IKEA meatballs recipe

Iconic around the world, IKEA has shared their meatball recipe online so everyone can make their favourite Swedish meal at home.

If you've made a recent trip to the furniture store and are missing the IKEA meatballs already, don't despair. The company have shared their unique recipe for Swedish meatballs online, along with illustrated instructions in the style of a flat-pack manual.

Despite their moreish flavour and unbeatable texture, the recipe for IKEA's meatballs is actually quite easy to make. All you need is mince (beef and pork), along with some breadcrumbs, onion and garlic. The special sauce is made from basic ingredients like flour, milk and eggs. IKEA’s UK and Ireland food manager, Lorena Lourido told People magazine that this was a great "at-home alternative" to the meatballs they sell in store. So while they might not taste exactly the same, it's the closest we're going to get for now.

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

• 500g beef mince
• 250g pork mince
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 clove of garlic, crushed or minced
• 100g breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 5 tablespoons of whole milk
• Salt and pepper, a generous portion

For the cream sauce:

• Dash of oil
• 40g butter
• 40g plain flour
• 150ml vegetable stock
• 150ml beef stock
• 150ml thick double cream
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Method

1. Combine beef and pork mince and mix with your fingers to break up any lumps. Add finely chopped onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, egg and mix. Add milk and season well with salt and pepper.
2. Shape mixture into small, round balls. Place on a clean plate, cover and store in the fridge for two hours (this will help them hold their shape while cooking).
3. In a frying pan, heat oil on medium heat. When hot, gently add the meatballs and brown on all sides.
4. When browned, add to an ovenproof dish and cover. Place in a hot oven at 180°c and cook for a further 30 minutes.
5. To make the sauce, melt 40g butter in a pan. Whisk in 40g of plain flour and stir for two minutes. Add 150ml of double cream, 2 tsp of soy sauce and 1 tsp of Dijon mustard. Bring it to simmer and allow sauce to thicken.
6. When ready to eat, serve with your favourite potatoes - either creamy mash or mini new boiled potatoes. Enjoy!

Top tip for making IKEA meatballs

Just like the ones in-store, these meatballs freeze excellently so if you make extra, put them in zip-lock bags and store in your freezer.

Looking for more great recipes from our favourite restaurants and shops? Check out this cookie recipe from Pret and a guide on how to make the iconic Big Mac from McDonald's.

How do you make IKEA's lingon berry sauce?

IKEA haven't revealed the recipe to make the delicious jam accompaniment, but you could serve with some homemade cranberry sauce instead.