Best Swedish Meatballs (Kottbullar)
One of the best Swedish meatballs, called Kottbullar made with ground pork and beef in silky and creamy homemade sauce. These Swedish meatballs will be your favorite dinner.
If there’s one dish that perfectly captures the essence of Swedish cuisine, it’s the iconic Swedish meatballs. Known for their tender texture and rich flavor, these savory spheres have become a beloved comfort food not just in Sweden but around the world. From their humble origins as a simple peasant dish to their current status as a global culinary sensation, Swedish meatballs continue to delight taste buds with their unique blend of spices and hearty goodness.
Cook your favorite Ikea-style meatballs for your weeknight dinner in 50 minutes. Topped with flavorful sauce made with soy sauce, Dijon mustard and heavy cream. Whether you’re a fan of traditional flavors or looking for innovative twists on this classic dish, get ready to discover your new favorite version of these delectable treats.
Best Swedish Meatballs Recipe
Texture: tender meatballs in creamy sauce.
Taste: salty, meaty.
Simplicity: easy to make little kottbullar meatballs, combine the meat and cook the sauce.
Meal Type: dinner, meal prep.
Kottbullar Ingredients Needed
- Vegetable Oil – to fry onion.
- Onion – small onion, diced.
- Ground Pork & Beef – combination of ground pork and beef meat will produce tasty meatballs.
- Egg – to help meatballs keep the shape.
- Mayonnaise – to make meatballs softer.
- Garlic Powder – for garlic flavor.
- Salt – Himalayan, table or sea salt.
- Nutmeg – ground nutmeg, for extra flavor.
How to make Swedish Meatballs
- (Full recipe and video below). Sauté onion with oil on frying pan.
- In a large bowl combine ground meat, sautéed onion, egg, mayo, garlic powder, salt and nutmeg. Form kottbullar meatballs.
- Fry each meatball with oil on frying pan.
Swedish Meatballs Sauce
Ingredients Need for the sauce: unsalted butter, all-purpose flour, vegetable broth, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, salt and heavy cream.
- Melt butter on frying pan, add flour, cook.
- Add vegetable broth, dijon mustard, worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and salt, cook it on low heat.
- Whisk in heavy cream.
What are Kottbullar?
Köttbullar, also known as Swedish meatballs, are a beloved dish that has gained popularity around the world. These flavorful and tender meatballs have become synonymous with Swedish cuisine and are often associated with IKEA, where they are served in their cafeteria. But köttbullar is much more than just a tasty meal; it carries a rich history and cultural significance in Sweden. In 2018 Sweden announced Köttbullar originated in Turkey.
Kottbullar Tips
- You don’t have to add mayo, since it is not really used in Ikea style meatball, but it helps to make the texture of the meat softer and I do recommend it.
- If the sauce is to thick to your liking add about 2 tablespoons (or more) vegetable broth/stock. If it’s to thin, cook few minutes longer uncovered, so the water will evaporate, mixing often.
- You can use homemade chicken broth for the sauce base.
Swedish Meatballs Faq’s
Ikea style meatball is smaller, it is made with combination of ground pork and beef, usually 50% of each. Also, sometimes there is higher ratio of beef than pork. They are also made with nutmeg spice to enhance the flavor.
You can serve with any grains: barley, rice, quinoa, any type of pasta (rigatoni, spaghetti etc.). However, they are mostly served with mashed potatoes, lingonberry jam or cranberry sauce.
No, you don’t have to, I personally tested them both ways and the taste and texture is similar. Adding breadcrumbs might make them firmer.
Other Dinner Recipes
Would you like to see more? SUBSCRIBE to receive recipes & party themes in your inbox! Follow on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.
Best Swedish Meatballs (Kottbullar)
Ingredients
Swedish Meatballs
- 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil divided
- 1 onion small, chopped
- 1 lb. ground pork
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 egg
- 2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
Sauce
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 1/4 cup vegetable broth
- 2 1/2 tsp. worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 tsp. soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Instructions
Swedish Meatballs
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil on frying pan, add chopped onion, sauté for 2-3 minutes until soft.2 Tbsp. vegetable oil, 1 onion
- In a large bowl combine sautéed onion, ground pork, ground beef, egg, mayonnaise, garlic powder, salt and nutmeg. Form small meatballs, about 35-40.1 lb. ground pork, 1 lb. ground beef, 1 egg, 2 Tbsp. mayonnaise, 1/2 tsp. garlic powder, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
- Heat remaining oil on frying pan, cook meatballs until browned for 3-5 minutes on each side, remove from the pan, set aside.
Sauce
- Melt butter on large frying pan, add flour, cook for 1-2 minutes, whisking all the time.1/4 cup unsalted butter, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- Add 2 cups of vegetable broth, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, soy sauce and salt, cook on low-medium heat for 5 minutes until thickens.2 1/4 cup vegetable broth, 2 1/2 tsp. worcestershire sauce, 2 tsp. Dijon mustard, 1 1/2 tsp. soy sauce, 1/2 tsp. salt
- Whisk in heavy cream.1/2 cup heavy cream
- Add meatballs to the sauce, cook for 10 minutes on low-medium heat, mixing sometimes. If the sauce is to thick add remaining 1/4 cup of vegetable broth during cooking.
Video
Notes
- You don’t have to add mayo, since it is not really used in Ikea style meatball, but it helps to make the texture of the meat softer and I do recommend it.
- If the sauce is to thick to your liking add about 2 tablespoons (or more) vegetable stock. If it’s to thin, cook few minutes longer uncovered, so the water will evaporate, mixing often.
- You can use homemade chicken broth for the sauce base.
- What do you serve Swedish meatballs with? You can serve with any grains: barley, rice, quinoa, any type of pasta (rigatoni, spaghetti etc.). However, they are mostly served with mashed potatoes, lingonberry jam or cranberry sauce.
Nutrition
Update Notes: The recipe was originally posted in November 2020, it was updated with new tips and in August, 2023.
