Swedish Meatballs – IKEA to Home
In Canada, Swedish meatballs aren’t just a Scandinavian classic — they’re a household staple thanks to IKEA, where they’ve fed millions of hungry shoppers since the 1970s. With tender spiced meatballs, creamy gravy, and a side of mashed potatoes or noodles, they became more than cafeteria food: they’re comfort, convenience, and a taste of global culture at the Canadian table. Today, they’re just as likely to appear at family dinners and potlucks as they are in shopping carts, bridging Scandinavian tradition with Canadian practicality.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Serves: 4–6
Ingredients
For the Meatballs
500 g (1 lb) ground beef
250 g (½ lb) ground pork
1 small onion, finely grated or minced
1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
½ cup breadcrumbs
¼ cup milk
1 egg
½ tsp ground allspice
½ tsp ground nutmeg
Salt & freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp butter (for frying)
For the Gravy
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
2 cups beef stock
½ cup heavy cream
1 tsp soy sauce (adds depth)
1 tsp Dijon mustard (optional, for tang)
Salt & pepper, to taste
To Serve
Fresh parsley, chopped
Egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or bread
Lingonberry jam (optional, classic pairing)
Method
Make the meatballs – In a bowl, soak breadcrumbs in milk for 5 minutes. Mix with beef, pork, onion, garlic, egg, spices, salt, and pepper. Shape into small balls.
Cook the meatballs – Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat. Fry meatballs in batches, turning until browned and cooked through. Remove and keep warm.
Prepare the gravy – In the same skillet, melt butter and whisk in flour. Cook 1–2 minutes until lightly golden. Slowly add beef stock, whisking until smooth. Stir in cream, soy sauce, and Dijon (if using). Season to taste.
Finish & serve – Return meatballs to the pan, coat in gravy, and simmer briefly. Garnish with parsley and serve with mashed potatoes, noodles, or bread — and a spoonful of lingonberry jam if you have it.
NOTE: These freeze beautifully
IKEA isn’t just about flat-packs in Canada — its food culture has become iconic. With 16 stores nationwide, IKEA Canada welcomed 28.6 million in-store visitors in 2023, and its food division generated $123 million in sales. Canadians ate an astonishing 15.6 million meatballs, alongside 2.1 million plant-balls, 3 million hot dogs, and 1.7 million frozen yogurts. For many, a trip to IKEA is as much about the food as the furniture, with meatballs, hot dogs, and Swedish pantry staples turning the store into a cultural touchstone of affordable, global-inspired eating.
