This homemade version of the always iconic Ikea Swedish Meatballs is so simple to make, and packed with so much flavor!

These beef (or beef and pork if you prefer) Swedish meatballs are soft, juicy, and seasoned with a unique blend of sweet and savory spices.

Ikea has done a lot of things right. Inexpensive, stylish furniture? Check. A shopping experience that will cause you to lose a whole afternoon? Check. Delicious Swedish meatballs? Yep, they do that too!

Because Ikea knows that you’re going to spend your whole day shopping and finding useful and fun home goods, and you’ll be super hungry when you’re finished!

Now, the Ikea Swedish Meatballs are quite tasty, and convenient if you’re at the end of a shopping trip. But just wait until you try my homemade version!

These copycat Ikea meatballs are made from scratch, with fresh ground meat, special seasonings, and a divinely creamy gravy that is just begging for mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or a hunk of crusty bread to mop it up.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

I already mentioned it, but this homemade Ikea Swedish Meatballs recipe is like Ikea’s but much, much better! These meatballs are made from scratch, in your own kitchen, and nothing is going to beat that.

The unique comforting flavors of traditional Swedish meatballs are what will really make you fall in love with this recipe though. Ginger, nutmeg, and allspice give these juicy meatballs their signature flavor.

These “sweet spices” aren’t often paired with meat, but here, they are perfection!

The creamy Swedish meatball sauce will remind you of beef stroganoff or my famous Marry Me Chicken, but with a warm, homestyle flavor that is totally unique and so yummy!

Ikea Meatballs Ingredients

The ingredients for this meatball recipe are really quite simple, and probably already in your cupboard:

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

• Ground Beef: You can use 80% lean ground beef or a combination of ground beef and ground pork. Adding pork will make the meatballs a bit fattier, and therefore tastier and softer.
• Onion: It’s important that your onion is diced very finely, or grated for this recipe. We won’t be cooking the onion before adding it in, so large pieces will be crunchy.
• Egg and Breadcrumbs: Key ingredients in most meatball recipes, these two will work together to bind the meat together and keep the meatballs moist and juicy.
• Seasonings: Ground and dried ginger, nutmeg, and allspice are key to making Swedish meatballs. A bit of salt and pepper is needed too.
• For the Sauce: The Ikea Swedish meatballs sauce recipe ingredients include butter, flour, broth, heavy cream, and smooth Dijon mustard. You can use ether beef broth or chicken stock here.

How To Make Homemade Swedish Meatballs

1. Mix the Meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground meat with breadcrumbs, grated onion, egg, allspice, ginger, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined, but don’t overmix.
2. Portion: Use a 1 ½ tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop portions of the meat mixture onto a tray. Roll each between your palms to create smooth, round meatballs.

3. Sear: Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and sear for three minutes per side until browned. They won’t be fully cooked through at this point. Remove the Swedish meatballs to a plate and set them aside while you make the sauce.
4. Deglaze the Pan: Add the broth to the skillet and scrape off all of the yummy browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Whisk until combined, then whisk in the Dijon mustard.
5. Simmer: Add the partially cooked meatballs back to the pan and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring regularly, until they are fully cooked.
6. Finish: Add the heavy cream to the gravy and stir it in. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Recipe Tips

• Instead of heavy cream, try this recipe with sour cream stirred in at the end. The flavor of the sauce will be a bit tangier, similar to a stroganoff.
• If you want the gravy to be extra thick, add a bit more heavy cream. In my testing, I found that ¼ cup of cream was perfect, and more than that seemed like too much.
• To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free breadcrumbs in the meatballs, and all-purpose gluten-free flour in the sauce.
• Be sure to deglaze the pan! The bits of browned beef left after searing the meatballs contain all of the flavor.

Storing Tips

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. The sauce may separate a bit after being chilled, but will still be delicious!

What To Serve With Ikea Swedish Meatballs

These are best served over creamy mashed potatoes with a side of broccoli and lingonberry jam if you can find it!

Where Can I Find Lingonberry Sauce?

IKEA sells this sauce in its stores! Stop in a grab a bottle. If you can’t find it, cranberry sauce is an excellent alternative.

What Are Swedish Meatballs?

This is a traditional dish served in Sweden, called köttbullar. Tender meatballs with nutmeg and allspice simmered in a rich and savory cream sauce.

They are different than Italian meatballs, which are usually flavored with garlic, herbs, and parmesan cheese.

Can I Cook Swedish Meatballs in the Air Fryer?

If you wish to, you can brown the meatballs in the air fryer before simmering them in the sauce on the stove. Air fry at 400°F/200°C for 8-10 minutes, or until browned.

How to Make Swedish Meatballs in the Oven

Bake the meatballs on a parchment lined sheet at 400°F/200° for 20 minutes, or until mostly cooked through before adding them to the sauce.

Can I Freeze Meatballs?

Yes! I suggest freezing the meatballs before you cook them, and without the sauce. After you’ve rolled the Swedish meatballs, place the whole tray into the freezer for an hour or two until firm. Then transfer the frozen balls to a freezer bag, label it, and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Ikea sells their meatballs frozen, so it totally makes sense to do this!

When you’re ready to cook, add the meatballs to the pan right from frozen, or let them thaw a bit first.

You are going to love this easy copycat recipe for IKEA Swedish Meatballs. Now you can skip the shopping trip and fast-forward right to the tasty, creamy, meaty reward! Make sure to share this recipe with your friends, and enjoy!