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Home » Recipes » Main Dishes » Pork

Incredibly Easy Gluten-free Swedish Meatballs

Published: Jan 19, 2021 · Modified: Feb 23, 2023 by Meeta Arora · 10 Comments

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Ikea may have made these popular, but I'm telling you, these gluten-free Swedish meatballs are even better than they serve!

A plate of gluten-free swedish style meatballs with a creamy gravy.
Jump to:
  • Are Ikea Swedish meatballs gluten-free?
  • Ingredients.
  • Steps.
  • Cooking gluten-free meatballs.
  • Tips and tricks.
  • Make ahead.
  • Storing and reheating meatballs.
  • Serving suggestions.
  • More gluten-free dinners.
  • 📖 Recipe
  • Comments and Ratings

Are Ikea Swedish meatballs gluten-free?

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, you know those meatballs are off-limits because Ikea meatballs are not gluten-free. I am here to tell you that you can have those little delicious bites and all the creamy gluten-free sauce with my gluten-free Swedish meatballs that are incredibly easy to make.

Ingredients.

These gluten-free Swedish 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.

  • Ground Beef and Pork - The combination of the two types of meat not only adds flavor but also helps to keep the moisture in the meatballs. You don't have to use a mixture of meats if you don't want to. For example, you can make these completely out of ground beef.
  • Egg - Adding egg provides richness and acts as a binder in the meatballs. You can leave them out, but the texture of the final meatball will be slightly off.
  • GF Breadcrumbs - You can buy gluten-free breadcrumbs, or you can easily make your own gluten-free breadcrumbs. Keeping these meatballs totally grain-free, I've had luck subbing in equal parts almond meal instead of gluten-free breadcrumbs.
  • Onion - Grating the onion into the meatballs adds flavor and keeps the meatballs moist. I like the flavor of yellow onion in these gluten-free meatballs.
  • Milk or Heavy Cream - If you want to keep your Swedish meatballs dairy-free, you can use dairy-free milk.
  • Spices - Swedish meatballs are unique in their spics, which include spices like allspice, nutmeg, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper.
  • Butter - Butter is used both in the meatballs and making the gluten-free gravy. Just like with the milk, you can use a dairy-free alternative like Earth Balance sticks or even ghee.
  • Arrowroot starch - Arrowroot starch works as a thickener in the gravy. I also like using potato starch, or you can use cornstarch if you are not worried about grains.
  • Beef Broth - The beef broth is used in the gravy to help bring out the richness of the beef in the meatballs.
  • Dijon Mustard - Be sure to make sure the dijon mustard you use is gluten-free. I always have the Primal Kitchens dijon on hand since it is gluten-free.
  • Coconut Aminos - I prefer the flavor of coconut aminos in these gluten-free Swedish meatballs. If you can't find it, you can also use gluten-free soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce; just make sure the one you have is gluten-free.
Overhead view of the ingredients needed to make a batch of gluten-free swedish meatballs.

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Steps.

Step 1. Mix the meatballs.

  1. Mix the gluten-free breadcrumbs, milk, and spices in a bowl and let it sit to moisten the bread.
  2. Add the egg and grated onion to the breadcrumbs.
  3. Next, add the found beef and pork to the wet bread mixture.
  4. Mix the meat into the bread mixture until it's evenly combined.
Ground beef and pork are being mixed into a bowl to form swedish meatballs.

Step 2. Shape and cook the meatballs.

Overhead look at a tray filled with some gluten-free Swedish meatballs before they are cooked.

Step 3. Make the gluten-free gravy and serve it over the meatballs.

A pan has some gluten-free gravy made to be served with some swedish meatballs.

Cooking gluten-free meatballs.

When it comes to cooking these gluten-free Swedish meatballs, it really comes down to preference. You can cook them on the stove, in the oven, or even in the air fryer. Yes, you can cook meatballs in the air fryer.

Meatballs on the stove.

  1. In a skillet over medium-high, melt some butter and a little bit of olive oil.
  2. Place the meatballs into the skillet and let them cook. Be sure to rotate the meatballs as needed to get browned on all sides and fully cooked through.
  3. Remove the meatballs from the skillet and make the gravy.
  4. Once you have the gravy made, add the meatballs back to the skillet and serve warm.

Meatballs in the oven.

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Place the meatballs onto a baking sheet and bake them for about 25-30 minutes or until they are cooked through.
  3. While the meatballs are baking, make the gluten-free gravy in a skillet.
  4. Toss the cooked meatballs into the gravy and serve warm.

Meatballs in the air fryer.

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees.
  2. Place your meatballs into your air fryer in a single layer.
  3. Cook the meatballs for about 15 minutes or until they are browned and cooked through.
  4. While the meatballs cook, make the gluten-free Swedish gravy in a skillet on the stove.
  5. Add the cooked meatballs to the gravy and serve warm.

Tips and tricks.

  • Finely grate your onion. - I like to use my fine grater to grate the onion into the breadcrumbs. This leaves the onion very fine, almost like onion water. This ensures smoother meatballs without larger pieces of onion.
  • Let the breadcrumb mixture fully saturate. - Letting the gluten-free breadcrumbs become soft and mushy is what you want. This will help it incorporate better without leaving little hard pieces of bread in your meatballs
  • Mix by hand. - Meatballs need to be mixed gently to help keep them from stiffening up from overworking the meat. Using your hands is messy, but you'll easily be able to tell once the meats have combined with the rest of the ingredients much better than using a fork or other utensil.
  • Thicker or thinner gravy. - The gluten-free gravy that goes with these Swedish meatballs can be thickened or thinned to your liking. If you like a thicker gravy, be sure to use arrowroot starch or cornstarch to thicken it. I prefer the texture using potato starch, but it can take longer for potato starch to thicken the sauce.

Make ahead.

These gluten-free Swedish 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.

  1. The best way to freeze them is to lay the meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and flash-freeze them till they are solid.
  2. Once they are solid, transfer them to a freezer-safe container until ready to cook.
  3. Cook the meatballs as desired from frozen. Note: these make the best air fryer frozen meatballs!

Wait to make the sauce when you are ready to eat them, as the sauce can separate if it is frozen.

Storing and reheating meatballs.

  • Keep leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. You can also freeze them for up to a month.
  • Reheat your meatballs either in the microwave for about a minute at a time until warmed through. Or you can place them on a baking sheet and place them under the broiler until they warm and the outer crust is slightly crips again.

Serving suggestions.

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

More gluten-free dinners.

If you love meatballs and want more, then you need to try my classic gluten-free meatballs. Want something else? Check out these other quick and easy gluten-free dinner ideas to try next.

  • Looking down into a cast iron pot filled with two silver forks and shredded chicken.
    Dutch Oven Shredded Chicken
  • Up close, look at a bowl of gluten-free honey butter fried chicken being served over mashed potatoes.
    Gluten-free Honey Butter Fried Chicken
  • Up close look into a casserole dish filled with a leftover Thanksgiving casserole.
    Leftover Thanksgiving Casserole (Gluten-free)
  • Up close look at a bowl of gluten-free chili being served topped with chopped red onion, shredded cheese, corn chips with a side of gluten-free cornbread.
    The Best Gluten-free Chili
Looking down onto a white plate with some gluten-free swedish meatballs being served with gravy.

📖 Recipe

Up close look at a plate of gluten-free swedish meatballs and gravy.

Incredibly Easy Gluten-free Swedish Meatballs

Meeta Arora
Ikea may have made these popular, but I'm telling you, these gluten-free Swedish meatballs are even better than they serve!
5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 45 minutes mins
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine swedish
Servings 6
Calories 569 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs

  • 1 Pound Ground Beef
  • 1 Pound Ground Pork
  • 1 Large Egg
  • ½ Cup Gluten-free Bread Crumbs or almond meal
  • 2 Tablespoons Coconut Aminos of Gluten-free Soy Sauce
  • ½ Cup Milk Heavy Cream or Dairy-free Alternative
  • ¼ Teaspoon Nutmeg
  • ¼ Teaspoon Allspice
  • ½ Small Onion minced
  • 2 Cloves Garlic minced
  • 2 Tablespoons Parsley
  • 1 ½ Teaspoons Salt
  • 1 Teaspoon Pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon Butter or Dairy-free Alternative, Melted.
  • 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

For the Gravy

  • ¼ Cup Butter of Dairy-free Alternative
  • ¼ Cup Potato Starch or Arrowroot Starch
  • 2 Cups Beef Broth
  • 1 ½ Teaspoons Dijon Mustard
  • 2 Tablespoons Coconut Aminos or Gluten-free Soy Sauce
  • 1 Cup Milk Heavy Cream or Dairy-free Milk Alternative
  • 1 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.
    ½ Cup Gluten-free Bread Crumbs, 2 Tablespoons Coconut Aminos, ½ Cup Milk, ¼ Teaspoon Nutmeg, ¼ Teaspoon Allspice, 2 Cloves Garlic, 2 Tablespoons Parsley, 1 ½ Teaspoons Salt, 1 Teaspoon Pepper, 1 Tablespoon Butter, 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
  • To the bread mixture, add the grated onion and egg.
    1 Large Egg, 1 Pound Ground Pork
  • Add the meat to the rest of the meatball ingredients and mix until everything is uniform.
    1 Pound Ground Beef, ½ Small Onion
  • Roll the meatballs into about 24 equal-sized balls.
  • Cook the meatballs as desired on the stove, in the oven or air fryer.
  • In a skillet, melt the butter and then whisk in the potato starch until a thick paste is formed.
    ¼ Cup Butter, ¼ Cup Potato Starch
  • Whisk in the beef broth, coconut aminos, and dijon mustard, and let the mixture simmer.
    2 Cups Beef Broth, 1 ½ Teaspoons Dijon Mustard, 2 Tablespoons Coconut Aminos
  • Add the milk and spices and whisk till combined, and then let it simmer until it starts to thicken.
    1 Cup Milk, 1 Teaspoon Salt, ½ Teaspoon Pepper
  • Place the cooked meatballs into the skillet with the sauce and let them simmer until the sauce is thicken as desired.
  • Serve over your favorite rice, potatoes, or gluten-free pasta.
  • Top with additional fresh parsley, and enjoy!

Notes

Meatballs on the stove.
  1. In a skillet over medium-high, melt some butter and a little bit of olive oil.
  2. Place the meatballs into the skillet and let them cook. Be sure to rotate the meatballs as needed to get browned on all sides and fully cooked through.
  3. Remove the meatballs from the skillet and make the gravy.
  4. Once you have the gravy made, add the meatballs back to the skillet and serve warm.
Meatballs in the oven.
  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Place the meatballs onto a baking sheet and bake them for about 25-30 minutes or until they are cooked through.
  3. While the meatballs are baking, make the gluten-free gravy in a skillet.
  4. Toss the cooked meatballs into the gravy and serve warm.
Meatballs in the air fryer.
  1. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees.
  2. Place your meatballs into your air fryer in a single layer.
  3. Cook the meatballs for about 15 minutes or until they are browned and cooked through.
  4. While the meatballs cook, make the gluten-free Swedish gravy in a skillet on the stove.
  5. Add the cooked meatballs to the gravy and serve warm.
Tips and tricks.
  • Finely grate your onion. - I like to use my fine grater to grate the onion into the breadcrumbs. This leaves the onion very fine, almost like onion water. This ensures smoother meatballs without larger pieces of onion.
  • Let the breadcrumb mixture fully saturate. - Letting the gluten-free breadcrumbs become soft and mushy is what you want. This will help it incorporate better without leaving little hard pieces of bread in your meatballs
  • Mix by hand. - Meatballs need to be mixed gently to help keep them from stiffening up from overworking the meat. Using your hands is messy, but you'll easily be able to tell once the meats have combined with the rest of the ingredients much better than using a fork or other utensil.
  • Thicker or thinner gravy. - The gluten-free gravy that goes with these Swedish meatballs can be thickened or thinned to your liking. If you like a thicker gravy, be sure to use arrowroot starch or cornstarch to thicken it. I prefer the texture using potato starch, but it can take longer for potato starch to thicken the sauce.
Keyword gluten free meatballs, gluten free swedish meatballs

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!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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    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
  6. Jess says

    May 01, 2023 at 7:01 pm

    How would you change this to make it dairy free?

    Reply
    • Sara Vaughn says

      May 03, 2023 at 9:18 am

      Substitute the butter for ghee and the cream for a dairy-free alternative like coconut milk.

      Reply

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