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Some people go to Ikea to buy furniture or other things for the house, but these copycat Ikea Swedish meatballs always reminds me of why I love it there! You need to give this recipe for Ikea meatballs a try. I was really excited with how these gluten free Swedish meatballs turned out. So now you know how to make Swedish meatballs…but can you put together that shelf?!?
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A good Swedish meatball recipe with a creamy gravy means you can avoid the Ikea crowds and make them yourself at home. And you can put these together without a complicated diagram or having two screws left over at the end!
Ikea Meatballs Ingredients
For this copycat recipe, use two parts beef to one part pork. I also add onion, garlic, egg and milk for these Ikea meatballs. In this version, I used gluten free breadcrumbs because I wanted gluten free Swedish meatballs, but you can use any kind.
The sauce for these homemade Ikea meatballs includes butter, flour (gluten free optional), beef broth, vegetable broth and cream, as well as soy sauce and mustard for a piquant flavour. This recipe for beef bone broth is a delicious option if you want homemade.
Knowing how to make Swedish meatballs is definitely a skill worth having, because they are just so good! These copycat Ikea Swedish meatballs taste just like the ones in the store. Try them and you’re sure to agree!
How to Prepare this Swedish Meatball Recipe
Once you have combined the ingredients for the meatballs, you can make shape them with an ice cream scoop or your hands. They should be about 2 inches across.
Next you fry these copycat Ikea Swedish meatballs for around five minutes, or until they are browned all over. They are then finished to perfection in a hot oven.
This recipe for Ikea meatballs also has a wonderful creamy sauce. You can make the sauce while the meatballs are in the oven. The butter and flour make a roux in the pan and then the other ingredients go in there.
After simmering, you can serve the meatballs with the sauce poured over. Fresh parsley makes a nice garnish but is optional. In Sweden, parsley is a typical garnish for meatballs.
Knowing how to make Swedish meatballs is a skill you need. Not many meatball recipes beat this one! Although, Italian meatballs do rank very highly for me!
In Ikea, you get a plateful of these tasty meatballs for just a few dollars. They come with mashed potatoes or boiled potatoes, depending on location, plus cream sauce and some lingonberry jam. Egg noodles are a tasty option when making this recipe at home. For a low carb option, try pairing with mashed cauliflower.
Ikea also serves chicken meatballs, but I prefer these copycat Ikea Swedish meatballs to the chicken ones. You could always swap some of the meat in these gluten free Swedish meatballs for chicken if you prefer.
Swedish Meatballs: Some Tips for Perfection
This recipe is authentic, since Ikea itself shared how to make it a while back. You will know this recipe for Ikea meatballs is authentic as soon as you bite into one!
Follow the recipe exactly if you want that same wonderful flavour. For the true Ikea experience, serve lingonberry jam with it. Lingonberry jam is available from Ikea or Amazon. If you can’t get it, cranberry jam is quite similar. Lingonberries are small red berries which aren’t quite as tart as cranberries.
For an authentic Swedish meatball recipe, use whole milk in it (or swap it for heavy whipping cream which also works) along with good quality beef and pork. Don’t use extra lean meat here, because a little bit of fat in there helps keeps the meatballs juicy.
The onion should be very finely chopped. Minced would also be fine, and you can mince onion by rubbing it back and forth over a grater. You don’t want big chunks of onion in this Ikea meatballs recipe.
You might want to add a pinch of allspice to the meatball mixture. Although Ikea doesn’t use it in their Swedish meatball recipes, a lot of Swedish cooks do add this aromatic spice.
I love making gluten free Swedish meatballs because they’re versatile and go just as well with potatoes as with egg noodles, pasta shapes or even rice.
These meatballs are served in 340 stores all over the world. It’s one of the best-loved and most popular dishes on Ikea’s restaurant menu. The Ikea in Hyderabad, India, offers a vegetarian version.
Swedish Meatball FAQs
Can I use a different ground meat?
This recipe uses a mixture of ground beef and pork. You can use ground turkey, ground chicken, or any combination of these.
Can I double the recipe?
Yes, can you easily double or triple this recipe for feeding a large group. You can also freeze them, too.
Can you freeze Swedish meatballs?
Swedish meatballs are great for freezing. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months. When ready to use, defrost in the fridge overnight. To serve, reheat in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes (stirring halfway through) or in a saucepan over medium heat.
Copycat Ikea Swedish Meatballs Recipe
Gluten Free Ikea Swedish Meatballs
5 from 33 votes
Course: Gluten Free, Main Course, Meals
Cuisine: Swedish
Keyword: copycat
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Servings: 20 meatballs
Calories: 167kcal
Author: Bella Bucchiotti
Some go to Ikea for shelves, but these copycat Ikea Swedish meatballs are why I go! You need to give this recipe for Ikea meatballs a try. I was really excited with how these gluten free Swedish meatballs turned out.
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Ingredients
- 1 Pound ground beef
- 1/2 Pound ground pork
- 1 onion
- 3 Cloves garlic
- 3/4c Cup breadcrumbs plain gluten free
- 1 egg
- 3/4 Cup whole milk
- 1 Tsp. salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon ground black pepper
Cream Sauce
- 3 Tablespoon butter
- 1/3 Cup flour all purpose or gluten free
- 3/4 Cup vegetable broth
- 3/4 Cup beef broth
- 1 Cup heavy cream
- 2 Teaspoon soy sauce gluten free
- 2 Teaspoon Dijon mustard
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, pork, chopped onion, crushed garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Once combined, add whole milk and use your hands to mix together thoroughly.
Use a 2” ice cream scooper with a trigger to scoop perfect size meatballs. Or, use a spoon and form meat into 2” balls.
Heat a frying pan over medium high heat. Add meatballs and brown all sides. This should take about 5 minutes total.
Place a wire rack over a cookie sheet to allow oil to drip from the meatballs as they cook. Arrange meatballs on the wire rack. Place onto the center rack of the oven and cook for 30 minutes.
While the meatballs are cooking, prepare cream sauce. Heat a frying pan over medium high heat. Melt the butter, then stir in the flour. Cook for 1 minute. Pour in the vegetable stock, beef stock, heavy cream, soy sauce, and Dijon mustard. Whisk well. Bring mixture to a boil then lower heat to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.
Remove meatballs from the oven and add to a casserole dish. Pour cream sauce over the top and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve with egg noodles.
Nutrition
Calories: 167kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 247mg | Potassium: 159mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 226IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg
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The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
These offer a change of pace from Italian meatballs, if you’re in the mood for a Scandinavian supper.
I promise this copycat Ikea Swedish meatballs recipe is really easy. Learning how to make Swedish meatballs is a breeze. Now you can get you Ikea meatball fix easily at home. It’s certainly easier than assembling an Ikea bookcase or making the trek to Ikea stores!
Let me know if you give this recipe for the homemade version of Ikea’s Swedish meatballs a try. I was really excited with how these gluten free Swedish meatballs turned out.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause.
Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts. As well, Bella celebrates her Italian heritage with tasty dishes inspired by her favorite Italian foods. She has been featured in publications such as MSN, Self, Well + Good, New York Post, Salon, and more.
As a social media influencer, Bella can be found on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Since 2015, she has partnered with international brands and Fortune 500 companies. Living with celiac disease and Type 1 diabetes, Bella takes every opportunity to share her experiences with T1D and educate others about these autoimmune diseases.
