Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs – Low Carb, Whole30
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Skip the trip to Ikea! These homemade Ikea Swedish meatballs are, seriously, the most delicious and super easy Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs recipe ever, served with a perfectly rich and creamy gravy! Best of all, they’re low-carb, gluten-free friendly, and Whole30 compatible.
Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs Recipe
Who else loves to hit up the cafeteria on their trips to IKEA? Me, me, me! I always order the classic Swedish meatballs with extra gravy and a heap of mashed potatoes. And don’t forget the lingonberry jam!
But IKEA is such a special treat for me, and sometimes you just need that furniture-shopping comfort at home without, you know, the new furniture you have to put together.
These homemade Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs are little balls of bliss, absolutely delicious, and always a crowd-pleaser. When you cook homemade meatballs in an electric pressure cooker, you don’t need to dirty a bunch of pans and dishes or babysit the meatballs like you would on the stovetop or in the oven.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
You’ll love this Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs recipe for a few reasons:
- This classic dish tastes just like the Ikea version but better because they’re homemade!
- These traditional Swedish meatballs and creamy gravy are incredibly easy to make!
- They’re great for busy weeknights, get-togethers, and entertaining friends.
Best of all, this Instant Pot meatballs recipe is adapted to meet low-carb, Paleo, and Whole30 eating methods.
They’re made with clean, whole ingredients and absolutely no dairy, grains, or ingredients you’ve never heard of, so you can feel good about serving them up! They are going to be a new family favorite.
What are Swedish meatballs?
Swedish meatballs are browned meatballs made from ground meat and served in a creamy gravy. They differ from Italian meatballs, usually served with a tomato-based marinara sauce.
In Sweden, this meatball dish is made with just about any ground meat, from pork to beef and chicken to—yes—even bear, boar, moose, and reindeer! It can even be enjoyed with vegan or veggie meatballs.
(On a trip to Stockholm, we tried a sampler at Meatballs for the People. I highly recommend it if you find yourself out that way!)
The dish was popularized in the United States with the growth of IKEA stores. The dish is sold in the in-store cafeterias and in take-home frozen form in beef, chicken and veggie versions. At IKEA, the meatballs are served with the signature gravy over a bed of mashed potatoes and a dollop of lingonberry jam. Lingonberries are another Swedish delicacy, and it tastes like a cross between raspberries and cranberries.
Swedish Meatball Ingredients
Ready to make this easy Swedish Meatball recipe for a delicious dinner? Here’s what you will need:
- Ground beef
- Ground pork
- Egg
- Beef broth or vegetable broth
- Almond flour
- Onion
- Garlic
- Seasonings: Salt, pepper, nutmeg, and dill
- Oil & ghee
- For the creamy gravy sauce: Coconut cream, arrowroot powder.
What is arrowroot powder? Arrowroot powder is a Paleo and Whole30-compliant ingredient that works to thicken soups, stews, and gravies! If you aren't following Whole30, feel free to omit or substitute any other thickening agent like cornstarch.
Substitutions and Variations
Want to swap some things around in these homemade Swedish meatballs? I get it! Here are some common swaps you can make:
- Meat: Feel free to make these with the meat of your choice. Ground chicken and turkey work well too. The combination of beef and pork is really lovely though!
- Almond flour: You can use all-purpose flour or breadcrumbs instead.
- Arrowroot powder: You can use another thickening agent like a cornstarch slurry or flour in the gravy.
- Coconut cream: Coconut cream is thickest and best for the gravy, but you could use coconut milk instead. If you aren't doing Whole30, you can use whole milk or heavy cream instead.
How to make Swedish Meatballs in the Instant Pot
Scroll down to the recipe card for the full step by step instructions! ⬇️
There's very little prep work involved in prepping this IKEA meatballs recipe, only chopping the onion and the garlic. Once that's done, just mix everything up, form into balls, and you're just minutes away from dinner!
- Prep the ingredients. Add the meatballs ingredients to a large bowl.
- Make the meatball mixture. Mix the ingredients together well, but be careful not to over-mix it.
- Make the meatballs. Form the meat mixture into meatballs, about the size of a golf ball (about two tablespoons).
- Sauté meatballs in the Instant Pot.
Alternatively, you could use this meatball maker mold that shapes them all for you — genius!
- Brown the meatballs. With your Instant Pot set to Saute mode, brown the meatballs on all sides, working in batches to prevent overcrowding. It takes about 2 minutes per side.
- Cook the meatballs. Return all the meatballs to the Instant Pot, then cover and set to high pressure for 6 minutes. Use a quick pressure release (turn the venting knob to allow the steam to release), and set the meatballs aside. It's gravy time!
- Make the gravy. To make the Swedish meatball sauce, you can whisk in the arrowroot powder, coconut cream, and seasonings while the Instant Pot is set to the sauté function. Alternately, make a slurry by whisking together the arrowroot powder and about ¼ cup of the cooking liquid from the Instant Pot. Whisk the slurry into the remaining liquid in the Instant Pot, and simmer for a few minutes, stirring often, until it's thickened.
- Assemble & Serve. Once the gravy is done, pour it over the meatballs and get ready to dig in to this easy dinner! Sprinkle with fresh parsley, salt and pepper, and enjoy!
Slow Cooker Instructions
Don't have an Instant Pot or want to make this recipe in the slow cooker instead? You got it! Here's what to do:
- Brown the meatballs in a skillet first.
- Transfer them to the slow cooker.
- Make the gravy in the same skillet, scraping up the brown bits on the bottom of the pot.
- Pour the gravy over the meatballs.
- Cook on low for 4 hours.
Oven Instructions
If you want to make this in the oven, you totally can! Preheat your oven, while forming the meatballs. Place the meatballs on a large baking sheet and bake. Then you'll make your sauce (minus the broth) in a sauce pan and add the meatballs to it to coat them in the sauce!
What to serve with Swedish Meatballs?
You can serve Swedish meatballs the classic IKEA way, with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam.
You could add some other Swedish dishes to the menu, like Limpa bread or a lingonberry cocktail.
If you want some veggies to go with it, we like mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes and a green side of green beans or zucchini noodles.
Storing Leftover Swedish Meatballs
Transfer your meatballs to an airtight container or bag. Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
If you wish to freeze them, wait until they're cool, then freeze them in an airtight or sealed container. They'll store in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Expert Tips & FAQ
Yes, please do! Wait until they're cool, then freeze them in an airtight or sealed container. They'll store in the freezer for up to 4 months, per USDA.
Yes, definitely! You can make the entire meal in advance, then just warm before you're ready to eat them OR you can form the meatballs in advance, then cook them just before you're ready to eat.
More Delicious Weeknight Recipes
- Classic Instant Pot Pot Roast
- Keto Turkey Meatballs
- Irish Lamb Stew
- Pesto Chicken and Spaghetti Squash Bake
- Buffalo Ranch Chicken & Cauliflower Casserole
- Instant Pot Corned Beef
- Orange Chicken Meatballs
I'd love to hear about your experience making this recipe! Please leave a comment and rating below!
Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs (Paleo, Whole30, Low Carb)
Ingredients
Swedish Meatballs
- 1 lb ground pork (I usually use 85% lean)
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- ½ cup onion finely diced (about 1/2 onion)
- 2 cloves garlic
- ⅔ cup almond flour
- ¼ cup beef stock or vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon dried dill
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
To Brown the Meatballs
- 3 tablespoon ghee
- 2 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
Creamy Gravy
- 2 cups beef broth or vegetable broth
- ½ cup coconut cream
- 2 tablespoon arrowroot powder
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
- ½ teaspoon salt
Video
Instructions
Make the Swedish Meatballs
- Finely dice the onion and the garlic. Lightly beat the eggs.
- Add all ingredients to a large bowl and gently mix together (be careful not to overmix it, so once it's combined well, stop.)
- Use your hands to form the meat mixture into balls, using about two tablespoons of the mixture per meatball.
Cook the Meatballs
- Set your Instant Pot to sautee mode. Once warm, heat the oil and ghee until it's shimmering.
- In batches, brown the meatballs on all sides, for about 2 minutes per side. Remove and set aside, then brown the next batch. Repeat until all the meatballs are browned.
- Return the meatballs to the Instant Pot and pour in the 2 cups of beef stock (this will become the gravy base). Cover and set to High Pressure for 6 minutes.
- Use a Quick Release (QR) by turning the valve to allow the steam to quickly release.
- Using a slotted spoon, remove the meatballs and set them aside. Cover them to keep them warm.*Do not drain the liquid! This is the super flavorful liquid we'll use for the gravy!
Make the Gravy
- Set the Instant Pot to Saute mode. Whisk the coconut cream, seasonings and arrowroot powder into the liquid in the pot (or make a slurry with the arrowroot and then stir that in).
- Simmer for about 4-5 minutes, stirring, until thickened.
Serve
- Serve the meatballs with vegetables and drizzle with gravy. Sprinkle with fresh dill and parsley and enjoy!
