Frikadeller (Danish Meatballs) (2024)

Frikadeller, or Danish Meatballs, are savory meatballs served in a rich, creamy sauce that is comfort food at its finest. Plus, they’re super easy to make!

This Frikadeller meatball recipe is a favorite that my husband brought back from when he lived in Denmark. Danish meatballs are considered a national dish due to being so popular there. My husband always talks about how decadent the food was in Denmark and how he’s dying to go back just so he can eat the food again, and I can’t wait to go with him! These days, we pull out all of his treasured recipes around the holidays and we have a full Danish meal. These dishes are so delicious, you will be absolutely blown away.

Ingredients in Danish Frikadeller

Frikadeller, loosely translated, means “meatballs”. These are usually made with pork or a mixture of ground pork and beef with the most delicious sauce!

For the meatballs, in a large bowl, combine:

• 3/4poundground beef – you could also substitute ground veal which is what is traditionally used.
• 1poundground pork – ask your butcher for freshly ground pork or buy it frozen. For super savory meatballs, use all pork and omit the ground beef. You could sub for ground chicken or ground turkey but the flavor will not be the same.
• Onion – one large, yellow onion works great for this recipe. Grate it, or dice finely.
• Breadcrumbs – use any bread crumbs kind you like, Italian style, panko or regular.
• All Purpose Flour – about 4 tbsp.
• Eggs – two large eggs or three medium
• Salt – about half a tsp or more for taste
• Black Pepper – a quarter teaspoon
• Nutmeg – quarter teaspoon. You can substitute allspice if you have that on hand.
• Garlic – 2-3 cloves, diced
• Sage leaves
• Half & halfor milk for consistency – about a quarter to half cup
• Butter

For the Gravy, in a separate bowl, combine:

• ¾ – 2Tablespoonsdrippings from Frickadeller
• Butter if needed
• 3Tablespoonsflour
• 1cupheavy cream– whole milk works too
• Atablespoonbeef bouillon
• salt & pepper – to taste

Frikadeller Reviews

Frikadeller was one of the earliest posts on our website. Since then, many wonderful people have shared their memories, traditions, and their family recipes for Frikadeller. Here are just a few, but if you are interested in hearing more, please peruse the comments below. If you have a special way of making Frikadeller, or want to share a memory, please comment below. We would love to hear it!

“My mother made these all the time when I was a kid. I recently decided to cook again and do the food she made. I chose your recipe for the Danish Meatballs.

They turned out great! The first bite I took reminded me of childhood. My mom would serve these with rice or sometimes with egg noodles.”

-Kirk

“The Danish name is: frikadeller (plural). The traditional recipe is without the sage, garlic and maybe the nutmeg. When I make them, I use my moms way: put the meat in a bowl so that the meat fills the bottom of the bowl. Then cut out a fourth and lift on top of the rest of the meat. Fill the empty fourth with either 1. wheat flour or 2. oatmeal or a mix of the two. I prefer the oatmeal. Then add the rest of the recipe without the milk. Mix with a kitchen spoon and add slowly milk until it feels right. The mix should be quite wet but still be able to stick together. Cover the bowl and let it sit in the fridge for half an hour to settle. Form a ball with a spoon and your hand and fry in butter (or margarine) on medium heat for 3-5 min on each side until brown. Cut one to check if the middle is cooked. Serve with potatoes and gravy and something sour on the side. It is a very common daily dish in Denmark, my home turf. Bon apetit.

-Peter

“I love to see all the variations of this recipe! I too grew up enjoying frikadellar (great-great grandfather brought the recipe over from Denmark), but I know there have been some changes to it. We actually use a little worchestershire sauce and thyme in our recipe – I’m guessing some of the English in my family added that! But we also shape them to have three sides and serve with ketchup (originally homemade but now just store bought). My mom used to love making frikadellar sandwiches for leftover 🙂.”

-Laura

“Being half-Danish and having spent many years living between the states and the US, I must say that I agree with another commenter that the addition of spices for flavor is not traditional in our house, but I did make have a batch your way, half like Mor (Mom), (Mor Mor (Grandma), and even my Danish step-father’s family’s recipe), and all of my American friends at a party yesterday were very happy with your version, as well as my family’s–you won, hands down :).

A lot of posters felt the need to comment on the name. Here’s the true spelling and meaning for future readers, as some butchered the spelling: en frikadel = one meatball, frikadellen = the meatball, frikadeller = meatballs. Danes (and Danish Americans) eat frikadeller at least weekly, if not more frequently, as you can buy them pre-made/packaged at the grocery store, at the butcher’s, at the many open-faced sandwich (smorrebrod) shops along city streets that you can just buy and take with you, or eat there. There’s still nothing like a mother’s recipe.

I found yours when looking for a more “Swedish” version for an upcoming party and really enjoyed them. Thank you so much for sharing!

-Kelly

Frequently Asked Questions about Frikadeller

READ NEXT: Easy Ground Beef Recipes

More Danish Recipes

• Danish Red Cabbage – This Rødkål (Danish Red Cabbage) is a Danish recipe we love. It is a side dish similar to sauerkraut but a little sweeter.
• Brunede Kartofler – or Caramelized Browned Potatoes, are a great side dish to any meal! They are a small boiled potatoes with a sweet caramelized coating.
• Beef Goulash – a hearty family favorite, full of tender beef chunks in rich, dark gravy. Cozy comfort food never tasted so divine!
• Aebleskiver – a delicious Danish treat that my husband introduced to me when we got married. It’s like a doughnut hole and a pancake rolled into one perfect pastry.
• Risalamande – a Danish rice pudding that is served around Christmastime. This creamy, sweet pudding is a delicious dessert that everyone will love.

More Scrumptious Meatball Dishes

Meatball recipes are fun to make and delicious to eat. Try a few of our favorites:

• Easiest Instant Pot Meatballs
• Sweet and Spicy Slow Cooker Meatballs
• Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs
• Aunt Bessie’s Meatballs with Vegetables

How to Make Frikadeller