Copycat Ikea Swedish Meatballs made easy at home with a blend of ground beef & pork & simple seasonings! Indulge in your favorite Swedish dinner without needing to navigate to a store!
With a few simple ingredients and techniques, anyone can recreate the beloved Ikea Swedish meatball recipe in their own kitchen. The rich flavors and comforting texture not only satisfy appetites but also evoke fond memories of leisurely meals shared with family and friends.
Your favorite department store meatballs made at home!
I love shopping at Ikea and no trip is complete without a stop by their food court for some of their delicious meatballs! These Copycat Ikea Swedish Meatballs are quick to make and have a luscious cream sauce perfect for serving over mashed potatoes. A little cranberry sauce (or lingonberry sauce) on the side and you have yourself a perfect copycat.
This combination enhances the flavors and provides an authentic taste. Enjoying department store meatballs at home is achievable with this simple recipe. It’s a delightful way to bring a favorite dish from store to table.
Why You’ll Love This Swedish Meatball Recipe
- Simple steps. The meatballs are easy to prepare, making them an excellent choice for both beginners and seasoned cooks. They can be enjoyed as a main dish or served as appetizers.
- Flavor-packed. A blend of spices like garlic salt and onion powder enhances the richness of the meat. The combination of spices and herbs creates an authentic taste that transports one straight to a cozy Swedish kitchen.
- Versatile. These meatballs can be served with various sides, such as mashed potatoes or noodles. They can also be frozen before or after cooking, allowing for convenient meal prep.
Ingredients for Copycat Ikea Swedish Meatballs
Beef: For the base of this meatball, you will need 1 pound of ground beef.
Pork: Add in ½ pound of ground pork for more protein and amazing flavor.
Onion powder: Use 1 tsp of onion powder to give these meatballs a subtle sweet taste.
Garlic salt: 1 tsp of garlic salt will flavor this dish wonderfully.
Salt & Pepper: You need ½ tsp of each salt and black pepper to round out the flavor profile of these meatballs.
Breadcrumbs: Help bind the ingredients together by adding ⅔ cup of breadcrumbs to the meat mixture.
Egg: Give these meatballs 1 egg to retain their shape and moisture while cooking.
Milk: Help keep the meatballs from drying out while cooking by adding 5 TBSP of milk.
Butter: Create a rich gravy by using 3 TBSP of butter, melted.
Flour: Thicken the sauce with 3 TBSP of flour.
Vegetable stock: You will need 1 cup of vegetable stock for a delicious gravy base.
Beef stock: The second base of this gravy is 1 cup of beef stock.
Heavy cream: For the creamy and delightful gravy that we all know and love, add 1 cup of heavy cream.
How to make Ikea’s Famous Meatballs
Prep
In a large bowl, combine the beef, pork, onion powder, garlic salt, pepper, salt, egg, breadcrumbs, and milk until well incorporated. Once the mixture is all combined, roll into small balls, about 1 inch or so.
Cook
Next heat a large skillet, over medium heat, and work in batches to cook the meatballs. Cook each meatball for about 8 minutes, turning them frequently until they are brown on all sides, and cooked through. Remove the meatballs from the pan and set them aside on a paper towel lined plate or baking sheet.
Gravy
After the meatballs are all cooked, wipe out the pan and return it back to the stove. Then melt the butter over medium heat and whisk in the flour. Cook the flour mixture for 1 minute.
Proceed to slowly whisk in the vegetable stock, then the beef stock. Whisk until the mixture comes to a low boil. Then add in the heavy cream, whisk to combine, then bring back up to a slow boil to thicken.
Continue to add the Swedish meatballs to the gravy, or serve them separately, over mashed potatoes. Serve & enjoy!
Copycat Ikea Swedish Meatballs
Ingredients
Copycat Ikea Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- ½ lb ground pork
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
- ⅔ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 5 TBSP milk
Creamy Meatball Gravy
- 3 TBSP butter
- 3 TBSP flour
- 1 cup vegetable stock
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Prep: In a large bowl, combine the beef, pork, onion powder, garlic salt, pepper, salt, egg, breadcrumbs, and milk until well incorporated. Once the mixture is all combined, roll into small balls, about 1 inch or so.
- Cook: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and work in batches to cook the meatballs. Cook each about 8 minutes turning frequently until brown on all sides and cooked through. Remove the meatballs from the pan and set aside.
- Gravy: Wipe the pan out and return back to the stove. Melt the butter over medium heat and whisk in the flour. Cook the flour mixture for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the vegetable stock, then the beef stock. Whisk until the mixture comes back up to a low boil. Whisk in the heavy cream, bring back up to a slow boil to thicken.
- Add the Swedish meatballs to the gravy or serve all separately over mashed potatoes. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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How long are homemade Meatballs & Gravy good for?
Store leftover meatball and gravy in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, and they will last up to 3 days. Reheat them again before serving so that you can enjoy them warm, that is when they truly taste their best.
For longer storage, these meatballs will last in the freezer for up to 3 months. Add the gravy once the meatballs are defrosted and reheated.
What other sauce can I serve these meatballs with?
Ikea serves these with lingonberry jam but if you cannot get your hands on that I like to just use whole berry cranberry sauce.
Tips for achieving the taste of IKEA’s Swedish meatballs
To replicate the taste of IKEA’s meatballs, using a mixture of beef and pork is essential. The addition of breadcrumbs soaked in milk helps maintain moisture.
How is the meatball sauce at IKEA different from traditional Swedish meatball sauce?
IKEA’s meatball sauce often features a creamy texture with a hint of sweetness. Traditional Swedish meatball sauce typically has a stronger sour cream base, while IKEA’s version includes a blend of beef stock and heavy cream, creating a rich, savory flavor.
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Copycat Ikea Swedish Meatballs are made with a combination of ground beef & pork, flavorful seasonings and served in the delicious Ikea gravy we all know and love. Recreate this beloved Ikea Swedish meatball recipe right from your own kitchen!
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