Is there anyone who hasn’t made a beeline for the meatballs after a hike around Ikea? Why not skip the tiring shopping trip and try this tasty 30-minute homemade copycat Swedish meatball recipe instead?
What would you say if I told you I have a recipe for Swedish meatballs that are better than the ones from Ikea?
Believe it or not, I’m not a big fan of the cheap and cheerful Ikea meatballs with sauce. But I do like these Swedish meatballs.
What makes these the best Swedish meatballs?
- You can make them in just 30 minutes. So they make a perfect crowd pleasing and comforting midweek meal.
- You know exactly what’s going into them. No unidentifiable filler or preservative. I’m not suggesting that’s what’s in Ikea’s meatballs, but you know… homemade has to be better!
- The combination of beef and pork mince, the spoonfuls of allspice and the dill give them a complexity of flavour that you’ll love.
- There are secret ingredients in the gravy that send it from good to amazing.
- Speaking of the sauce, follow this recipe and you’ll get a generous amount. Better a bit too much than not enough. No gravy stingy-ness here!
How to make them
The hardest part of this recipe is shaping the meatballs. And the word ‘hardest’ is relative i.e. not very hard at all.
All you do to make them is:
Step 1: Throw all the ingredients together in a bowl and mix well.
Step 2: Shape into meatballs the size of a walnut.
Step 3: Pan fry until cooked through, then remove from the pan and keep warm in the oven.
Step 4: Make the sauce in the same pan.
How to make the gravy
Of course, the magic of this recipe lies mostly in the gravy!
There are just 6 ingredients in it:
- flour
- good quality beef stock
- lingonberry or cranberry sauce
- cream
- mustard
- Worcestershire sauce
The last 2 ingredients (the mustard and Worcestershire sauce) are by no means essential, but provide a bit of extra tang.
On the other hand, the spoonful of berry sauce and large drizzle of cream are definitely not optional!
Simply throw all the ingredients together, shape into meatballs and pan fry until cooked. Set aside then make the yummy sauce in the same pan.
How to serve them
I like to serve these in the Winter with a big dollop of mashed potatoes and some peas or green beans.
They’re also great served over your favourite pasta.
Alternatively, serve them with fresh bread and salad. This makes the meal a bit lighter so you can serve it any time of year.
At Ikea of course they are always served with a spoonful of red berry sauce (lingonberry sauce) on the side. Either pick a jar up from the Ikea food shop next time you go flat pack furniture shopping, or use cranberry sauce instead.
Can you freeze them?
Yes! You can freeze them uncooked by freezing them first on baking trays then transferring to big freezer bags. When you want to eat them just defrost and cook as you normally would. Make the sauce fresh.
You can even cook them from frozen if you like. Just add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
Alternatively, sometimes I just freeze the meatball mixture in a container. I defrost the mixture and shape them into meatballs on the day I want to cook them.
I don’t recommend freezing the cooked meatballs in the sauce as the cream tends to separate when defrosting.
More 30-minute meals
- Creamy lemon chicken orzo soup
- Easy baked gnocchi with sausage, peppers and tomatoes
- Moussaka penne (Greek beef and eggplant pasta bake)
- The simplest stovetop chicken and rice
- OR check out all my easy midweek meals!
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Swedish meatballs
Ingredients (UK/Australia? Click below for grams/ml)
For the meatballs
For the sauce
- 2 1/2 cups beef stock good quality
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 2 tablespoons lingonberry or cranberry sauce
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard optional
- a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce optional
- 4 tablespoons cream
To serve
- lingonberry or cranberry sauce
- mashed potatoes or nice crusty bread and fresh salad leaves
Instructions
- Mix all of the ingredients for the meatballs together well with your hands in a large bowl.
- With wet hands, shape into walnut-sized meatballs, then put onto a baking tray or plate.
- Switch on the oven at about 100C/210F. Then heat up a tablespoon or so of oil in a big skillet/frying pan and pan-fry the meatballs for about ten minutes, turning regularly, until golden brown and cooked through (you may have to do this in two batches – see note below). Then transfer the meatballs into a dish and pop in the oven to keep hot.
- To make the sauce, add a knob of butter to the oil left in the pan you cooked the meatballs in. Then add the flour to the pan and stir into the oil/butter, then gradually add the beef stock, stirring all the time. Let it bubble for a minute or two until thickened (*see note below).
- Stir in the berry sauce and mustard and Worcestershire sauce (if using), then take off the heat and stir in the cream. Add the meatballs back into the pan and jiggle around in the sauce until well coated.
- Serve the meatballs and sauce over mashed potatoes or with crusty bread and salad. Garnish with herbs and serve a bit of lingonberry/cranberry sauce on the side.
Debbie says
Hi 600 g of beef stock how much is that in mls. Debbie
Helen says
Hi Debbie! Oh sorry, that’s a typo… you need 600 ml of beef stock, or 2.5 cups! Enjoy!
nicole (thespicetrain.com) says
Oh, those are some tasty-looking and sounding meatballs, Helen! I have to say I could go for the whole pan. And, oh yes, I am totally with on the sauce, you can never have too much sauce on anything as far as I’m concerned!
Helen says
Thank you, Nicole. The hubs and I DID scoff this whole pan … very greedy of us!
Meggan | Culinary Hill says
I SERIOUSLY seriously seriously adore Swedish meatballs. They are on of my all-time favorite foods. That combo of beef & pork in the meatballs is crucial. I think I noticed a towel from “a certain Swedish furniture store” in your pictures, too, ha ha ha! I’m pretty sure every blogger everywhere has a set of those towels. 😉 But anyway, I’d love to come over and eat a vat of these with you… dreams! We gotta have ’em!
Helen says
HAHAHAHA …. that is soooo true about the ‘certain Swedish furniture store’ teatowels! I must admit they are perfect for blogging, though …
Pleaaase come over and share a pot of these with me! 🙂
Ala says
hahaha
Ala says
oops! Accidentally posted. Anyway, you’re lucky your kitchen only looks like a disaster zone every once in a blue moon – you can bet mine looks like that every single time I try to cook in it! We don’t eat meat anymore, but I’m definitely saving the sauce recipe for this because I absolutely love the ingredient list. Hope you have a lovely weekend, Helen!
Helen says
Well, to be honest my kitchen DOES look like a disaster zone after every cook! I think you could make this with veggie ‘meatballs’, Ala … you should try it!
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
I have never tried Ikea’s meatballs, but I’ve heard from many people how great they are…but I totally believe yours would be 100x better, Helen! These look delicious, and I love how easy they are to make!
Helen says
What a compliment … thank you! 🙂
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry says
I agree with you – certain store meatballs may be good but yours rock my boat big time.
Helen says
Thank you, Bintu!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
I think this beauty of a dish has to be a Spring meal too because I’m not waiting 6 months to try this. Those photos took my breath away. I love Swedish meatballs!
Helen says
Ooh, don’t tell me! I’ve been listening to Aussie radio and am very jealous of your just-beginning spring. And it’s such a lovely spring you have, too! Really happy you like this dish though, and thank you so much for the compliment on the photos!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
This is such a crowd pleasing meal! We love Swedish meatballs and I have no doubt that yours are MUCh better than the stores! 😀
Helen says
Thank you, Lorraine! Crowd pleaser, or couple-pleaser (we ate the whole lot all to ourselves!) 🙂
Lou says
Devant de telles photos, je ne peux que saliver ! Elles ont l’air délicieuses !
Helen says
Merci beaucoup, Lou! Tu dois les gouter un jour! 🙂
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
Helen – your meatballs are way way better looking than a “certain Swedish furniture store”s are! I love the parsley in them! Your photos are simply stunning!
Helen says
Thank you so much for the lovely compliments, Shashi! (blush blush!)
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Swedish meatballs are my favorite type of meatball, and believe it or not I have NEVER had them from Ikea. Don’t ask me why, something about the thought of them just doesn’t appeal to me. I mean, they specialize in furniture, not food. One day I will have to try them, and I will probably eat my words. LOL. Until then, I will stick to trying out your version of Swedish meatballs because they look FABULOUS! Pinned! Cheers to a beautiful day!
Helen says
Glad you like the look of these, Cheyanne! To be honest, the Ikea meatballs are tasty, but quite greasy too. These seem a lot lighter, although the cream makes them taste really rich and luxurious. 🙂
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
Haha, the only way I can get my husband to go to Ikea with me is with the promise of meatballs. I am not sure what I am going to do to get him there now he doesn’t eat meat.
Helen says
Ooh nooo! Can you make him a veggie version? 😉
[email protected] says
Oh dear Helen, these look amazing and I love love going to “that” furniture store all the time hehe! My husband’s friend loves getting these there so I will sending this recipe his way! Thanks girl 🙂
Helen says
Hi Ami! Oh, that would be wonderful if you gave the recipe to your meatball-loving friend! 🙂
Chrissy says
These certainly look better than those from that furniture store!
Helen says
Thank you, Chrissy! Glad you think so! 🙂
Mira says
I think your meatballs look a lot better than the ones at the “Swedish Furniture Store” 🙂 ! Love the sauce! I use dill in a lot of recipes! Pinning!
Helen says
Thanks, Mira! The dill isn’t traditionally Swedish, but I love it and think it goes really well in the meatballs 🙂
Kathleen | Hapa Nom Nom says
You’re calling to my Swedish side, Helen! ‘That Swedish furniture store’ does have some great meatballs – but I think homemade is always better. Your meatballs look and sound fantastic – thumbs up on the pork and beef combo! And that sauce – totally drooling!
Helen says
Thank you, Kathleen! Really happy to have appealed to your Swedish side with these! 🙂
Patricia says
Being a swede living in Sweden I have to say that I have never heard of a meatball recipe with dill. Allspice is almost always only used in meatballs for christmas. But I will give your recipe a go – you never know 🙂
Helen says
Well, I would love to hear your feedback then, Patricia, if you do give these a go! I added the dill because I got used to eating it when I lived in Greece and love the flavour. The allspice because it gives a bit of ‘oomph’ to the flavour of the meat. Guess it was a bit cheeky to call these ‘Swedish’ meatballs really, but at least the sauces are authentic! 😉
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe says
If you can believe it, I’ve never actually tried the Swedish meatballs from THAT furniture store. I’m usually too preoccupied with eating a cinnamon bun and an ice cream cone. However, I definitely want to try your meatball recipe because they look and sound amazing!
Helen says
Mmm … well I’ve never tried the cinnamon buns and ice creams from there! Must give those a try! Glad you like the sound of the meatball recipe, Amanda. Do give them a try!
[email protected] says
Well firstly, these look so much better than ‘that store’, even though I haven’t tried theirs and your sauce sounds mouth watering, love the sweetness.
Helen says
Thank you, Janette! The allspice and cranberry sauce really does give these a ‘just enough’ hint of sweetness. Hope you try them some time!
marcie says
The lighting in your photos is just perfect…and the meatballs look perfect, too! I would love to eat this whole skillet, Helen, especially since it’s dinner time here. They look amazing, and I can’t wait to try them!
Helen says
Thanks so much for the compliments, Marcie! Mr. Scrummy and I actually did eat this whole skillet. What piggies we are!
Eva says
Elles ont l’air succulents comme celles qui fait ma mère. J’en suis sûre que les tiennes sont meilleures que chez I..A !
Helen says
Merci beaucoup, Eva! Je suis sur qu’elles sont pas meilleures que celles de ta mere! 😉
cheri says
Hi Helen, my husband is a big fan of sauce on things, will pin this for when it’s gets a bit cooler. Sounds delicious! I have not had the ahem……furniture store ones but I know by looking at your they are much better. Take care!
Helen says
Thank you, Cheri! Really happy you like the sound of these enough to want to give them a try. But yes, wait until the weather cools down … definitely a bit of a winter recipe!
Jess @ whatjessicabakednext says
I’ve never tried Swedish meatballs! They sound so delicious – definitely will have to give your recipe a go! Love the idea of serving them with mash and cranberry sauce. Perfect autumn/winter comfort food! 😀
Helen says
Thank you, Jess! You really must try these. And then have one of your wonderful cupcakes for dessert! 😉
Marissa | Pinch and Swirl says
I think that your Swedish meatballs kick butt on ‘that furniture store’s’ version. These look totally mouthwatering!!
Helen says
Thank you so much! I must admit this recipe is a keeper!