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Plate of Easy Swedish Meatballs with creamy gravy, inspired by IKEA's recipe.

Easy Swedish Meatballs

A comforting recipe for Swedish meatballs served with a rich cream gravy, reminiscent of IKEA's famous dish. Perfect for cozy dinners at home.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Comfort Food, Swedish
Calories: 600
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs
  • 1 lb Ground beef Can substitute with all beef or turkey/chicken
  • 1 lb Ground pork Can substitute with all beef
  • 1 each Onion, finely grated Grate the onion for better incorporation
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced Optional
  • 1 cup Breadcrumbs Plain or panko
  • 1/2 cup Milk To soak breadcrumbs
  • 1 each Egg To bind the mixture
  • 1 tsp Allspice Key seasoning
  • 1 pinch Nutmeg Optional, for extra flavor
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Black pepper
For the Gravy
  • 3 tbsp Butter For gravy base
  • 3 tbsp Flour To thicken the gravy
  • 2 cups Beef broth Low sodium preferred
  • 1 cup Heavy cream Or half and half
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce Adds depth of flavor

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Soften the breadcrumbs by stirring them with the milk in a bowl and letting it sit for 5 minutes.
  2. In a mixing bowl, add ground beef, ground pork, egg, grated onion, seasonings (allspice, nutmeg, salt, and pepper), and the soaked breadcrumbs. Mix gently until combined.
  3. Roll the mixture into meatballs about 1 inch wide, wetting hands if necessary.
Cooking
  1. Heat some butter or oil in a skillet over medium heat and brown the meatballs in batches until they have good color.
  2. In the same pan, add butter and whisk in flour to cook for about 1 minute.
  3. Gradually add beef broth while whisking to keep the mixture smooth.
  4. Stir in heavy cream and Worcestershire sauce, bringing the mixture to a simmer.
  5. Add the browned meatballs back into the pan and simmer until they are cooked through and the gravy thickens.

Notes

To avoid tough meatballs, mix gently and do not overcook. Can be made ahead and stored in the fridge or frozen.