Swedish Meatball Sauce Recipe - Sauce Fanatic (2024)

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This rich and creamy Swedish meatball sauce recipe is one you must add to your repertoire. It comes together in about 10 minutes and will be the perfect accompaniment to Swedish meatballs.

Swedish Meatball Sauce Recipe - Sauce Fanatic (1)

Table of Contents

  • 1 Swedish Meatball Sauce
  • 2 Swedish Meatball Sauce Ingredients:
  • 3 How to Make Swedish Meatball Sauce:
  • 4 Swedish Meatball Sauce Variations:
  • 5 How to Store Swedish Meatball Sauce:
  • 6 Swedish Meatball Sauce

Swedish Meatball Sauce

Traditionally Swedish meatballs are served with lingonberry jam but here in the U.S. we enjoy them swimming in a rich brown gravy.

There are several different variations of the gravy also. Some use cream of mushroom while others use sour cream. Some call for sherry or cooking wine.

We settled on a simpler recipe that you can modify to your liking. That’s a theme we have around here.

Make it simple and give you variations to try.

We like this version best because it’s flavorful but uses ingredients that are simple and that are probably already in your kitchen.

So whip up your favorite Swedish meatball recipe and drown them in our sauce!

Learn all about how to make a roux sauce and use it for all my gravy recipes, my Hawaiian brown gravy and country white gravy.

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Swedish Meatball Sauce Ingredients:

To make this Swedish meatball sauce recipe, you will need:

  • Butter: Use unsalted butter because the beef broth is pretty salty
  • Flour: Combines with the butter to make a roux that will thicken the sauce
  • Beef broth: You can use low sodium if you wish
  • Brown Sugar: Just a couple teaspoons
  • Heavy cream:We like to use all heavy cream instead of sour cream
  • Blackpepper:Freshly cracked is best but use what you have
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How to Make Swedish Meatball Sauce:

To make this homemade Swedish meatball sauce, simply…

  1. Make a roux.Whisk flour into melted butter and cook until it turns light brown.
  2. Add broth and brown sugar. Slowly whisk in the broth and brown sugar then simmer for about 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in the cream and black pepper. Slowly stir in the cream and pepper then simmer for another 5 minutes.
  4. Use immediately or let cool and refrigerate for later use.
Swedish Meatball Sauce Recipe - Sauce Fanatic (4)

Swedish Meatball Sauce Variations:

There are quite a few ways you can doctor up this Swedish meatball sauce recipe.

  • Add Worcestershire sauce: 2 teaspoons will make the sauce more flavorful
  • Add soy sauce: 2 teaspoons will add more flavor
  • Add dijon mustard: 1 teaspoon will spice up the sauce nicely
  • Add coconut aminos: 2 teaspoons will enhance the sauce the way Worcestershire sauce does
  • Add sour cream: Add ½ cup in addition to the heavy cream or use 1 cup of sour cream in place of the heavy cream.
  • Add shallots: Sauté a minced shallot before making the roux.
  • Add cream of mushroom soup: Whiskin in a can of cream of mushroom in step 3.
Swedish Meatball Sauce Recipe - Sauce Fanatic (5)

How to Store Swedish Meatball Sauce:

Refrigerate– Cool for 1 hour then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat over low heat and add a little cream if the sauce is too thick.

Freeze– Cool for 2 hours then transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat over low heat and add a little cream if the sauce is too thick.

You might also want to try our onion gravy, chicken marsala sauce, butter chicken sauce, and copycat mumbo sauce. Enjoy!

Yield: 1 and ½ cups

Swedish Meatball Sauce

Swedish Meatball Sauce Recipe - Sauce Fanatic (6)

This rich and creamy Swedish meatball sauce recipe is one you must add to your repertoire. It comes together in about 10 minutes and will be the perfect accompaniment to Swedish meatballs.

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time15 minutes

Total Time20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 and ¾ cups beef broth
  • 2 teaspoons light brown sugar
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Melt butter in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. When the foaming subsides, add the flour and cook, whisking constantly, until flour turns light brown, about 30 seconds.
  3. Slowly whisk in the broth followed by the brown sugar and bring to simmer.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the sauce is reduced to 1 cup, about 5 minutes.
  5. Stir in the cream and pepper then return to a simmer and let cook for 5 minutes.
  6. Server over freshly cooked meatballs.

Make ahead tip

  1. Refrigerate – Cool for 1 hour then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
  2. Freeze – Cool for 2 hours then transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
  3. Reheat over low heat and add a little cream if the sauce is too thick.

Notes

Try these variations:

  • Add Worcestershire sauce: 2 teaspoons will make the sauce more flavorful
  • Add soy sauce: 2 teaspoons will add more flavor
  • Add dijon mustard: 1 teaspoon will spice up the sauce nicely
  • Add coconut aminos: 2 teaspoons will enhance the sauce the way Worcestershire sauce does
  • Add sour cream: Add ½ cup in addition to the heavy cream or use 1 cup of sour cream in place of the heavy cream.
  • Add shallots: Sauté a minced shallot before making the roux.
  • Add cream of mushroom soup: Whiskin in a can of cream of mushroom in step 3.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

¼ cup

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 118Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 118mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 1g

Nutritional values here on our recipes should be used as a general guide only. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the values shown are just an estimate.

Did you make this recipe?

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Swedish Meatball Sauce Recipe - Sauce Fanatic (2024)

FAQs

What is the sauce for Swedish meatballs made from? ›

The sauce for Swedish Meatballs is a creamy gravy that is made with butter, beef broth/stock, thickened with flour and made creamy with cream. But the most important flavour for the a really good creamy gravy is the pan drippings after searing the meatballs.

What is Ikea meatball sauce made of? ›

Iconic Swedish cream sauce: Melt 40g of butter in a pan. Whisk in 40g of plain flour and stir for 2 mins. Add 300ml of bouillon (or consommé) and continue to stir. Add 150ml double cream, 2 tsp of soy sauce and 1 tsp of (Dijon) mustard.

Why is my Swedish meatball sauce not thickening? ›

How to Thicken Swedish Meatball Sauce. The all-purpose flour in this recipe should do the trick to thicken your Swedish meatball sauce to the right consistency. But if it doesn't, you can add a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon of cornstarch to 2 tablespoons of water) to thicken it up.

Why do Swedish meatballs taste so good? ›

The Seasoning

While both varieties include ingredients such as grated onion and panade (milk-soaked bread) or bread crumbs, plus the usual salt and pepper, Swedish meatballs traditionally use spices like allspice, nutmeg, white pepper, and sometimes ground ginger as flavoring.

Does Swedish meatballs contain sour cream? ›

It's All About the Sauce

Flavored with nutmeg and cardamom, these little beef-and-pork meatballs are best served with a Swedish meatball sauce—a rich roux-based and beef stock gravy, spiked with sour cream and a little lingonberry jelly.

Why do IKEA meatballs taste so good? ›

Salt can enhance sweetness, help block bitter flavors, and can help make meats juicier. Because some flavor compounds are too subtle for our dumb orangutan tongues to detect, a little extra salt brings all of those flavors forward and makes the taste of some foods (including Ikea's meatballs) more pronounced.

Why are IKEA meatballs so cheap? ›

The meatballs - along with all the dishes in IKEA restaurants - are priced so competitively to attract people to the store. The hope is, that once there, customers will also spend money on household items. The restaurants also reinforce the IKEA brand image of being 'low price' and 'good value'.

What makes Swedish meatballs different from regular meatballs? ›

Italian Meatballs vs Swedish Meatballs: Swedish Meatballs are typically smaller in size than Italian meatballs and they are usually made with a 50-50 ratio of ground pork and ground beef.

Why are my Swedish meatballs falling apart? ›

ANSWER: Usually when meatballs fall apart, it's the binder that is the problem. Most meatball recipes call for using bread crumbs and eggs. But too much bread crumbs make them too loose, and not enough bread crumbs won't help them hold together either.

Do meatballs get more tender the longer they cook in sauce? ›

You want the oil to be about half a fingernail deep in the pan. Usually, I'm making meatballs with Sunday sauce. I simmer them in the sauce for 2-3 hours. The longer you simmer them, the softer they will be.

Are Swedish meatballs unhealthy? ›

The meatballs are low in carbohydrates and can be part of a healthy meal for someone on most diet plans, including a weight-loss diet.

What alcohol goes with Swedish meatballs? ›

Swedish meatballs

The cream sauce for these lightly spiced meatballs makes them especially delicious with silky-textured Pinot Noir (like those from Burgundy or Oregon). If you prefer white wine, a lightly oaked Chardonnay or a richer-style Austrian Riesling is a great choice.

What does IKEA serve with Swedish meatballs? ›

Popular menu items
  • Swedish Meatballs, served with Mashed Potatoes and Lingonberry Jam.
  • Plant Balls, served with Mashed Potatoes and Lingonberry Jam.
  • Sustainably-sourced salmon with Cauliflower Rice and Red Pepper Relish.

How do you eat Swedish meatballs from Ikea? ›

The traditional way to eat Swedish meatballs, including the ones IKEA make, is with mashed potatoes, green peas, gravy, and lingonberry jam. Only the peas are considered “optional”.

Why do Swedish meatballs taste different? ›

These meatballs tend to be a bit smaller in size and are more savory than their Italian counterpart. They are seasoned with aromatic allspice that balances out the rich flavor of the white, gravy-like sauce they're served in.

What makes Swedish meatballs different? ›

Italian Meatballs vs Swedish Meatballs: Swedish Meatballs are typically smaller in size than Italian meatballs and they are usually made with a 50-50 ratio of ground pork and ground beef.

Is bolognese sauce the same as meatball sauce? ›

Meatballs are not a sauce, they are balls of meat. A sauce has to be runny, or at least flowing. Done correctly, a bolognese sauce isn't particularly meaty. The meat is meant to be finely ground and incorporated into a standard spaghetti sauce, and the meat so fine it should stick onto the pasta in little specks.

What are Ikea Swedish meatballs made of? ›

Ingredients for 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 milk.
  • salt and pepper to taste.

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