Last Updated on December 19, 2025 by Kevin
Norwegian Meatballs
*******************************************************Original Recipe***10 lb. ground meat, using 3 lbs. beef to 1 lb. pork, grind meat 7-8 times. Add about 4 c. hot water, but not boiling, to 4 c. bread crumbs or 8 slices bread and knead into meat. Add 5 eggs, 4 T. sugar, 6 med. onions put thru food chopper, 3-1/2 tsp. ginger, 2 tsp. allspice, 1 tsp. nutmeg, 4-1/2 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Knead well. Roll into small balls and brown in butter. Add just enough water to cover and let simmer for about 1/2 hr. or until tender.Mrs. Mabel Jacobson
Equipment
- 1 Baking sheet with edges
- Aluminum foil to line baking pan.
Ingredients
Norwegian Meatballs
- 3 lbs. ground beef typically I use 80/20
- 1 lb. ground pork
- 1.5 c. hot water not boiling
- 1.5 c. bread crumbs or 3 slices bread
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 onion (medium) minced – reserve 2 tablespoons for gravy
- 1½ teaspoons ginger
- ¾ teaspoons allspice
- ¼ teaspoons nutmeg
- 1 teaspoons salt
- pinch pepper
Norwegian Gravy
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons minced onion
- 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 cups beef broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
Instructions
Meatballs
- Line baking sheet with aluminum foil for easier cleanup.
- In a small bowl, add 1.5 c. hot water and 1.5 c. bread crumbs and mix together. Let rest for fat least 5 minutes.
- In a bowl, add 3 lbs. ground beef and 1 lb. ground pork. Mix together.
- Add water and bread mixture, 2 eggs beaten and 1 onion (medium). Reserve 2 Tablespoons of onion for gravy. Mix well.
- Add 1 tablespoon sugar, 1½ teaspoons ginger, ¾ teaspoons allspice, ¼ teaspoons nutmeg, 1 teaspoons salt, and pinch pepper.
- Knead well.
- Preheat oven to 400℉.
- Roll into small balls about 1/2 inch diameter. Place on aluminum line baking sheet.
- Bake in the 400℉ preheated oven until browned, about 18 minutes. Remove meatballs from pan and set aside.
- Place drippings from meatballs into a fry pan.
Norwegian Gravy
- Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat with drippings.
- Sauté 2 tablespoons minced onion until tender, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour and cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes.
- Slowly add 4 cups beef broth; cook and stir gravy until smooth and thickened, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Blend in ½ cup heavy cream
Combine
- When getting ready to serve, make sure gravy is hot.
- Add meatballs and simmer until meatballs are hot.
