “you can’t be in love with someone you just met” nod even though it seems like all the other princesses do.
Besides chocolate, sandwiches and snow cones, there isn’t a whole lot of food mentioned in the movie. Thankfully the regionality of this movie was pretty easy – as they mention fjords, mountains covered in snow, and the gorgeous art work (called kurbits) that is prominent on clothing and buildings throughout the movies. Arendale is obviously based off of the Nordic Countries, a region that includes Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Denmark and Norway.
**Note: This recipe is not intended to be 100% authentic. Queen Elsa and Princess Anna are fictional princesses who live in a made-up land loosely based on Nordic culture. This recipe is intended to be easy enough that children can help you prepare it, as well as interesting enough to pique their interest in new cultures and foods.
Homemade Swedish Meatballs – A Recipe Inspired by the Movie Frozen
I decided to highlight Swedish Meatballs for Anna and Elsa – it’s easy to make in 30 minutes, it’s a one skillet meal, and kiddos can help to stir together the ingredients for the gravy. They could also help you make the meatballs, depending on their age/maturity level – my oldest daughter helped me shape them and thought it was so fun! The meatballs themselves aren’t really that different from the typical Italian style everyone knows. What makes them fun is the unique gravy and the lingonberry preserves you eat them with.
How to prepare Swedish Meatballs Ahead of Time:
Swedish Meatballs can easily be prepared ahead of time. Simple bake the meatballs and store in the fridge until ready to eat. Make the simple gravy to add to the meatballs right before you eat.
What to serve with Homemade Swedish Meatballs
I suggest serving this with either mashed potatoes or egg noodles.
For a well rounded meal, add this crisp and refreshing Swedish Cucumber Salad, this easy and delightfully pink Swedish Red Beet and Apple Salad, and don’t forget dessert – these easy Swedish Chocolate Balls are fantastic and easy!
For extra credit, check out these awesome kids books about Nordic culture. And you totally have to make Swedish Pancakes as well!
How to Make Swedish Meatballs Kid-Friendly
Swedish Meatballs are naturally very kid-friendly! Kids LOVE meatballs, and the mild flavors here will go over really well. Plus, everyone loves gravy, right?
Serving the lingonberries on the side to dip in will be a fun and new treat your kids will enjoy.
Family Dinner Conversations
Dinner time should be more than micromanaging each and every bite your kids take. Use this opportunity to
- Talk about where Anna and Elsa are from and what the land and weather were like there.
- Talk about the textures, flavors, colors, and smells of the Swedish meatballs, and other parts of the meal.
- Ask questions about what their favorite part of the Swedish Meatballs are, what they would like to change next time, or how you could make it better?
How to Serve Swedish Meatballs to your Family
Homemade Swedish Meatballs are a great meal to serve family style! Place the skillet with the meatballs and sauce on the table and allow everyone to serve themselves. The Lingonberry jam can also go in a bowl on the table, with a small spoon to serve with. When kids are allowed to choose how much of each food they get, they love that responsibility and independence, which means they are more likely to eat more of what they pick.
Kids in the Kitchen: How your Kids can Help you Cook Swedish Meatballs:
One of the best ways to get kids interested in eating new foods (besides making food inspired by their favorite characters, books, and movies…) is to get them involved! Here are some easy ways your kids can help you cook these Homemade Swedish Meatballs:
- Kids aged 1-3 can help you measure out ingredients and wash the chives.
- Kids aged 4-6 can help you do everything above, chop the chives, plus dish out the lingonberry jam for the table,
- Kids aged 7-10+ can help you do everything above, plus help make the meatballs, and whisk the gravy.
*Please note that these recommendations are generalized, and to please use your personal discretion with your child’s skill level. And always, always supervise! Read more about how to have your children help you in the kitchen.
There’s nothing I love more than seeing you having an amazing meal with your family! If you make this easy Swedish Meatball recipe, take a picture of you making or sharing them with someone you love!
Then post your photo on Instagram or Facebook and tag @thegingeredwhisk and use the hashtag #gingeredwhisk. I can’t wait to see what you’re cooking and share it!
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Easy Swedish Meatball Recipe for Queen Elsa and Princess Anna - Eat Like A Princess
These easy Swedish Meatballs can be done in one skillet and in 30 minutes, making them perfect for a weeknight meal! Serve them with mashed potatoes or egg noodles, and lingonberry preserves!
Ingredients
Meatballs:
- 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1/4 tsp ground allspice
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 TBSP dried chopped onion
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp mustard
- 1 lb ground beef
Gravy:
- 1 TBSP butter
- 3 TBSP flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup sour cream
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 TBSP lingonberry preserves
Serving:
- lingonberry preserves
- chives or parsley, chopped
Instructions
Notes
Swedish meatblls freeze and reheat really well, so you can easily fit them into your scheudle!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 562Total Fat: 35gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 142mgSodium: 761mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 2gSugar: 12gProtein: 36g
These meatballs look so good! I haven’t tried them with lingonberry sauce yet as I can’t buy it around here. Hopefully one day! 🙂
I love Swedish meatballs. Was thinking about making them this weekend. Your recipe is a sign! lol
I love this and that beautiful sauce! So fun too, my girls are big Frozen fans, in fact my youngest just watched it yesterday.
My mom’s family serves Swedish meatballs every holiday season and they are one of my favorite traditions. This recipe looks delicious, I’m going to branch out and make these! Thank you!
That’s so cool that you developed a whole “Eat Like a Princess” recipe series! You’re obviously the coolest mom ever. I’ve never had Swedish meatballs but the creamy gravy always looks delicious to me but I assumed it was hard to make. I love how easy your recipe is!
I love your 30-minute meal corner. It is definitely helpful, especially due to the hectic lifestyle. Keep the good work, Jenni!
Mmmm, I love Swedish Meatballs, and your Eat Like A Princess series – so much fun!
Love Ikea’s Swedish meatballs but these blow them out of the water! Ligonberry sauce goes so well with it
Love love swedish meatballs and these look so delicious! Love the addition of the lingonberry sauce. Yum!
You got me at meat balls. My family loves a meat ball dinner. I will try this recipe.
We love Swedish meatballs! The girls are going to love this meal, especially since Elsa & Anna would love it too!
I’m afraid my child is well past Elsa at this stage — she’s a college Junior, but I’ve heard all about this movie — and they play that song incessantly. “Let it go- already”! These Swedish meatballs look absolutely phenomenal. My only experience previously was at Ikea — which were ok, but I have a feeling yours would be amazing! The sauce and that lingonberry jam – Wow!
Haha Thanks! 🙂
I love the pics where you are cooking with your little one! What great memories she’ll have. Im a big lover of any kind of meatballs and your recipe is quite a bit different than mine. Cant wait to give it a whirl… the sour cream in the gravy sounds so good!
This is seriously such a cute series! These look amazing and in only 30-minutes?! Genius all around!
This is so adorable! I love this ‘Eat Like a Princess’ idea! What a great way to introduce your kiddos to different cultures!!!
Such a flavorful recipe!
You mean Queen Elsa? The evil despot who ruins our lives with back breaking shoveling every year? NO I WILL NOT LET THAT GO! Tributes to tyrants aside, these Swedish meatballs look amazing. Love the addition of lingonberries.
hahaha I totally understand! But you can’t turn down a yummy recipe that is ready in 30 minutes!
Oh these look so so good, and I just happen to have some lingonberry jam in the cupboard which would go perfectly!! My kids are frozen obsessed too so I am sure these would go down a treat if I tell them the princesses and Olaf eat them 🙂
I have never made Swedish meatballs myself, but now I must! These look and sound fantastic, and I love how easy they are! Thanks for this great recipe!
I love the messages in Frozen and I think this is such a great way to get kids involved in the kitchen to try new foods. That sauce looks heavenly, and I love the addition of lingonberry preserves. Plus, 30 minutes? You can’t beat that!
These meatballs sound so easy peasy to make and in 30 minutes?!? I’m sold! Plus the sauce looks fannnnntastic!
I love Swedish meatballs, and your recipe is wonderful. It’s so quick to make and there’s no canned soup. Delicious!
I love Swedish meatballs and it’s always a favorite each time I go to…IKEA 🙂 This meatballs recipe looks so delicious and I’ll add this to my dinner rotation.
This is brilliant! My kids are much more adventurous with what they will eat when they make it themselves. I love the Frozen idea, one I can’t wait to share with my Almost-5 year old!
I love everything about these Swedish meatballs. Delicious! The lingonberry preserves on the side would be a big hit in my household. My little girl LOVED Frozen for years. Yummy!
Oh these sweedish meatballs look and sound amazing! And that sauce! Yum yum yum!
That sauce looks SOOO creamy and delicious! Love the creativity in the princess theme as well! haha!
These were so awesome! The sauce was fantastic!! Love that they were inspired by Frozen, haha!!
Mmmm I’ve never made my own but I’ve been wanting to make Swedish meatballs for the longest time. Such total comfort food and now that the weather is cooling down a bit, I’m definitely craving heartier dishes 😀
I love, love, love this whole eat like a princess idea! We have 8 nieces, all under the age of 9. I am totally going to use this recipe the next time they are all over. Brilliant. Thanks for sharing!
I love Swedish meatballs but I’ve never made them at home. Your instructions are so simple and make it look easy. And I love that you included instructions and ways to get kids to help. Great idea!
I think they are most kids’ favourite princesses (or princess and queen) right now!!
This looks good enough for a princess, that’s for sure!!
I have had a lot of good things about this recipe. I have had the vegan version once in Ikea. Will forward this to my meat loving sister.