These Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs are covered in a creamy gravy sauce and taste just like the ones at Ikea! They’re so easy to make.
Ingredients and substitutions
Meatballs
- Extra-lean ground beef – use ground chicken, turkey or pork instead. Ikea uses a combination of beef and pork.
- Breadcrumbs – panko would also work here.
- Egg – you can also use a bit of buttermilk or plain yogurt, but it will alter the taste.
- Dijon mustard – stone-ground or yellow mustard would be the best substitutes here.
- Garlic powder – swap out the garlic powder for some minced garlic instead.
- Onion powder – finely minced garlic would also do the trick.
- Salt & pepper – to taste.
- Allspice – nutmeg can also be used.
Gravy
- Butter – use a dairy-free butter substitute of your choice.
- Flour – you can use almond flour if you’re gluten-intolerant.
- Beef broth – chicken or vegetable broth would both be good substitutes here.
- Sour cream – heavy cream would work too.
How to make Swedish meatballs in the Instant Pot
Step 1: Assemble your ingredients.
Step 2: Make the meatballs.
Mix together the meatball ingredients and roll into 1-inch balls.
Step 3: Brown the meatballs.
Sauté the meatballs in the Instant Pot until lightly browned, then add the beef broth.
Step 4: Cook on high pressure.
Cook the meatballs on high pressure for 3 minutes, then do a quick release of the pressure. Remove the meatballs from the pot and pour the broth into a bowl.
Step 5: Make the sauce.
Melt the butter, then add the flour and whisk until smooth. Add back in the broth, bring to a boil, then stir in the sour cream.
Step 6: Serve and enjoy!
Pour the sauce over the meatballs then garnish with parsley, serve and enjoy!
What to serve with Swedish meatballs
Swedish meatballs are traditionally served with potatoes – either mashed or boiled – and lingonberry jam. But there are lots of other food will turn these amazing Instant Pot Swedish meatballs into a complete meal. Here are some other side dish ideas:
- Rice
- Egg noodles
- Dill potatoes
- Cabbage with apples
- Cucumber salad
- Glazed carrots
- Green beans
- Roasted broccoli
Frequently Asked Questions
Swedish meatballs are typically made of a combination of beef and pork, with spices including allspice, and are typically served in a creamy gravy sauce. These copycat Ikea Swedish meatballs taste just like the kind you can get at Ikea!
The breadcrumbs and egg will keep your Instant Pot Swedish meatballs from falling apart by acting as a binder. You’ll also need to sauté them for 5 minutes first so they’re lightly browned, which will keep them from falling apart when they’re in the Instant Pot.
This Swedish meatballs instapot sauce is a creamy gravy sauce that’s made of butter, flour, beef broth and sour cream.
Storing and reheating
These Instant Pot Swedish meatballs will last in the fridge for up to 5 days. To warm up individual portions, you can pop the meatballs in the microwave for a minute or two. If you prepared the Swedish meatballs in advance and need to reheat the entire meal, warm them up in a pan on the stovetop.
Can you freeze Swedish meatballs?
These meatballs can be frozen either before or after cooking. Feel free to double or even triple this Swedish meatballs instapot recipe if you want to stock your freezer with easy delicious pre-made meals.
You can mix and shape the meatballs and then freeze them. I recommend putting them on a baking tray in the freezer for about an hour first and then transferring them to a container. This ensures that they don’t stick together when frozen. They will last in the freezer for 3 to 4 months.
If you already cooked the meatballs, allow them to cool and then store them in the freezer. Stop following the recipe after making the meatballs, as flour-based sauces do not freeze well and should be made fresh. Cooked meatballs will last for 2 to 3 months in the freezer.
To thaw the meatballs, put them in the refrigerator overnight. After you thaw them, continue making the gravy in the Instant Pot or in a pan on the stovetop and add the meatballs to the gravy to warm them completely.
More Instant Pot comfort food
Meal prep tools for this recipe
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning these meatballs into your weekly lunches.
- I get all my grass-fed beef from Butcher Box, conveniently delivered to me frozen.
- Use these Ziploc bag holders if you’re adding meatballs to a freezer bag then freezing.
- Freeze this recipe in glass microwave-safe bowls with lids up to 3 months.
Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs {Ikea Copycat}
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 lb extra-lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp each salt & pepper
- 1/4 tsp allspice or nutmeg
Gravy
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp flour
- 1 1/2 cups beef broth
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Mix together the ingredients for the meatballs in a large bowl. Roll each meatball into 1-inch balls.
- Add 1 tbsp olive oil to the bottom of Instant Pot. Saute meatballs for 5 minutes to get a light browning on them. Add beef broth, then place lid on Instant Pot and make sure valve is set to seal. Press the pressure cook button and set to high, then cook for 3 minutes. Instant Pot will take about 5-10 minutes to come to pressure then pressure cook for 3 minutes.
- Do a quick release of the pressure on the Instant Pot by flicking the switch at the top with a spoon. Open the lid when pressure gauge has dropped and the lid opens easily.
- Remove meatballs from Instant Pot, and pour broth into a small bowl and set aside.
- Turn Instant Pot back to saute mode. Melt butter, then add flour, whisking until smooth. Add broth back to pot, then bring to a boil. Stir in sour cream. Pour sauce over meatballs, then garnish with parsley. Serve and enjoy!
