Meal Prep Idea: Swedish Meatballs

These delightful Swedish meatballs are perfect for meal prep, offering a cozy and hearty option that can simplify your weeknight dinners. Here’s how you can batch prep them for future meals, along with time-saving tips and storage options.

Ingredients

• Meatballs:

  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 stalk celery, chopped
  • Fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt, pepper, and allspice for seasoning
• For the Sauce:
  • 1 cup reduced-sodium beef broth
  • 4 oz reduced-fat cream cheese

Meal Prep Steps

1. Prep Ingredients in Batches:

   • Chop onions, garlic, celery, and parsley ahead of time. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
   • Mix the ground turkey and beef in bulk, season generously, and form into meatballs. Make a larger batch so they can be frozen for later use—about 32 meatballs is a good target.

2. Cook the Aromatics:

   • In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the onions and garlic until translucent (about 5 minutes), then add celery and parsley. Set aside to cool.

3. Form and Cook Meatballs:

   • Combine ground meats, egg, breadcrumbs, cooled aromatics, and seasonings in a large bowl. Form into meatballs.
   • In the same skillet, bring your beef broth to a boil. Reduce to low heat and gently drop in the meatballs, cooking for about 20 minutes until fully cooked.
4. Make the Sauce:
   • After cooking, remove meatballs and blend the broth with cream cheese until smooth. Return to the skillet with the meatballs to simmer for a few more minutes until thickened.

Time-Saving Tips

• Batch Cooking: Make a double batch of meatballs on the weekend. They freeze well and can be taken out the night before to thaw in the fridge.
• Use a Cookie Scoop: For uniform meatballs, use a cookie scoop, which helps speed up the forming process.
• One-Pan Cooking: Cook the aromatics in the same pan used for the meatballs to save on cleanup time.

Storage Options

• Refrigerate: Store cooked meatballs with sauce in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Freeze: Allow meatballs to cool completely before transferring them to freezer-safe bags or containers. They can last up to 3 months! Just thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Reheating: Gently reheat meatballs and sauce in a saucepan over low heat, adding a splash of broth or water if needed to loosen the sauce.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve over egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or sautéed cabbage for a low-carb alternative.
• Pair with steamed vegetables for a well-rounded meal.

Enjoy the convenience of these lovely Swedish meatballs during your busy week. This meal prep idea ensures you have delicious, comforting meals on hand, ready to be enjoyed anytime!