Swedish Meatballs (Ikea Meatballs)
User Reviews
4.9
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
15 mins
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Total Time
25 mins
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Servings
6 Servings
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Calories
679 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Swedish
Swedish Meatballs (Ikea Meatballs)
Description
Swedish Meatballs combine ground beef and pork mixed with soaked white bread, finely minced onions, and warming spices such as allspice and freshly grated nutmeg. The bread soaked in milk keeps the meat mixture moist and tender while the browned exterior adds texture. The meatballs are cooked in butter to develop a golden crust before being sauced.
The accompanying creamy beef gravy uses butter and flour as a roux base, enriched with beef stock, heavy cream, soy sauce, and subtle seasoning of salt and white pepper. This sauce is smooth and velvety, balancing the robust meatballs with savory depth and a luscious finish.
This recipe yields a classic comfort dish that can be served with mashed potatoes or noodles. It brings together lightly spiced meatballs with a creamy gravy reminiscent of IKEA's well-known Swedish meatballs. Cooking the onions slowly before mixing ensures sweetness without browning, preserving tenderness in the meat.
Mixing the meat gently with a stand mixer kept the mixture cold and helped retain tenderness. Freezing the meatballs before cooking can help keep their shape. The gravy benefits from careful whisking and gradual addition of stock for a smooth texture. Black pepper can be substituted for white pepper if desired.
Ingredients
MEATBALLS
- 3 lices bread
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/2 cup yellow onion minced
- 4 tablespoons butter divided, unsalted
- 1 pound ground beef , 80/20
- 1 pound ground pork
- 2 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper cracked
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg , freshly grated
CREAMY BEEF GRAVY
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup flour
- 4 cups beef stock
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper , (regular black pepper is fine too, but you’ll see the flecks of pepper)
Instructions
TO MAKE THE SWEDISH MEATBALLS:
- In the bowl of your stand mixer add the milk to the slices of bread.
- Melt the butter in a pan and add the minced yellow onions.
- Cook them on medium low until translucent but not browned.
- Remove from heat and let cool.
- In your bowl with the milk soaked bread add the rest of the meatball ingredients including the cooked onions, but only 2 tablespoons of the butter.
- Mix it on low until the bread is broken apart and the meat is combined with the ingredients (using the stand mixer and not your hands helps keep the mixture cold and tender).
- Using a meatballer or your hands scoop them into balls about the size of a ping pong ball.
- Freeze on a cookie sheet if possible.
- If cooking immediately, add the rest of your butter to your skillet and cook on medium high on all sides for a total of 4-5 minutes.
- Remove the meatballs from the pan.
TO MAKE THE GRAVY:
- Add the butter to the pan, then add the flour and whisk until combined on medium heat.
- Cook the flour 1-2 minutes or until it just starts to brown a bit.
- Add in the beef stock and whisk well until combined.
- Add in the rest of the ingredients and whisk together.
- Add the meatballs back in and coat with the gravy until it is thickened, another 3-5 minutes
- Top with parsley (optional)
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 679 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 679kcal | 34% |
| Carbohydrates | 16g | 5% |
| Protein | 36g | 72% |
| Fat | 52g | 80% |
| Saturated Fat | 25g | 125% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 19g | 95% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 231mg | 77% |
| Sodium | 1029mg | 43% |
| Potassium | 858mg | 18% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 881IU | 18% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 102mg | 10% |
| Iron | 4mg | 22% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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