Swedish Meatball Pasta Bake

Think Swedish meatballs meets a casserole and that’s what we’ve got going on here today. Nifty, right? I tend to prefer casseroles in the winter time. Maybe it’s because they tend to be heavier and ideal for cold nights. Which means if you’re counting calories then save this recipe for a day when calories don’t count (like the weekend or on vacation
As a heads up, this recipe takes a bit of time to make, which is the real reason why I suggest making this on a weekend. It’s not difficult to make, but there a lot of steps. It took me way longer than I thought it would.

When I made this, it reminded me that I don’t like making meatballs. I find them kind of a pain to make. Does anyone else feel that way? The meatballs in these pictures are a little bigger than what the recipe calls for. I didn’t look at the package of beef that my husband picked up because I assumed it was the amount that I needed. My bad. The meatballs still came out great though.
My husband would have liked more pasta but I think that would ruin the integrity of this dish. I think that the ratio of carbs to sauce/gravy is key to a good casserole and it’s spot on here. Dry casseroles do not make for good eats.

While I did enjoy this meal, it’s not really something that I crave or gravitate towards. Give me a chicken rice soup or zucchini ravioli and I’m a happy camper. My husband ate all of the leftovers by eating it for several days in a row as lunch, so kudos to him for taking one for the team because this recipe made a lot of food.
Swedish Meatball Pasta Bake Recipe
(Makes about 6 servings)

Note: This recipe requires 30 minutes of chilling time.

Ingredients for the Meatballs:

1 and 1/4 cups plain panko bread crumbs
4 tablespoons butter
2/3 cup yellow onion, finely chopped
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2/3 cup milk
2 eggs
1 pound ground beef (I used 85/15.)
1 pound ground pork
3 tablespoons oil
Ingredients for the Pasta:

2 cups shell pasta
Ingredients for the Sauce:

6 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cups beef broth (I used low sodium, equivalent to a 32 ounce box.)
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce * (See Note below.)
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon salt * (See Note below.)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
*Note: My husband likes this recipe as is. However, I prefer less salt and Worcestershire flavor and would reduce these amounts in half. Therefore I recommend that you start with less salt and Worcestershire, taste the sauce, and add more to your liking if needed.

Directions for the Meatballs:

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