I Assembled IKEA Swedish Meatballs

My husband and I always joke that we will know when we’ve “made it” when we don’t have to assemble our furniture anymore. Ten plus years married, and we have not yet made it. Not only are we still assembling furniture, now I am assembling IKEA Swedish meatballs. 

IKEA recently released the recipe for their famous meatballs. Having had them several times, I knew I wanted to make them right away. They are the ultimate comfort food. After reviewing the recipe several times, I realized that, unlike their regular assembly instructions, these weren’t as clear. Want to learn how to make IKEA Swedish meatballs?

Let’s go to The Chalkboard.

History of Swedish Meatballs

Swedish meatballs are actually based on a recipe King Charles XII brought over to Sweden from Turkey in the early 18th century. The King was exiled and brought food with him to build a bridge between the two countries. Many were shocked to learn that Swedish meatballs were, in fact, Turkish when Sweden’s official Twitter account announced it in 2018. 

History of IKEA

IKEA is named after the initials of the founder Ingvar Kamprad, Elmtaryd, the farm on which he grew up, and Agunnaryd, a nearby village. It was founded in 1943 when Kamprad was selling pens, picture frames, and wallets via mail order. 

The core principles of the company are based on the upbringing of the company’s founder. In the area, Smaland, there wasn’t much industry, so inhabitants had to get by with what they had. Resourcefulness and thriftiness are central fundamentals of the company today. 

One of the most popular items sold at IKEA is their Swedish meatballs, with over 150 million being sold each year. Now we can make them at home.

How to Make Ikea Swedish Meatballs

To make the meatballs, you combine ground pork and beef in a large bowl and add an egg, milk, breadcrumbs, minced onion, minced garlic in a large bowl and then season with salt and pepper. Make sure you cut the onion and garlic into small pieces so that you don’t get large chunks in your meatballs.

Once you have your meatball mixture, form 1 ½” balls (you should have about 30 when you are done.) Place them on a large baking sheet and put in the refrigerator for about 2 hours. It’s important not to skip this step as the chilling time helps the meatballs stay together when you cook them.

After the meatballs have chilled in the fridge, heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs in batches, turning to ensure you get all sides. Place in a preheated 350-degree oven for 30 minutes.

When the meatballs are almost done, it’s time to start the sauce. In a small saucepan, melt butter. Sprinkle the flour over it and whisk for two minutes until thick. Add vegetable stock, beef stock, heavy cream, buttermilk, soy sauce, and dijon mustard and bring to a simmer. Keep it at a simmer until slightly thickened.

Ikea Swedish Meatball Ingredients

• Ground Beef
• Ground Pork
• Egg
• Breadcrumbs
• Onion 
• Garlic
• Milk
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil

Ikea Swedish Meatball Sauce Ingredients

• Butter
• Flour
• Vegetable Stock
• Beef Stock
• Heavy Cream
• Buttermilk
• Soy Sauce
• Dijon mustard

Ikea Swedish Meatball Recipe

What Do You Think?

Have you made IKEA Swedish Meatballs? Let me know in the comments below; I’d love to hear. If you are interested in more recipes, check out this Truffle Popcorn. It’s a crowd-pleaser!

Happy Swedish Meatball Making!