Homemade Ikea Meatballs (Printable version)
Tender Swedish-style meatballs of beef and pork, pan-seared and finished in a creamy gravy; serve with mashed potatoes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meatballs
01 - 9 ounces ground beef
02 - 9 ounces ground pork
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1/4 cup milk
06 - 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
07 - 1 large egg
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
10 - 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
12 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (for frying)
13 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (for frying)
→ Cream Sauce
14 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
15 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
16 - 1 1/4 cups beef or vegetable stock
17 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
18 - 2 teaspoons soy sauce
19 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
20 - Salt, to taste
21 - Black pepper, to taste
# Directions:
01 - In a large bowl, combine breadcrumbs and milk. Allow to stand for 5 minutes so the crumbs absorb the liquid.
02 - Add ground beef, ground pork, finely chopped onion, garlic, egg, salt, black pepper, allspice, and nutmeg to the bowl. Mix until just integrated without overworking the meat.
03 - Roll the mixture into small meatballs, each roughly the size of a walnut, about 1 1/4 inches in diameter.
04 - Heat butter and oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry meatballs in batches, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides—about 8 minutes. Remove meatballs and drain on paper towels.
05 - Melt butter in the same skillet. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute to develop a roux.
06 - Gradually pour in stock while whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Stir in heavy cream, soy sauce, and Dijon mustard. Simmer, stirring, until the sauce thickens, about 5 to 7 minutes.
07 - Return meatballs to the skillet, spooning sauce over to coat evenly. Simmer gently for 5 to 10 minutes until the meatballs are heated through and infused with flavor.
08 - Serve hot, accompanied by mashed potatoes, lingonberry jam, and steamed vegetables if desired.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- Your kitchen will smell like the coziest corner of Sweden—no assembly lines required.
- It&rsquos the only meal that gets everyone to the table faster than you can say "lingonberry jam."
02 -
- The sauce loves to thicken quickly—keep that whisk moving so it stays smooth.
- Letting the meatball mixture rest a few minutes makes shaping far easier (trust me, I learned after many sticky palms!).
03 -
- Always taste and adjust your sauce at the end—the right seasoning balances everything.
- Tucking a baking sheet in a warm oven keeps fried meatballs hot while you work on the next batch.