Ikea Swedish Meatball Recipe (2024)

Last Updated on: August 28, 2023

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Have you always wished for an authentic Ikea Swedish meatball recipe? Well, wish granted. Because Ikea just released their famous recipe for their succulent Swedish meatballs.

They’re melt-in-your-mouth delish, covered in creamy gravy, and not to be missed.

Ikea Swedish Meatball Recipe (1)

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Ikea started serving food in the 1960’s, declaring that no one should have to shop on an empty stomach.

And although no one would ever expect such tasty dishes from a furniture shop, they’ve turned it into an unforgettable experience.

One that you can now recreate at home!

In fact, they even drew up some directions to look just like assembly instructions. (Similar to the instruction manuals that come with their furniture!)

Missing your IKEA meatball fix? We’ve created a recipe for you to recreate this delicious dish in the comfort of your own home #IKEAmeatballs pic.twitter.com/d89lRsJxH7

— IKEA UK (@IKEAUK) April 20, 2020

But don’t worry, we also have traditional instructions as well 🙂

Homemade Ikea Swedish Meatballs

Ikea’s Swedish meatballs, aka Köttbullar, are iconic. In fact, they’re almost as famous as their flat-pack furniture!

If you have them in the store, they’re loaded with rich and hearty flavors.

And they’re typically served with creamy gravy, mashed potatoes, and the all-important lingonberry jam.

Made from a blend of pork and beef, they’re subtly spiced, which plays so well with the sweet-tart jam.

Of course, you can also buy them frozen to take home.

But if you’re feeling adventurous, why not try them homemade? You won’t be disappointed.

What Makes Swedish Meatballs Different?

There are a few factors that distinguish Swedish meatballs from traditional ones, including:

  • They’re made of 50% ground beef and 50% ground pork instead of 100% of either.
  • They’re usually smaller than “traditional” – i.e., Italian – meatballs.
  • They have different flavor add-ins, such as nutmeg and allspice.
  • They typically don’t contain cheese, whereas classic meatballs often include parmesan.

What to Serve with Swedish Meatballs

Ikea serves their meatballs with their signature lingonberry jam (recipe below). They also include mashed potatoes and gravy on the plate.

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If you don’t want mashed potatoes and gravy, check out my post on what to serve with Swedish meatballs for inspiration. Here are a few of the highlights:

  • Buttered noodles
  • Seasoned rice
  • Green beans almondine
  • Pasta

Lingonberry Jam Recipe

Lingonberry jam is an essential component of any Swedish meatball meal.

That said, you can serve these with any meatball sauce you like.

But for those interested in the traditional recipe, here’s how to make lingonberry jam:

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups of fresh lingonberries
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar

Method:

  1. Rinse the lingonberries and throw away any that look soft or discolored.
  2. Add the berries and water to a large pot over medium heat, then bring the water to a boil.
  3. When the water starts to boil, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes until the berries start to burst.
  4. Stir in the sugar and turn the heat up to medium.
  5. Heat and mix until it’s fully dissolved, about 10-15 minutes. (Be careful, as it may spit and bubble.)
  6. Remove the pan from the heat and leave it to cool.
  7. Transfer the jam to a clean glass jar, secure a lid on top, and store it in the fridge.
Ikea Swedish Meatball Recipe (2)

Ikea Swedish Meatball Recipe

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

30

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Ingredients

  • For the meatballs:
  • 1 pound ground beef

  • 1/2 pound ground pork

  • 1 onion (finely chopped)

  • 1 clove of garlic (crushed or minced)

  • 2/3 cup breadcrumbs

  • 1 egg

  • 5 tablespoons of milk (whole milk)

  • Generous salt and pepper

  • For the cream sauce:
  • Dash of oil

  • 3 tablespoons butter

  • 3 tablespoons plain flour

  • 2/3 cup vegetable stock

  • 2/3 cup beef stock

  • 2/3 cup thick double cream

  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce

  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Instructions

  • Meatballs:
  • In a large bowl, combine the beef and pork. Mix thoroughly to break up any lumps. Add the chopped onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, and egg. Mix well. Add milk and season well with salt and pepper.
  • Roll the mixture into small meatballs and place on a clean plate. Cover and refrigerate for two hours.
  • In a large frying pan, heat oil on medium heat. Once the pan is heated, gently add the meatballs and brown on all sides.
  • Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the meatballs in an oven-safe dish and cook for 30 minutes.
  • Cream Sauce:
  • In a skillet or frying pan, melt 3 tablespoons of butter.
  • Whisk in 3 tablespoons of flour and stir continuously for 2 minutes.
  • Add 2/3 cup of vegetable stock and 2/3 cup of beef stock and continue to stir.
  • Add 2/3 cup of double cream, 2 teaspoons of soy sauce and 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard. Bring to a simmer and allow sauce to thicken. Continue to stir.
  • Pour the cream sauce over meatballs and enjoy!

Many cult followers have already made this Ikea classic on Instagram. Feast your eyes on these tasty treats!

Ikea Swedish Meatball Recipe (3)

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Ikea Swedish Meatball Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Ikea meatball sauce made of? ›

Iconic Swedish cream sauce: Melt 40g of butter in a pan. Whisk in 40g of plain flour and stir for 2 mins. Add 300ml of bouillon (or consommé) and continue to stir. Add 150ml double cream, 2 tsp of soy sauce and 1 tsp of (Dijon) mustard.

Why do Ikea meatballs taste so good? ›

They're loaded with salt (and salt is delicious)

According to Ikea's website, the 12-meatball version of their KÖTTBULLAR plate packs a pretty serious amount of salt into your bloodstream, to the tune of 1,520 milligrams.

What is the jam they put on Ikea meatballs? ›

It's lingonberry season and the small sour berries that thrive best in cold climates are ready to be picked. Swedes love eating the jam made from lingonberries with meatballs, mashed potatoes and cream sauce.

What is Swedish meatball sauce made of? ›

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.

Why are IKEA meatballs so cheap? ›

To do that, they entice people with cheap meatballs. The hope is that a cheap and delicious meal will get people to come to Ikea and then once they're there, they'll get lost in the maze of a store and purchase a few other things along the way like Ikea's kitchen line.

What is the IKEA gravy called? ›

ALLEMANSRÄTTEN Mix for cream sauce.

Does IKEA meatballs have horse meat? ›

The Czech State Veterinary Administration said it tested two batches of Ikea meatballs and only one of them contained horsemeat.

Are IKEA meatballs actually Swedish? ›

We've been serving food at IKEA stores since the 1960s, but in 1985 Swedish chef Severin Sjöstedt created a meatball that was delicious, affordable and easy to serve, based on the traditional Swedish meatball.

Is IKEA discontinuing meatballs? ›

Ikea stores in U.S., Canada not affected. STOCKHOLM - Swedish furniture giant Ikea became entangled in Europe's widening meat scandal Monday, forced to withdraw meatballs from stores across Europe amid suspicions that they contained horse meat. Stores in the U.S. and Canada were not affected, Ikea said.

What Jam does IKEA serve with Swedish meatballs? ›

For a proper Swedish meal, lingonberry jam, mashed potatoes and cream sauce are the perfect partners for Swedish meatballs.

What is Swedish meatballs served with? ›

Sweden has become globally renowned for its delicious meatballs. They are traditionally served in a brown sauce, with mashed potato and lingonberry jam on the side.

How many IKEA meatballs are eaten each day? ›

An astounding two million meatballs are eaten in IKEA's 340 stores worldwide every day. Now that's a lot of meatballs!

What is the Swedish meatball scandal? ›

Czech authorities alerted the discount furniture maker that they had found horsemeat in a sample of meatballs, and Ikea subsequently pulled the product from stores in 14 countries.

What is IKEA gravy made from? ›

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!

Why do Swedish meatballs taste different? ›

The Seasoning

While both varieties include ingredients such as grated onion and panade (milk-soaked bread) or bread crumbs, plus the usual salt and pepper, Swedish meatballs traditionally use spices like allspice, nutmeg, white pepper, and sometimes ground ginger as flavoring.

What is Ikea gravy made from? ›

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!

What is the red sauce in Ikea? ›

In Sweden, perhaps the most classic way to use it is as a hot dog topping together with mustard. Actually, Swedes are said to be the world's heaviest users of ketchup so no wonder you find KETCHUP (tomato ketchup) here in the IKEA store!

Are Ikea meatballs unhealthy? ›

Are Ikea meatballs healthy? The meatballs are low in carbs but high in fat content, so while they're not healthy food, Ikea Swedish meatballs can be part of a healthy eating plan when enjoyed in moderation and as an occasional treat.

What are the ingredients in Ikea frozen meatballs? ›

Beef, Pork, Water, Seasoning (Bread Crumbs [Bleached Wheat Flour, Dextrose, Yeast, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and/Or Cottonseed Oil, Salt], Dextrose, Corn Syrup Solids, Salt, Parmesan Cheese [Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Spices, Garlic Powder, Parsley Flakes, Dried Onion), Textured Soy Flour, ...

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