IKEA's Swedish Meatball Recipe (Knock-Off).....Delicious!! (2024)

I haven’t quite caught the IKEA bug, yet. I know, I’m crazy…from what I hear. However, I’ve only been there one time, for about 15 minutes, and I was with the husband. Shopping with the man is one of my least favorite things to do. I don’t know why. Dan is totally sweet, but I clam up when I shop with him (or anyone, really.) It offends him, but I just can’t do it. I like to shop alone, that’s when magic happens, I find awesome things, and I can move super fast. I have this nerdy method, where I walk past everything really quickly, and I won’t stop until something grabs my attention. I figure, if I have to carefully browse to find something I might like, I don’t like it enough. I’m one of those ladies at the store who speed walks, freaking people out, because I’m zooming all around them. It’s my shopping-mode, can’t help it. Watch out for the crazy-lady.

IKEA's Swedish Meatball Recipe (Knock-Off).....Delicious!! (1)

So, I should probably give IKEA another chance (alone, next time.) If not for the ultra-cheap/cool knick-knacks, but for the food court. I keep hearing about these amazing Swedish Meatballs, so when I saw a “perfect knock-off” recipe in the latest Food Network Magazine, I had to try them. Although, I can’t attest to their authenticity (since I’ve never eaten at IKEA), I can tell you that my family loved them. Dan asked me to save this recipe in the keep-pile, because he wanted more…we all did. Luckily, I doubled my batch of meatballs, to freeze half of them. So, next time around, all I have to do is make the sauce!

‘Get on with it’, I hear ya. So, to make the meatballs, you will need: breadcrumbs, butter, minced onion (fresh or dry), minced garlic, ground allspice, salt, white pepper, milk, Worcestershire sauce, lean ground beef, lean ground pork, and an egg.

* Again, I doubled the meatball recipe, to have an extra batch of meatballs to freeze. Also, I tripled the sauce recipe…not to freeze, but because I wanted plenty of sauce to serve over noodles. I’m not sure, but I don’t think IKEA serves their meatballs with noodles, just plain. Don’t quote me.

Heat the butter, in a skillet, over medium heat. Saute the onion, garlic, allspice, salt, and white pepper, for about 5 minutes, or until garlic and onions are soft. I just used dry minced onion, so I just cooked it for about a minute. Add the milk and Worcestershire sauce to the mixture, and bring to a simmer.

Dump the breadcrumbs in a bowl. Pour the hot skillet mixture over the breadcrumbs and stir together.

Add the beef, pork, 1 egg and 1 egg white to the bowl, and mix until combined. It’s easiest to use your hands and squish everything together for about 5 minutes. I’m scared of raw meat, so this is where I pull out my plastic doctor gloves.

Spray a sheet pan to grease, and roll the meat into 1 inch balls, and place on a baking sheet. One recipe makes about 35-40 meatballs. Make sure you don’t roll them much bigger than 1 inch, or they take a lot longer to cook through…unless, you’re cool with that. Cover your sheet with plastic wrap and refrigerate the meatballs for about an hour. I didn’t have an hour, so I stuck them in the freezer for about 25 minutes. Worked for me. Heat the oven to 400 degrees and bake the meatballs for about 20 minutes, or until cooked through.

Next up, the gravy. For the gravy, you will need: butter, flour, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, heavy cream, salt, pepper, and parsley (optional, for garnish).

If you are going to serve this with noodles, this is about the time you get the water boiling.

To make the gravy, melt the butter in a skillet and add the flour. Cook for a few minutes while whisking. Pour in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, bring to a simmer. Finally, add the heavy cream and the cooked meatballs. Let simmer, until the gravy thickens. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Serve plain, or over a bed of noodles, rice, or potatoes. (Remember, make extra sauce if you’re going to be serving on top of something…again, I tripled the sauce recipe.)

IKEA’s Swedish Meatball Recipe (Knock-Off)
Food Network Magazine

IKEA’s Swedish Meatball Recipe (Knock-Off)…..Delicious!!

Ingredients

  • Meatballs
  • Makes about 35-40 1" meatballs. Make double to freeze a batch for later!
  • 1cupbreadcrumbs
  • 2TBSbutter
  • 1/3cupwhite onionmince (or a couple TBS. of dry minced onion)
  • 2clovesgarlicminced (or 2 tsp. pre-minced garlic)
  • 1/4tsp.ground allspice
  • 1tsp.salt
  • 1/4tsp.white pepper
  • 1/2cupmilk
  • 1tsp.Worcestershire sauce
  • 3/4lb.lean ground beef
  • 1/2lb.lean ground pork
  • 1large eggplus 1 egg white, beaten
  • Gravy
  • Makes just enough to cover the meatballs, if you want extra to serve over noodles, double/triple gravy recipe.
  • 2TBSbutter
  • 2TBSflour
  • 1 1/2cupsbeef broth
  • 1tsp.Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4cupheavy cream
  • Salt & Pepperto taste
  • Parsleyoptional - garnish

Instructions

  1. To make the meatballs, heat the butter, in a skillet, over medium heat.

  2. Saute the onion, garlic, allspice, salt, and white pepper, for about 5 minutes, or until garlic and onions are soft. (I just used dry minced onion, so I just cooked it for about a minute.)

  3. Add the milk and Worcestershire sauce to the mixture, and bring to a simmer.

  4. Dump the breadcrumbs in a bowl.

  5. Pour the hot skillet mixture over the breadcrumbs and stir together.

  6. Add the beef, pork, 1 egg and 1 egg white to the bowl, and mix until combined. (It's easiest to use your hands and squish everything together for about 5 minutes.)

  7. Spray a sheet pan to grease, and roll the meat into 1 inch balls, and place on a baking sheet. One recipe makes about 35-40 meatballs.

  8. Cover your sheet with plastic wrap and refrigerate the meatballs for about an hour. (I stuck them in the freezer for about 25 minutes.) Heat the oven to 400 degrees and bake the meatballs for about 20 minutes, or until cooked through.

  9. To make the gravy, melt the butter in a skillet and add the flour.

  10. Cook for a few minutes while whisking.

  11. Pour in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, bring to

  12. a simmer.

  13. Finally, add the he

  14. avy cream and the cooked meatballs. Let simmer, until the gravy thickens, about 10 minutes Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

  15. Serve as is, or on top of a bed of rice, noodles, or potatoes.

  16. Garnish with parsley.

Have you subscribed to the ‘Or so she says…’ newsletter yet? We send out emails with more great ideas, and your first one will include Mariel’s five FAVORITE recipes from the blog. You can sign up by clicking HERE.

IKEA’s Swedish Meatball Recipe (Knock-Off)…..Delicious!!

Ingredients

  • Meatballs
  • (Makes about 35-40 1″ meatballs. Make double to freeze a batch for later!)
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • 2 TBS butter
  • 1/3 cup white onion, mince (or a couple TBS. of dry minced onion)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (or 2 tsp. pre-minced garlic)
  • 1/4 tsp. ground allspice
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. white pepper
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 3/4 lb. lean ground beef
  • 1/2 lb. lean ground pork
  • 1 large egg, plus 1 egg white, beaten
  • Gravy
  • (Makes just enough to cover the meatballs, if you want extra to serve over noodles, double/triple gravy recipe.)
  • 2 TBS butter
  • 2 TBS flour
  • 1 1/2 cups beef broth
  • 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • Salt & Pepper (to taste)
  • Parsley (optional – garnish)

Instructions

  1. To make the meatballs, heat the butter, in a skillet, over medium heat.
  2. Saute the onion, garlic, allspice, salt, and white pepper, for about 5 minutes, or until garlic and onions are soft. (I just used dry minced onion, so I just cooked it for about a minute.)
  3. Add the milk and Worcestershire sauce to the mixture, and bring to a simmer.
  4. Dump the breadcrumbs in a bowl.
  5. Pour the hot skillet mixture over the breadcrumbs and stir together.
  6. Add the beef, pork, 1 egg and 1 egg white to the bowl, and mix until combined. (It’s easiest to use your hands and squish everything together for about 5 minutes.)
  7. Spray a sheet pan to grease, and roll the meat into 1 inch balls, and place on a baking sheet. One recipe makes about 35-40 meatballs.
  8. Cover your sheet with plastic wrap and refrigerate the meatballs for about an hour. (I stuck them in the freezer for about 25 minutes.) Heat the oven to 400 degrees and bake the meatballs for about 20 minutes, or until cooked through.
  9. To make the gravy, melt the butter in a skillet and add the flour.
  10. Cook for a few minutes while whisking.
  11. Pour in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, bring to
  12. a simmer.
  13. Finally, add the he
  14. avy cream and the cooked meatballs. Let simmer, until the gravy thickens, about 10 minutes Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  15. Serve as is, or on top of a bed of rice, noodles, or potatoes.
  16. Garnish with parsley.

Progresso Italian Style Bread Crumbs 15 Ounce (Pack of 2)IKEA's Swedish Meatball Recipe (Knock-Off).....Delicious!! (15)LEA & PERRINS Original Worcestershire Sauce 5 oz BottleIKEA's Swedish Meatball Recipe (Knock-Off).....Delicious!! (16)McCormick Minced Onions, 6.37 ozIKEA's Swedish Meatball Recipe (Knock-Off).....Delicious!! (17)Simply Organic Allspice, 3.07 OunceIKEA's Swedish Meatball Recipe (Knock-Off).....Delicious!! (18)McCormick Ground White Pepper, 1 ozIKEA's Swedish Meatball Recipe (Knock-Off).....Delicious!! (19)OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Mixing Bowl Set, Blue/Green/YellowIKEA's Swedish Meatball Recipe (Knock-Off).....Delicious!! (20)T-fal E91898 Ultimate Hard Anodized Scratch Resistant Titanium Nonstick Thermo-Spot Heat Indicator Anti-Warp Base Dishwasher Safe Oven Safe PFOA Free Glass Lid Cookware, 12-Inch, GrayIKEA's Swedish Meatball Recipe (Knock-Off).....Delicious!! (21)OXO Good Grips Wooden Spoon Set, 3-PieceIKEA's Swedish Meatball Recipe (Knock-Off).....Delicious!! (22)Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker’s Half Sheet (2 Pack), SilverIKEA's Swedish Meatball Recipe (Knock-Off).....Delicious!! (23)Cuisinart 766-24 Chef’s Classic 8-Quart Stockpot with CoverIKEA's Swedish Meatball Recipe (Knock-Off).....Delicious!! (24)

IKEA's Swedish Meatball Recipe (Knock-Off).....Delicious!! (2024)

FAQs

What is the sauce for Swedish meatballs made from? ›

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.

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.

What happened to Ikea Swedish 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.

Is Swedish meatball sauce the same as stroganoff? ›

Stroganoff sauce has mushrooms, while Swedish meatball sauce does not. Another key difference is the seasoning for each sauce. Swedish meatballs are typically seasoned with spices like nutmeg and ginger, while Stroganoff sauce includes paprika, onion powder, and thyme.

Is there a premade Swedish meatball sauce? ›

McCormick Sweedish Meatballs Sauce Mix (2.11 oz Packets) 4 Pack.

What is the jam they put on IKEA meatballs? ›

There is probably no other dish that is so connected to Swedish cuisine, as meatballs with cream sauce and lingonberry jam.

What is the IKEA gravy called? ›

IKEA ALLEMANSRATTEN Cream Sauce Mix For Meatballs 28g (Pack of 3) : Amazon.co.uk: Grocery. Brand: Ikea.

Why are IKEA meatballs so cheap? ›

Like many other things in business, selling inexpensive meatballs is a strategy for the company to turn more profit. To sell their products, they need to get people in the door. To do that, they entice people with cheap meatballs.

Are IKEA meatballs made of horses? ›

In a statement later in the day, Anders Lennartsson, a spokesman for Ikea Food Services, said, “We take seriously the test result from the Czech Republic authorities, indicating presence of horse meat in one batch of our meatballs.”

Do Swedes eat Swedish meatballs? ›

Meatballs are as quintessentially Swedish as it gets. In their most traditional form Swedish meatballs ('köttbullar') are made of ground pork and beef, cream, egg and onion, and are served with creamy mashed potatoes, a thick, brown gravy, lingonberry jam and pickled cucumber.

Are IKEA meatballs really 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. After 10 months of tireless testing and tasting, the IKEA meatball was born.

Why did Ikea stop selling meatballs? ›

On February 25, Czech inspectors said they had found horse DNA in meatballs made in Sweden for Ikea while testing samples collected at the company's branch in the city of Brno. The meatballs were labeled as containing beef and pork.

What to serve with Ikea Swedish meatballs? ›

Mashed potatoes are a classic choice and are perfect for sopping up every last drop of the delicious sauce. You could also serve the meatballs with simple boiled potatoes tossed with butter and maybe a handful of chopped fresh herbs. Buttered egg noodles are an easy and effortless alternative as well.

How do you eat Swedish meatballs from Ikea? ›

The correct approach is to cut them in half, then eat each piece together with a bit of the potato and some of the sweet jam. While everyone has their own preferred way of enjoying the classic dish, real Swedes will advise you that the proper way to best enjoy it is with all the flavors together in one forkful.

Why do Swedish meatballs taste so good? ›

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 are real Swedish meatballs made of? ›

Mix ground beef, ground pork, egg, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger with onion in the mixing bowl. Lightly mix in bread crumbs and cream. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Pinch off about 1 1/2 tablespoon meat mixture per meatball; form into balls.

What is served with Swedish meatballs? ›

Traditional Swedish way: Do not make the cream sauce at all. Serve meatballs over plain or stewed macaroni, plain or mashed potatoes, and lingenberry jam (optional)

Does Swedish meatballs contain sour cream? ›

It's All About the Sauce

Flavored with nutmeg and cardamom, these little beef-and-pork meatballs are best served with a Swedish meatball sauce—a rich roux-based and beef stock gravy, spiked with sour cream and a little lingonberry jelly.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Last Updated:

Views: 6413

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (56 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Birthday: 1998-02-19

Address: 64841 Delmar Isle, North Wiley, OR 74073

Phone: +17844167847676

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: LARPing, Kitesurfing, Sewing, Digital arts, Sand art, Gardening, Dance

Introduction: My name is Amb. Frankie Simonis, I am a hilarious, enchanting, energetic, cooperative, innocent, cute, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.