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.
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!
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.
What goes in Swedish Meatballs
Here’s what you need to make the 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 I roll meatballs
And here’s how I roll meatballs. It’s the fastest method I’ve been able to come up with!
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);
Scoop and dollop all the mixture;
THEN roll them all;
Voila! Even size meatballs, rolled relatively quickly!
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!!!
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!
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Swedish Meatballs (homemade Ikea Meatballs)
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:
Nutrition Information:
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!!
And from the original publication date:
Trying to negotiate with Dozer using a Swedish Meatball…..
This has been a favourite in the house, already added to the weekly meals. I do use turkey mince and tastes great!
Can I make these gluten free ? I can’t eat gluten
Sure can Rachel, use gluten free bread in the meat balls and substitute the flour in the gravy for 1 1/2 tbsp corn flour 🙂 N x
This is delicious and so authentic tasting. I enjoy your recipes. I am looking forward to making this regularly.
delicious recipe!!! I loved them! thanks Nagi !!!
Once again, scummy! We don’t have nutmeg and I took the soured cream option, then added mushrooms to the sauce and beans to the pasta water. All in all, this was a very satisfying meal. I look forward to eating it again on Monday, and finding out how well the sauce holds up to a week in the freezer. Thank you!
Update: these were fine defrosted! One reused takeaway tub comfortably holds six meatballs and a good amount of sauce for an individual portion. Remember to take tubs out of the freezer far enough in advance of dinner time for them to defrost. They took about ten minutes to heat gently in a frying pan, with a splash of water to stop the sauce getting too thick while it bubbled. If using mushrooms, add them fresh each time rather than freezing them with the sauce and meatballs. I strongly recommend this meal for folk with a lack of time or energy to prepare midweek meals but who still want something delicious, nourishing and filling to eat. Husband’s view: “this would be perfect on a cold winter’s evening”.
I’ve got the ingredients to substitute for allspice. I assume I should also include the listed nutmeg? I’m sooo excited to make these!
All good Swedes know lingonberries MUST accompany Swedish meatballs. Excellent recipe!
Absolutely amazing!
Served with creamy mash potato and steamed crunchy greens. Whole family devoured it. Thank you 🙂
This was amazing! And I’ve had meatballs in Stockholm! I used a combilation or low fat pork mince and turkey mince for a healthier variant and it turned out great. I added mushrooms to the sauce and used coconut cream as a cream substitute and it was still great. Fantastic recipe.
Another winner. You never fail to deliver..
Should I double or triple the sauce if I plan on serving this over egg noodles?
Hi Kim, the dish is pretty saucy as is but if you want, you can always double! N x
Should I double the sauce if I plan on serving it on egg noodles?
Another winner (unsurprisingly) . Meatballs came out moist and tender. I used all beef and omitted cloves because I didn’t have any. I used yoghurt for the sauce and it was delish. Couldn’t fault it and very easy to make (also a good one to prep before the dinner rush)
These are just insanely good. Not too dense, nice and moist, everything is packed with flavour. Thank you Nagi for always letting me make delicious food
Ooh dear lord. I made this for the very first time that I have tempted to make it and the only thing I didn’t have is the cream so what I did is I did everything the way that the recipe called for and then I added a can of Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup and oh my God the gravy it looks so good thank you for sharing this recipe I will be sure to gobble this up as my egg noodles are cooking right now.
Can I make the meatball ahead and cook it next day?
Yes 100% Fion! N x
Hi Nagi, I’m excited to try this recipe but have realised I only have the normal (non-salt reduced) stock on hand. Do you have any tips to make sure it doesn’t come out too salty? x
Thank you Nagi! These meatballs are so balanced flavor-wise. I sprinkled a little fresh dill weed on for additional flavor and garnish. Will be making these again.
Sounds perfect – I’m so glad you loved them Cheryl! N X
Made it and my family loved it. Great for picky eaters!
Family absolutely loved these meatballs! They are huge fans of the Ikea meatballs and they all agree that these are way, way better. Your recipes are fantastic.