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Home Collections Winter Warmers

Swedish Meatballs (homemade Ikea Meatballs)

By:Nagi
Published:13 May '20Updated:11 Oct '22
634 Comments
Recipe v Video v Dozer v

These heavenly Swedish Meatballs are a homemade version of the iconic Ikea meatballs. They’re a whole lot easier than assembling flat-pack furniture, that’s for sure! Extra-soft and juicy, with a dash of classic spices like allspice, they’re smothered with the bread-mop-worthy sauce.

/cook

Swedish Meatballs on a plate served with creamy mashed potato and a side of steamed broccolini

Swedish Meatballs

I’m that person who goes into Ikea just to pick up tea lights, only to emerge 2 hours later with all sorts of useful organisation solutions, looking for a problem to solve.

I’m also that person who confidently puts together Ikea furniture (I’m a chartered accountant! I can do this!), only to worryingly end up with one leftover screw or bracket. Thankfully, none of my Ikea furniture has come tumbling down (yet), so now I have a theory that Ikea throws an extra piece into every flatpack just to mess with us.😂

As for their meatballs? Flatpack shopping is hard work. I can’t blame anyone who needs a pick-me-up after making it out the other end of the Ikea maze.

But once you’ve tried homemade Swedish Meatballs, you’ll never order these at the Ikea cafe ever again!

Swedish Meatballs in a skillet with creamy gravy, the traditional Swedish sauce

What’s so special about Swedish Meatballs?

If you’re wondering what’s so special about Swedish Meatballs, or what they taste like, close your eyes and imagine this: incredibly soft meatballs, made extra juicy by using a combination of both pork and beef and soaked bread instead of breadcrumbs, lightly spiced with just a touch of nutmeg and all spice that gives it the signature Swedish flavour, smothered in a creamy gravy that is absolutely to-die-for.

These are meatballs unlike any other – and regular readers know I have a very big soft spot for my favourite Italian Meatballs.

But I’d go as far to say that if you aren’t a regular maker of meatballs for whatever reason (pain to roll them, don’t like mixing meat with your hands etc etc), but you have the inclination to make ONE meatball recipe, make it these Swedish Meatballs.

You won’t regret it. I promise.

Spoon drizzling sauce over Swedish Meatballs

What goes in Swedish Meatballs

Here’s what you need to make the Swedish Meatballs.

Ingredients in Swedish meatballs
  • Beef AND pork – the beef gives it flavour, the pork gives it juiciness and tenderness;

  • Bread – the secret to extra soft meatballs! Far more effective than breadcrumbs;

  • Nutmeg and All Spice – the signature spicing, just a small, subtle amount. All Spice is a particular type of spice made from a plant called Pimenta dioica. It smells like cloves. It’s a common spice found in normal supermarkets, and costs no more than usual spices. Best substitute is Mixed Spice.

  • Beef stock/broth and cream – for the creamy gravy;

  • Flour – to thicken the gravy;

  • Egg – for binding the meatballs together.


How to make Swedish Meatballs

Here’s how to make them:

FIRST, chop up sandwich bread, the soak in grated onion. This is a secret tip for ultra soft, extra tasty meatballs. Grating onion = no need to pan fry chopped onion AND extracts onion juices which soaks the bread, which later puffs up inside the meatballs as they cook, creating ultra soft meatballs!

How to make Swedish Meatballs

How I roll meatballs

And here’s how I roll meatballs. It’s the fastest method I’ve been able to come up with!

  1. Use an ice cream scooper with a lever to scoop up the mixture. Standard size is 3 tablespoons – I use slightly less than the scoop (3 tablespoons is quite large);

  2. Scoop and dollop all the mixture;

  3. THEN roll them all;

  4. Voila! Even size meatballs, rolled relatively quickly!

How to make Swedish Meatballs

Sauce for Swedish Meatballs

The sauce for Swedish Meatballs is a creamy gravy that is made with butter, beef broth/stock, thickened with flour and made creamy with cream.

But the most important flavour for the a really good creamy gravy is the pan drippings after searing the meatballs. All the brown stuff left in the pan after browning the meatballs adds incredible flavour into the gravy, which is why baking these meatballs is not an option!!!

How to make Swedish Meatballs
Close up of Swedish Meatballs in a skillet

What to serve with Swedish Meatballs

The Swedish Meatball eating experience is incomplete without creamy Mashed Potato. You need the mash so you can savour every last drop of that wickedly delicious creamy gravy.

Having said that though, rice, noodles or pasta are adequate fall backs, or some bread for mopping up the sauce (try this easy Artisan bread, or emergency No Yeast Sandwich Bread). And if you’re really trying to cut down on carbs, Creamy Mashed Cauliflower is your answer!

If you start now, you’ll have these on the table in less than hour. Are you ready for the most sinfully delectable meatballs you’ve ever had in your life?? – Nagi x


Watch how to make it

This recipe features in my debut cookbook Dinner. The book is mostly new recipes, but this is a reader favourite included by popular demand!

Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.

Swedish Meatballs (homemade Ikea Meatballs)

Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats
Prep: 20 minutes mins
Cook: 30 minutes mins
Total: 50 minutes mins
Mains
swedish
4.95 from 235 votes
Servings5
Tap or hover to scale
Print
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Recipe video above. Juicy meatballs smothered in a beautiful creamy gravy, with a hint of spicing that Swedish Meatballs are known for. Made extra soft and extra tasty by soaking fresh bread in grated onion – tried and tested technique used in my most of my meatball recipes, highly approved by readers! (See Italian Meatball reviews as an example)

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 2 slices white sandwich bread , crusts removed, chopped into small cubes (Note 1)
  • 1 onion , small (brown, white or yellow)
  • 300g / 10 oz ground beef (mince)
  • 300g / 10 oz ground pork (mince) , or sub with more beef (Note 2)
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg , preferably freshly grated
  • 1/4 tsp All Spice powder (Note 3)
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp oil

Gravy

  • 40g / 3 tbsp butter , unsalted
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • 2 cups beef broth/stock (salt reduced), or sub with chicken
  • 1/2 cup heavy / thickened cream (Note 4)

Instructions

  • Grate onion using a standard box grater (see video).
  • Scrape onion and juices into bowl. Add bread and mix well – onion juice should make bread soggy (if not, add a tiny splash of milk). Set aside to soak for 1 minute.
  • Add remaining Meatball ingredients EXCEPT oil. Mix well.
  • Using a tablespoon measure and measure out a heaped tablespoon (or use ice cream scooper which is what I do), dollop on work surface. Repeat with remaining mixture: 25 – 30 meatballs. Then roll into shape.

Cooking

  • Heat 1 tbsp oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add half the meatballs and brown all over (but raw inside still) – about 3 minutes. Remove onto plate, then brown the remaining batch.
  • If there is lots of oil, pour off excess and discard. Lower heat to medium.

Gravy

  • Add butter into skillet and melt. Add flour and stir in. Cook for 1 minute.
  • While mixing, add about 1/4 of the beef broth – it will thicken quickly. Then gradually add remaining beef broth, stirring as you go. Switch to whisk if required to make it lump free.
  • When the liquid is simmering, add meatball and juices pooled on plate.
  • Turn up heat slightly to keep it at a rapid simmer. Cook for 8 – 10 minutes or until the liquid thickens into a thin gravy, stirring occasionally.
  • Add cream, simmer for a further 2 minutes then remove from stove.
  • Serve over mashed potato (or Cauliflower Mash for low carb). For a truly authentic experience, add a dollop of ligonberry jam on the side!

Recipe Notes:

1. Bread – just plain white sandwich bread. Wholemeal also fine. If you use one with grains or seeds, you’ll end up with the seeds in the meatballs.
Make your own Emergency No Yeast Bread (this works great with meatballs, I used it last week) and this simple Artisan Bread also works great!
2. Meat –  mix of pork and beef is part of the authentic flavour of Swedish Meatballs, and pork makes the meatballs extra soft and juice. But you can use all beef or all pork. You could also make this with chicken or turkey!
3. All Spice – smells like cloves, it’s a particular type of spice sold in everyday grocery stores, costs no more than usual spices. Substitute with Mixed Spice, or equal parts nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves.
4. Cream v Sour Cream – The jury is out on whether it should be made with sour cream or normal cream. Most recipes tend to use cream. If you like the slight tang from sour cream (like with Stroganoff sauce), go ahead!
Yogurt can also be used, as well as reduced fat and pouring cream. The gravy might need an extra minute or two to thicken, and obviously won’t have as rich a mouthfeel (because it’s lower fat). But still a creamy texture to the gravy – it will still look like the photos and video!
5. Nutrition for meatballs only, and all gravy. This doesn’t take into account fat discarded from skillet.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 289gCalories: 475cal (24%)Carbohydrates: 11g (4%)Protein: 28g (56%)Fat: 35g (54%)Saturated Fat: 16g (100%)Cholesterol: 163mg (54%)Sodium: 727mg (32%)Potassium: 645mg (18%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 2g (2%)Vitamin A: 597IU (12%)Vitamin C: 2mg (2%)Calcium: 65mg (7%)Iron: 3mg (17%)
Keywords: sauce for swedish meatballs, swedish meatballs
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

Originally published January 2017. Post updated 13 May 2020 with improved videos, plus ingredients and step photos added. No change to recipe, it’s perfect as is!!!


Life of Dozer

Dozer – I love you, but if you bump that tripod while I’m filming, you will be in a LOT of trouble!!

Dozer under tripod

And from the original publication date:

Trying to negotiate with Dozer using a Swedish Meatball…..

Dozer Swedish Meatballs_9

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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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634 Comments

  1. Viv says

    December 3, 2023 at 3:23 am

    5 stars
    I have dietary restrictions that make it hard to eat out. One thing I’ve missed is Ikea meatballs, so my partner and I were excited to give these a go.

    Even though our meatballs didn’t stay round, we were ecstatic at the flavor and the tenderness of these meatballs. These were sooooo good! My partner is excited to make them again (and again and again and…)

    Reply
  2. anne says

    November 30, 2023 at 12:21 pm

    5 stars
    Firm family favourite. Cannot fault.

    Reply
  3. Leanne says

    November 29, 2023 at 6:58 pm

    5 stars
    Having recently returned from a Scandanavian trip these are so authentic and tasty! Cranberry jelly is a good substitute for lingenberry jelly if you can’t find tin.

    Reply
  4. Alexander Whaley says

    October 29, 2023 at 8:51 am

    It is quite close to the recipe Ikea shared during the lockdown, though they seem to use soy sauce as well…

    Reply
  5. Vika says

    October 11, 2023 at 3:20 pm

    Followed recipe , didn’t hold the shape…

    Reply
    • Alexander Whaley says

      October 29, 2023 at 8:54 am

      It is a tricky one… This recipe seems to have a high bread or low egg ratio. Try adding an extra egg and avoid too much liquid.

      Have a look here: https://whaleycooks.com/how-to-make-perfectly-round-meatballs/

      Reply
  6. Dez says

    September 18, 2023 at 2:08 am

    5 stars
    First time trying Swedish meatballs and I’m glad it was a recipe from your book. We mucked it up a little bit only because we were trying to make dinner and desert at the same time so the sauce thickened and burnt some because I forgot to stir it occasionally once I put the meatballs in however, all that aside it turned out absolutely amazing! So delicious, I was shocked that it turned out even after the little mishap. Thanks so much for your recipes, I have your book and look forward to making more recipes from it.

    Reply
  7. Mary D. says

    September 15, 2023 at 3:32 pm

    5 stars
    These are phenomenal! So much so that my parents, and my in-laws both requested them as their birthday meal. They LOVE them!! These meatballs have become a regular in our household. A tip for the onion prepping, rather than grate them I throw them into a food processor and blitz until I get the right consistency. It’s a lot easier on the eyes and prevents juices going everywhere!

    Reply
  8. Kadette Fossum says

    September 5, 2023 at 6:41 am

    5 stars
    I just want to say, “THANK YOU” for posting this recipe. I love Swedish Meatballs and made them today for the first time. It was easy to make, just a little time consuming but well worth it! I went to the store yesterday and made sure I had All Spice, Ground Nutmeg and Heavy Whipping Cream. I also used salted cream butter, a yellow onion, Mrs Baird’s sandwich bread, and 1/2 pork & 1/2 beef. These are the best Swedish Meatballs I think I have ever had. I made homemade mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli to go with them. This meal is now one of my favorites and I can’t wait to make it for a large family gathering. I highly recommend this recipe and will make it over and over again. So delicious!!!

    Reply
  9. Jo says

    September 3, 2023 at 6:48 am

    5 stars
    I will never buy Ikea meatballs again!! I cannot believe how simple this recipe is but so so delicious. It’s now a regular at family meals and I even freeze some uncooked meatballs for the nights I can’t be bothered doing to much. We always gave ours with a side of cranberry jelly! Delicious!

    Reply
  10. Christina says

    August 31, 2023 at 1:07 pm

    WOW! If I could give this a 20 star rating I would. This is my first time ever having Swedish meatballs and I’m so glad this was the recipe I tried out. Sooooooo delicious, thank you for the recipe!

    Reply
  11. Lynn Wilson says

    August 30, 2023 at 7:48 pm

    Amazing IKEA meatballs at home.
    Thanks for the recipe. For gluten free peeps, I used gluten free sliced bread and was amazing

    Reply
  12. Susan says

    August 30, 2023 at 10:24 am

    5 stars
    This was incredible! It came together much faster than I thought it would–I will 100% be making this again and again!

    Reply
  13. AE says

    August 28, 2023 at 9:00 pm

    5 stars
    I made them from your book! But I don’t enjoy standing by a fry pan as I need to almost double the recipe, so I baked them with the grill on, prepared the sauce and then plonked them in it for a few minutes. Absolute success.

    Reply
  14. Sammi says

    August 26, 2023 at 3:11 am

    Wow! What can I say. I made this tonight for my kids, two are on the spectrum and super duper fussy with new foods, I feel a bit emotional because they loved them and my eleven year old fussy eater asked for them again. You have no idea how huge this is for him and his eating journey. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe ❤️

    Reply
  15. Justine Whittern says

    August 20, 2023 at 4:38 am

    5 stars
    Really tasty! Thanks for the recipe – I wouldn’t have thought of using allspice and nutmeg. I’ll be making these again,

    Reply
  16. Kristine says

    July 29, 2023 at 1:36 pm

    5 stars
    This is SOOO good! My family loves Swedish meatballs, so this is comfort food that makes my tummy and my heart happy. I can’t get enough of this dish! Thanks for sharing. 🙂

    Reply
  17. Claire says

    July 27, 2023 at 11:34 pm

    5 stars
    I love all your recipes so far but get really confused with your ‘cup’ measurements. I know you’re more precise with baking recipes, but it would be so much simpler if you gave millilitres or grams which are the same whether you’re in Sydney, Singapore, South Carolina or Somerset !

    Reply
  18. Erica M says

    July 17, 2023 at 8:38 pm

    5 stars
    This was my first time trying a Swedish meatballs recipe and I am so impressed! I didn’t have any all spice, so I cooked some star anise into the gravy. I used panko breadcrumbs which worked well. So much flavour in these meatballs, and the gravy was delicious. Served with rustic mashed potatoes and baby peas, you can’t go wrong!

    Reply
    • AE says

      August 28, 2023 at 9:03 pm

      There’s a toggle button right above the ingredients list if you prefer metric measurements 🙂

      Reply
  19. Charmaine Danby says

    July 3, 2023 at 1:33 pm

    5 stars
    I have made this recipe 4 times now for my family of fussy adults and each time it’s been a winner so much so that I now have to double the recipe so there is left overs for them to take for lunch the next day – definitely a new family favourite that I’m sure will be made over and over again

    Reply
  20. Adele says

    June 30, 2023 at 7:28 pm

    Spending Friday night reading “DINNER”, as ya do and had to comment on your Swedish Meatballs. Probably the best meatballs I’ve ever tried. My sons Swedish gf reckons they’re better than her mothers. But we won’t tell her mum that!

    Reply
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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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