IKEA Swedish Meatballs

This easy Swedish Meatballs recipe features perfectly tender meatballs with a rich and creamy gravy. This homemade version of IKEA Swedish meatballs is perfect with potatoes or noodles, plus traditional lingonberry preserves on the side.

Homemade IKEA Swedish Meatballs

Sometimes I go to IKEA just because I’m hungry for Swedish meatballs. Yes, it’s true!

And then there are other times when I’m really craving IKEA Swedish meatballs but just can’t be bothered to drive to the store. That’s where this recipe comes in. I can make some meatballs in my own kitchen and enjoy this comfort dish around our own table – there’s no need to drive to IKEA!

Swedish Meatballs are easy to make. My recipe features perfectly tender meatballs covered in a rich, creamy homemade gravy. I like to serve them over creamy mashed potatoes or boiled potatoes with lots of melty butter. And I always make sure to offer some traditional lingonberry jam or my favorite cranberry sauce!

The First Time I Tried Swedish Meatballs

Do you remember the first time you ate Swedish meatballs? I sure do!

My first time was at IKEA in Schaumburg, IL, in the spring of 1999. Blake and I were finalizing our upcoming September wedding plans, and made an IKEA run to stock up on lighting for our outdoor wedding reception on my parents’ farm.

We picked out tiki torches, hanging lanterns, strings of twinkle lights, and tea lights. They were perfect for our casual reception plans that included picnic tables, a roasted pig, a beer wagon, and a DJ (my cousin) in the garage.

And before we left IKEA that day, we stopped at the cafe for some of their famous Swedish meatballs. The rest is history. We were smitten with those tender little meatballs!

What Are Swedish Meatballs?

I grew up on my mom’s all-beef meatballs, swimming in a deliciously creamy brown gravy. That meal has always been a favorite. So it didn’t surprise me when I also fell for Swedish meatballs.

But what exactly are Swedish meatballs? Swedish meatballs are known as köttbullar in Sweden. And when it comes to traditional foods, this dish is as quintessentially Swedish as it gets.

And what makes Swedish meatballs different? Swedish meatballs are made with a mixture of ground beef and ground pork, and seasoned with spices such as allspice and nutmeg. The meatballs are typically smaller in size when compared to other meatballs (such as Italian meatballs and my mom’s meatballs and gravy).

Traditionally, Swedish meatballs are served over mashed potatoes with a creamy brown gravy (versus Italian meatballs, which have a tomato-based sauce and are served over pasta), plus a side of tangy lingonberry jam.

How to Make Swedish Meatballs

IKEA’s meatballs are very tender and light in texture. My recipe includes mixing the ground meats with milk-soaked breadcrumbs to achieve that same bite.

Here’s how I make Swedish meatballs:

• Cook the onion. In a large skillet, sauté the chopped onion in butter until softened.
• Make the meat mixture. In a large bowl, mix beef, pork, eggs, a little soy sauce, black pepper, sugar, allspice, nutmeg, and the sauteéd onions.
• Mix breadcrumbs and milk. To a medium bowl, add the breadcrumbs and milk. Stir to combine.
• Combine everything together. Add the meat mixture to the soaked breadcrumbs and combine.
• Roll meat mixture into balls (I like to use a 1-1/2 tablespoon scoop). Transfer meatballs to a baking sheet.
• Cook. In the same large skillet, brown the meatballs. Then transfer them to a baking sheet.
• Make the gravy. Whisk flour into the skillet’s pan drippings to form a smooth paste. Then whisk in chicken broth until smooth, and bring to a simmer. Add sour cream, Worcestershire, and a bit more soy sauce, whisking to incorporate. Simmer until thickened into a creamy gravy.
• Finish the meatballs. Fold meatballs into the gravy, cover the skillet, and cook until everything is good and hot.

Plenty of people make gravy using cans of cream of mushroom soup. But I’m here to tell you that this easy-to-make homemade gravy is not only better tasting, but also fun to make. You won’t believe how quickly it comes together!

Our oldest daughter often requests to be in charge of the gravy making. She likes to watch it evolve, has been making it for years at our house. Yes, it’s really that easy!

Another great recipe that utilizes my homemade gravy making method is my Tater Tot Hotdish – do give it a try!

What Makes these the Best Swedish Meatballs?

I think this recipe is the best because the meatballs are incredibly tender and flavorful, and they’re swimming in a rich and creamy gravy (or Swedish meatball sauce, as some people call it). They are absolute perfection over a serving of mashed potatoes or buttery boiled potatoes.

And the cherry on top of this meal? The piece that makes our IKEA Swedish meatballs replication complete? A spoonful of traditional lingonberry jam on the side, just like IKEA serves this meal. If you’re wondering what that’s like, just think about how good cranberry sauce is with your Thanksgiving turkey and gravy!

Tips for Success

• Do use both beef and pork. Each meat offers its own uniquely delicious flavor. And the pork adds a juicier, more tender bite, which is what we’re after here.
• Don’t skip the nutmeg and allspice. These spices are common and inexpensive, and lend that signature Swedish meatballs flavor.
• Use a scoop to portion the meatballs. Then roll them by hand. This will give you uniformly sized meatballs that will cook more evenly. I think this scoop is the perfect size.
• Use the pan drippings! This is a MUST! After transferring the browned meatballs out of the skillet, use those drippings to start the homemade gravy. This adds tons of great flavor. Don’t even think about discarding the drippings!

What to Serve with Swedish Meatballs

I believe that the best Swedish meatball experience is when they are served over creamy mashed potatoes or buttery boiled potatoes. Roasted potatoes or perfect baked potatoes would also be good. But I’ve heard back from plenty of you, loud and clear, that you also love noodles. So that’s another option.

I’ve also mentioned lingonberry jam, which is a traditional companion to this meal. Other options would be cranberry sauce, applesauce, or apple compote.

If you’re looking for some inspiration beyond that, I might recommend a green veggie, like string beans, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts. A fresh green salad is always welcome at our table, too.

Here are a few more recipes with creamy comfort: Also try my mom’s Oyster Stew, this Creamy Enchilada Chili, and Leftover Turkey Casserole!

This post was previously published in 2013. Some of the photographs and some of the text were updated in 2019.