IKEA Swedish Meatballs are one of the most popular items on the menu at the IKEA Restaurant. And, now that they have released the official recipe, you can make copycat IKEA Swedish meatballs at home!
IKEA Swedish Meatballs
The standard meatballs that you might put in a spaghetti sauce or a meatball sub are usually made with ground beef.
But, Swedish meatballs from IKEA are made from both pork and beef! And, of course, there is a creamy gravy rather than a red sauce when you serve it.
Recipe Video
To see us make this IKEA Swedish meatballs recipe from start to finish, watch the video in this post!
I’ve been working on copycat restaurant recipes so that I can enjoy some of my favorites while I’m at home.
I really love my Outback Copycat Alice Springs Chicken, my Cheesecake Factory Bang Bang Shrimp, and my Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce.
And, have you tried my Cracker Barrel Meatloaf recipe yet?
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Meat – Despite the internet rumors, IKEA Swedish meatballs are not made with horse meat!
Use a simple combination of ground beef and ground pork for this recipe.
- Onion and Garlic – As with any dish, these two ingredients really boost the savory flavor! Don’t worry — the onions become tender in the oven, so there’s no crunch.
- Breadcrumbs – Use regular plain breadcrumbs in this IKEA Swedish meatballs recipe. If you prefer a bit more texture, substitute panko instead.
- Gravy – The traditional IKEA Swedish meatballs sauce is made with butter, flour, beef stock, and cream.
I like to replace half of the beef stock with vegetable stock, then add in soy sauce and Dijon mustard for extra flavor!
Swedish Meatballs IKEA Tips and Tricks
- Don’t skip the milk!
Without it, your IKEA Swedish meatballs won’t be as tender or juicy.
That’s because the breadcrumbs soak up the milk, locking in plenty of moisture so they don’t dry out in the oven.
- Prevent tough meatballs.
The most important thing to remember when making meatballs is to not overwork the meat!
Mix just until the ingredients are combined and touch them as little as possible.
Use a scoop to portion them out before gently rolling them into shape.
Wet or grease your hands before rolling — this gets them nice and smooth and prevents the mixture from sticking to your skin.
- Brown before baking.
This is another step that guarantees perfectly tender and moist bites!
It also helps cook some of the fat ahead of time, so your copycat IKEA Swedish meatballs aren’t too greasy.
Serving Suggestions
Traditionally, you would serve these copycat IKEA Swedish meatballs over mashed or boiled new potatoes.
However, you can serve them over noodles or rice if you prefer as well.
Swedish meatballs at IKEA are served with lingonberry jam. But, this may be difficult to find here in the United States.
So, a delicious alternative would be to serve it with cranberry sauce! This Simple Cranberry Sauce recipe takes about 10 minutes to make and is absolutely delicious.
IKEA Swedish Meatballs Recipe FAQ
What is IKEA Swedish meatballs sauce made of?
The IKEA Swedish meatballs sauce is simply a roux (flour and butter) that has added cream and stock.
Our copycat IKEA Swedish meatballs recipe includes a few extra ingredients to give the sauce even more flavor and a silky smooth texture.
Should you fry or bake meatballs?
I prefer to bake meatballs whenever possible. Not only is it less messy, but they come out perfectly tender and evenly cooked every time!
Plus, while they are baking, you can spend time preparing side dishes for your quick and easy meal.
Do you cook meatballs before putting them in sauce?
In this IKEA Swedish Meatballs recipe, you will fry the meatballs and then finish baking them in the oven.
After that, the sauce is served on the side. They suggest serving the meatballs with the sauce over mashed or boiled new potatoes.
How to Freeze Meatballs
If you want to make a big batch of IKEA Swedish meatballs and freeze them for another night, you can!
Simply roll out the meatballs and place them on a baking sheet that’s been lined with parchment or freezer paper.
Put them in the freezer until they’re frozen, about an hour. Then, transfer them to a freezer bag.
Flash freezing prevents meatballs from sticking together, making it easier to thaw just what you need.
You can keep uncooked Swedish meatballs from IKEA in the freezer for 3 to 4 months, provided they are stored in a tightly sealed freezer bag.
If you want to cook them first, cooked meatballs will stay good in the freezer for up to a year.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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IKEA Swedish Meatballs + Video
Donna Elick
IKEA Swedish Meatballs are the most popular item on the IKEA restaurant menu, and they released the recipe! Get it here and make them soon!
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Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 40 minutes mins
Chill Time 2 hours hrs
Total Time 2 hours hrs 45 minutes mins
Course Main
Cuisine Swedish
Method Oven
Servings 16 meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 3.5 ounces breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 5 tablespoons whole milk
- salt and pepper, to taste
Ikea Meatball Sauce
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 3 tablespoons butter, 1.4 ounces
- 3 tablespoons plain flour, 1.4 ounces
- 5 ounces vegetable stock
- 5 ounces beef stock
- 5 ounces heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, add beef and pork; mix thoroughly to break up any lumps.
Add finely chopped onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, and egg, and mix to combine. Add milk, and season well with salt and pepper.
Shape mixture into small, round balls. Place on a clean plate, cover and store in the fridge for 2 hours (to help them hold their shape while cooking).
In a frying pan, heat oil over medium heat. When hot, gently add meatballs and brown on all sides.
When browned, add to an ovenproof dish and cover. Place in a hot oven, 350°F. or 180°C., and baked for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the sauce. Melt the butter in a frying pan. Whisk in the plain flour and continue cooking, stirring continuously for 2 minutes.
Slowly add in vegetable stock and beef stock, whisking continuously. Stir in the heavy cream, soy sauce and Dijon mustard.
Bring to a simmer and allow the sauce to thicken. Continue to stir.
When ready to eat, serve with your favorite potatoes or noodles.
Video
Nutrition
Serving: 1meatball | Calories: 191cal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 196mg | Sugar: 1g | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Originally published May 2020, updated and republished October 2023
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