• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Grain Free Table logo
  • Recipes
  • Resources
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Let’s Connect
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Resources
  • Let's Connect
  • Work With Me
  • About
×

Home » Recipes

Incredibly Easy Gluten-free Swedish Meatballs

Published: Jan 19, 2021 · Modified: Jan 27, 2022 by Sara Vaughn · 8 Comments

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Print
Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. Click for full disclosures.

Ikea may have made these popular, but I'm telling you these Incredibly Easy Gluten-free Swedish Meatballs are even better than they serve!

gluten free swedish meatball being picked up with a black fork ready to be enjoyed.

Swedish meatballs are one of those recipes that almost everyone knows from the famous Ikea. I mean, really, if you've been there, then you know that's probably their most famous dish at their cafeteria.

Of course, if you're gluten-free, then you know that those meatballs are off-limits, like most meatballs, really, but I am here to tell you that you can have those little delicious bites and all the creamy sauce with my Incredibly Easy Gluten-free Swedish Meatballs.

Skip Ikea and Skip The Frozen Meatballs

When it comes to meatballs, there is a lot of talk about meatballs being dry little balls with no flavor. If you are eating these, then, yes, you really do not want to be making those. These are not those meatballs. These little bites are full of flavor and are perfectly tender before they are coated in the perfect creamy brown gravy.

What makes a good meatball?

These meatballs have a combination of not only meats but flavors that really make them so full of flavor you'll want to make them over and over again.

For the Meatballs:

  • Ground Beef
  • Ground Pork
  • Egg
  • Coconut Aminos
  • GF Breadcrumbs
  • Milk
  • Nutmeg
  • Allspice
  • Minced Onion
  • Minced Garlic
  • Parsley
  • Salt & Pepper

For the Gravy:

  • Butter
  • Olive Oil
  • Potato Starch
  • Beef Broth
  • Dijon Mustard
  • Coconut Aminos
  • Heavy Cream
  • Parsley
  • Salt & Pepper
Gluten free swedish meatball ingredients laid out ready to be put together.

*Gravy ingredients not pictured.

REMEMBER TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER FOR FREE AND RECEIVE WEEKLY RECIPE NOTIFICATIONS AND SUBSCRIBER ONLY BONUSES.

YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW GRAIN FREE TABLE ON PINTEREST TO MAKE IT EASY TO SAVE YOUR FAVORITE RECIPES!

Do you have to use both beef and pork?

Yes and no. You can totally make these with all-beef, but I prefer a mixture of the two. It brings more flavor to the meatballs, but it also adds more fat, making the meatballs more tender than just using beef.

Don't want to use breadcrumbs?

I prefer to make my own breadcrumbs instead of buying gluten-free ones. I make a batch of my Grain-free French Bread, cut it into cubes, dry them out and then pulse until they are crumbs.

You could also toast some of your favorite gluten-free bread and then pulse it until they are crumbs.

Keeping this totally grain-free, I've had luck subbing in equal parts almond meal in place of the gluten-free breadcrumbs.

Want to make this dairy-free?

You can easily replace the butter with ghee or your favorite dairy-free alternative. You can also use a dairy-free milk/ cream. The flavor might be altered depending on what you replace it with, so choose a mild alternative.

Make sure you watch your temperatures using a dairy-free alternative as the higher heats can cause them to separate and not yield a thick creamy sauce. Let it go low and slower for the best results.

Let's make some meatballs!

Swedish meatballs are really easy to make.

  1. Mix the milk, breadcrumbs, and remaining meatball ingredients except the meat, butter, and oil, and let it rest for about 5-10 minutes to soften the bread crumbs. If you are using the almond meal, you can skip this step.
  2. Add the meat to the rest of the meatball ingredients and mix until everything is uniform.
  3. Roll the meatballs into about 24 equal-sized balls.
  4. Heat one tablespoon of the butter and the olive oil into a skillet over medium-high heat.
  5. Working in batches, cook the meatballs until they are browned on all sides and set them aside.
  6. To the skillet, add the remaining butter and potato starch and whisk until a paste is formed.
  7. Whisk in the beef broth, coconut aminos, dijon mustard, and let the mixture simmer.
  8. Add the heavy cream and whisk till combined, and then add the meatballs back to the sauce.
  9. Let the meatballs simmer while the sauce thickens.
  10. Serve over your favorite rice, potatoes, or gluten-free pasta.
  11. Top with additional fresh parsley, and enjoy!
Swedish meatball ingredients being made about to be mixed and rolled into balls and cooked.

Can you make these ahead of time?

These meatballs can easily be made ahead of time. Just mix the meatballs together, then they can either be frozen raw or cooked and then frozen and warmed up later. The best way to freeze them is to lay the meatballs onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and flash freeze them till they are solid. Once they are solid, transfer them to a freezer-safe container until ready to cook.

I would make the sauce when you are ready to eat them as the sauce can separate when frozen.

For the best gravy!

I prefer to use potato starch to thicken the gravy. I find it has the best final texture for a thick and creamy sauce. You can sub cornstarch or arrowroot here, but I do not recommend tapioca as it can become more stringy.

How to Serve Swedish Meatballs

Serve Swedish meatballs over some easy mashed potatoes, rice, or even your favorite gluten-free pasta. You really can't go wrong here.

More Dinners to Love

Million Dollar Spaghetti Squash Bake

Rustic Braised Chicken

Shredded Chicken Enchiladas

Crispy Chicken Sandwiches 

Buffalo Ranch Chicken Casserole 

gluten free swedish meatballs sitting in their creamy sauce in a white skillet ready to be served and enjoyed
gluten free swedish meatballs sitting in their creamy sauce in a white skillet ready to be served and enjoyed

Incredibly Easy Gluten-free Swedish Meatballs

Sara Vaughn
Ikea may have made these popular, but I’m telling you these Incredibly Easy Gluten-free Swedish Meatballs are even better than they serve!
5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 28 mins
Total Time 42 mins
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine swedish
Servings 6
Calories 569 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs

  • 1 lb Ground Beef
  • 1 lb Ground Pork
  • 1 Large Egg
  • ½ C Gluten-free Bread Crumbs or almond meal
  • 2 TBS Coconut Aminos of Gluten-free Soy Sauce
  • ½ C Milk, Heavy Cream or Dairy-free Alternative
  • ¼ teaspoon Nutmeg
  • ¼ TSP Allspice
  • ½ Small Onion minced
  • 2 Cloves Garlic minced
  • 2 TBS Parsley
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • ½ teaspoon Pepper
  • 1 TBS Butter or Dairy-free Alternative
  • 1 TBS Olive or Avocado Oil

For the Gravy

  • ¼ C Butter of Dairy-free Alternative
  • ¼ C Potato Starch or Arrowroot Starch
  • 2 C Beef Broth
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Dijon Mustard I use 365 brand from Whole Foods
  • 2 TBS Coconut Aminos or Gluten-free Soy Sauce
  • 1 C Cream or Dairy-free Milk Alternative
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • ½ teaspoon Pepper

Instructions
 

  • Mix the milk, breadcrumbs, and remaining meatball ingredients together except the meat and let it rest for about 5-10 minutes to soften the bread crumbs. If you are using the almond meal, you can skip this step.
  • Add the meat to the rest of the meatball ingredients and mix until everything is uniform.
  • Roll the meatballs into about 24 equal-sized balls.
  • Heat one tablespoon of the butter and the olive oil into a skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Working in batches, cook the meatballs until they are browned on all sides and set them aside.
  • To the skillet, add the remaining butter and potato starch and whisk until a paste is formed.
  • Whisk in the beef broth, coconut aminos, dijon mustard, and let the mixture simmer.
  • Add the heavy cream and whisk till combined, and then add the meatballs back to the sauce.
  • Let the meatballs simmer while the sauce thickens.
  • Serve over your favorite rice, potatoes, or gluten-free pasta.
  • Top with additional fresh parsley, and enjoy!

Notes

Use all beef instead of pork and beef if you don't like pork.
Sub dairy ingredients for dairy-free alternatives to keep it dairy-free.
Make your own gluten-free bread crumbs or substitute equal parts almond meal to keep these totally grain-free.
Keyword dairy free, gluten free, grain free, meatball, meatballs, swedish

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #grainfreetable or @grainfreetable on Instagram. I’d love to see what you come up with!

Check these out next!

  • Gluten-free Garlic Bread
  • Gluten-free Vanilla Cake
  • Easy Gluten-free French Bread
  • Super Soft Gluten-free Brioche Bread

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a comment. Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Jere Cassidy says

    February 17, 2022 at 11:44 am

    5 stars
    This looks like a delicious dinner and so easy to make for a big bowl of comfort food. I never thought of using potato starch, but that is a good idea.

    Reply
    • Sara Vaughn says

      February 17, 2022 at 11:46 am

      These Swedish meatballs are a huge favorite around here. The potato starch keeps them gluten-free as well as keeping them extra tender.

      Reply
  2. Joyce K. says

    February 17, 2022 at 1:30 pm

    5 stars
    IKEA has one of the best meatballs ever. This recipe was so delicious and now my top comfort food!!

    Reply
  3. nancy says

    February 17, 2022 at 1:47 pm

    5 stars
    such a delicious and comforting meal. we love this with potatoes

    Reply
  4. Julie says

    February 17, 2022 at 10:23 pm

    5 stars
    One of the best meals ever!!! Especially paired with potatoes. Our family loves this so much!

    Reply
    • Sara Vaughn says

      February 20, 2022 at 8:55 pm

      I'm so glad your family loved it!

      Reply
  5. Caitlyn says

    September 04, 2022 at 8:05 pm

    Any suggestions for the gravy not thickening properly? I used the 1/4 cup butter and 1/4 cup potato starch and a paste never formed, I added more potato starch too and still nothing. The meatballs turned out so good so I want to figure out how to make the gravy work! Haha.

    Reply
    • Sara Vaughn says

      September 05, 2022 at 10:06 am

      I am glad you like the meatballs, but I am sorry the gravy is not coming together thicker. Sometimes I've noticed potato starch can take a little longer to thicken. I'll usually increase the temperature a bit if it's doing that to help it come together faster. If you can handle arrowroot or even cornstarch, you can substitute the potato starch in the gravy for those. I find the texture isn't as creamy as potato starch, but it's still delicious.

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Grain Free Table Author Sara in her kitchen

Welcome to Grain Free Table! I’m Sara- a busy wife, mom of two girls, and lover of food. Here you’ll find lots of easy and delicious gluten & allergy-friendly recipes, info about my favorite food & products, as well as little snippets of my health journey as I navigate my gluten-free way of life!

More about me →

WANT TO STAY CONNECTED?

SIGN UP FOR EMAILS AND UPDATES!

FIND ME ON SOCIAL

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

WHAT'S NEW ON INSTAGRAM

If you want an easy but fancy-ish dinner for this If you want an easy but fancy-ish dinner for this weekend, you must make my gluten-free chicken parm!

You get all the juicy chicken coated in a gluten-free breading, all topped with marinara and gooey cheese. It's the ultimate gluten-free chicken dinner.

Just be warned, you should make extras for those wanting seconds. 🙃

Find the full recipe at https://grainfreetable.com/crispy-gluten-free-chicken-parmesan/ or click the site link in my bio. 

#glutenfreerecipes #glutenfreefood #glutenfreedinner #glutenfreechicken #glutenfreechickenparm #chickenparmesan #chickenparm
With all the delicious soups going around this tim With all the delicious soups going around this time of year, I should remind you that it all goes well with some homemade gluten-free garlic bread. 🙃

Find out all my tips and tricks for the best garlic bread at https://grainfreetable.com/gluten-free-garlic-bread/ or use the site link in my bio.

#glutenfreebread #glutenfreegarlicbread #garlicbread #garlicbreadrecipe #glutenfreerecipe #glutenfreebreadrecipe #glutenfreefood
It's a SNOW day around here, and my kids are so ha It's a SNOW day around here, and my kids are so happy since it's the first snow day they've had all school year, haha. We've had snow, but this is the first time it's lasted long enough for my husband to need to shovel and the kids to get off school and go out and build a snowman.

All the cold has me inside, making more of this gluten-free vegetable soup with chorizo. It's the perfect way to warm up on a cold day.

Find the full recipe at https://grainfreetable.com/kale-and-chorizo-soup/, along with more of our favorite gluten-free soup recipes.

#glutenfree #glutenfreefood #glutenfreesoup #glutenfreesoups #glutenfreerecipe #kalesoup #souprecipe #vegetablesoup
Need to add a little red luck this weekend for the Need to add a little red luck this weekend for the Chinese New Year?

Don't worry there is still time to make my gluten-free Chinese BBQ pork, Char Siu.

With a bit of patience to let the pork marinate long enough, you'll be amazed at how much this gluten-free version tastes, just like your favorite Chinese restaurant.

Find the full recipe at https://grainfreetable.com/gluten-free-chinese-bbq-pork-char-siu/ or use the link in my bio to snag the recipe on the site. 

#glutenfreerecipes #glutenfreechinese #glutenfreepork #glutenfreefood #glutenfreerecipe #chinesenewyear
I don't know who needs to hear this, but this glut I don't know who needs to hear this, but this gluten-free pulled pork makes the perfect weeknight dinner.

Let it go low and slow; dinner will be ready when you need it to be. 

Trust me when I say no matter how you serve it on some gluten-free buns with a bit of coleslaw, or you make pulled pork stuffed potatoes, it's always a hit!

Find the full recipe at https://grainfreetable.com/gluten-free-dutch-oven-bbq-pulled-pork/ or use the link in my bio to head to the site.
This gluten-free beef stew is the perfect bowl of This gluten-free beef stew is the perfect bowl of comfort food to warm up with on these cold winter nights.

Find the full recipe at https://grainfreetable.com/slow-cooked-gluten-free-beef-stew/ or use the link in my bio.

#glutenfreesoup #glutenfreerecipes #glutenfreefood #glutenfreedairyfree #beefstew #dairyfreerecipes
It's the weekend, and this gluten-free vanilla cak It's the weekend, and this gluten-free vanilla cake will make it a celebration no matter what you've got going on!

It's light and fluffy with just the right amount of sweetness to make it extra special!

Find the full recipe along with my easy gluten-free frosting and get baking at 
https://grainfreetable.com/gluten-free-vanilla-cake/ or use the link in my bio to find it on the site.
Just like my gluten-free brioche recipe I shared w Just like my gluten-free brioche recipe I shared with you last week, this gluten-free French bread is NOT to be missed. Trust me when I say, you can’t mess this recipe up and you’ll be wanting it to dip into all the gluten-free soups this winter!

Find the full recipe at https://grainfreetable.com/easy-gluten-free-french-bread/ or use the link in bio and head to the site.

Whose ready for some garlic bread? 😁

#glutenfreerecipes #glutenfreefood #glutenfreebread #glutenfreefrenchbread #frenchbread #homemadebreads #glutenfreebaking
This gluten-free broccoli cheddar soup is even bet This gluten-free broccoli cheddar soup is even better than Panera's. It's ready in under 30 minutes making it the perfect easy weeknight dinner.

Find the full recipe at https://grainfreetable.com/better-than-panera-broccoli-and-cheese-soup/ or use the link in my bio.

#glutenfreesoup #glutenfreesouprecipe #souprecipe #broccolicheese #broccolicheddarsoup

Popular Recipes

gluten free swedish meatball being picked up with a black fork ready to be enjoyed.

Incredibly Easy Gluten-free Swedish Meatballs

Homemade gluten-free sweet and tangy bbq beef jerky sitting in a jar and spilled over the side.

Sweet and Tangy BBQ Beef Jerky

Louisiana style red beans and cauliflower rice in a white pan with a wooden handle sitting over a white table linen on a marble counter.

Louisiana Red Beans and Cauliflower Rice

  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Resources
  • My Favorites
  • Let's Connect
  • About

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Portfolio
  • Client Inquiry Form

Disclaimers

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Nutrition Disclaimer
  • Photo/ Recipe Policy
  • Comment Policies

Contact

  • Contact
  • Subscribe

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2023 Grain Free Table