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.

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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.

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

FAQs

Why do IKEA meatballs taste so good? ›

They're loaded with salt (and salt is delicious)

According to Ikea's website, the 12-meatball version of their KÖTTBULLAR plate packs a pretty serious amount of salt into your bloodstream, to the tune of 1,520 milligrams.

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 is the Swedish meatball scandal? ›

Czech authorities alerted the discount furniture maker that they had found horsemeat in a sample of meatballs, and Ikea subsequently pulled the product from stores in 14 countries.

Why are IKEA meatballs so cheap? ›

To do that, they entice people with cheap meatballs. The hope is that a cheap and delicious meal will get people to come to Ikea and then once they're there, they'll get lost in the maze of a store and purchase a few other things along the way like Ikea's kitchen line.

Does IKEA meatballs have horse meat? ›

The Czech State Veterinary Administration said it tested two batches of Ikea meatballs and only one of them contained horsemeat.

What do Swedes think of IKEA meatballs? ›

IKEA meatballs are quite popular in Scandinavia, known for their taste and affordability. While some people appreciate their flavor, others enjoy them mainly because they are convenient and reasonably priced.

Are IKEA meatballs unhealthy? ›

Are Ikea meatballs healthy? The meatballs are low in carbs but high in fat content, so while they're not healthy food, Ikea Swedish meatballs can be part of a healthy eating plan when enjoyed in moderation and as an occasional treat.

What is the jam they put on IKEA meatballs? ›

It's lingonberry season and the small sour berries that thrive best in cold climates are ready to be picked. Swedes love eating the jam made from lingonberries with meatballs, mashed potatoes and cream sauce.

Why do Swedish meatballs taste so good? ›

If you're wondering what's so special about Swedish Meatballs, or what they taste like, close your eyes and imagine this: incredibly soft meatballs, made extra juicy by using a combination of both pork and beef and soaked bread instead of breadcrumbs, lightly spiced with just a touch of nutmeg and all spice that gives ...

Do they eat Swedish meatballs in Sweden? ›

Swedish meatballs, or köttbullar, must be prepared, above all, with love. This is why homemade meatballs are a widespread concept in Sweden, and there are many different favourite recipes – with and without meat.

Why does IKEA serve Swedish meatballs? ›

Ikea turned to meatballs after it faced struggles selling food. Company founder Ingvar Kamprad, who started Ikea as a mail-order company (Ikea's name comes from his initials and the farm and village where he grew up in Sweden), felt that the company's restaurants were a “mess,” Hullberg said.

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.

Is IKEA discontinuing 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.

Are IKEA meatballs actually 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.

What's the deal with IKEA meatballs? ›

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.

What kind of meat is in IKEA meatballs? ›

Steps for the meatballs

Combine beef and pork mince until all lumps are smoothed. Add finely chopped onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, egg and mix. Then add milk and salt and pepper to taste. Grab small handfuls and roll into a ball shape.

References

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