Ikea Swedish Meatball Recipe (2024)

Last Updated on: August 28, 2023

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Have you always wished for an authentic Ikea Swedish meatball recipe? Well, wish granted. Because Ikea just released their famous recipe for their succulent Swedish meatballs.

They’re melt-in-your-mouth delish, covered in creamy gravy, and not to be missed.

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Ikea started serving food in the 1960’s, declaring that no one should have to shop on an empty stomach.

And although no one would ever expect such tasty dishes from a furniture shop, they’ve turned it into an unforgettable experience.

One that you can now recreate at home!

In fact, they even drew up some directions to look just like assembly instructions. (Similar to the instruction manuals that come with their furniture!)

Missing your IKEA meatball fix? We’ve created a recipe for you to recreate this delicious dish in the comfort of your own home #IKEAmeatballs pic.twitter.com/d89lRsJxH7
— IKEA UK (@IKEAUK) April 20, 2020

But don’t worry, we also have traditional instructions as well 🙂

Homemade Ikea Swedish Meatballs

Ikea’s Swedish meatballs, aka Köttbullar, are iconic. In fact, they’re almost as famous as their flat-pack furniture!

If you have them in the store, they’re loaded with rich and hearty flavors.

And they’re typically served with creamy gravy, mashed potatoes, and the all-important lingonberry jam.

Made from a blend of pork and beef, they’re subtly spiced, which plays so well with the sweet-tart jam.

Of course, you can also buy them frozen to take home.

But if you’re feeling adventurous, why not try them homemade? You won’t be disappointed.

What Makes Swedish Meatballs Different?

There are a few factors that distinguish Swedish meatballs from traditional ones, including:

They’re made of 50% ground beef and 50% ground pork instead of 100% of either.
They’re usually smaller than “traditional” – i.e., Italian – meatballs.
They have different flavor add-ins, such as nutmeg and allspice.
They typically don’t contain cheese, whereas classic meatballs often include parmesan.

What to Serve with Swedish Meatballs

Ikea serves their meatballs with their signature lingonberry jam (recipe below). They also include mashed potatoes and gravy on the plate.

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If you don’t want mashed potatoes and gravy, check out my post on what to serve with Swedish meatballs for inspiration. Here are a few of the highlights:

Buttered noodles
Seasoned rice
Green beans almondine
Pasta

Lingonberry Jam Recipe

Lingonberry jam is an essential component of any Swedish meatball meal.

That said, you can serve these with any meatball sauce you like.

But for those interested in the traditional recipe, here’s how to make lingonberry jam:

Ingredients:

4 cups of fresh lingonberries
1 cup water
1 1/2 cups white sugar

Method:

Rinse the lingonberries and throw away any that look soft or discolored.
Add the berries and water to a large pot over medium heat, then bring the water to a boil.
When the water starts to boil, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes until the berries start to burst.
Stir in the sugar and turn the heat up to medium.
Heat and mix until it’s fully dissolved, about 10-15 minutes. (Be careful, as it may spit and bubble.)
Remove the pan from the heat and leave it to cool.
Transfer the jam to a clean glass jar, secure a lid on top, and store it in the fridge.