Vegan Swedish Meatballs Recipe (2024)

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This is the best vegan Swedish meatballs recipe – These no-meat balls “Koettbullar” are incredibly delicious, rich in plant-based protein from lentils, meaty in texture and can be made soy-free and gluten-free. They are coated in a simple creamy vegan gravy, making it to the perfect comfort food for vegans and non-vegans alike!

Vegan Swedish Meatballs Recipe (2)

I love trying new recipes from countries all over the world! I’ve already shared my vegan cinnamon rolls with you, which originate from Scandinavia. So I thought it’s about time to share a hearty lunch or dinner recipe from northern Europe! Anyway, today’s vegan Swedish meatballs recipe is inspired by the popular “Koettbullar” which is a classic Swedish dish, that is also served at Ikea and anyone loves it! So if you love it, too but went vegan or vegetarian, this meat-less version is what you need!

Vegan Swedish Meatballs Recipe (3)

The Best Healthy Vegan Meatballs recipe

What I love about this recipe is that it is so healthy, satisfying, and rich in nutrients! I made my vegan Swedish meatballs with lentils as I did in this lentil meatballs with Indian curry sauce recipe but adjusted the flavors and tossed the no-meat balls in a simple cream sauce. Thanks to the lentils, the meatballs are packed with vegan protein, keeping you full for several hours. Along with the wholesome oats, they contain also a lot of fiber which is important for your digestive system. Is there anything better than enjoying a delicious meal, that is even nourishing and healthy? I don’t think so!

Vegan Swedish Meatballs Recipe (4)

Serving Suggestions

I served my vegan Swedish meatballs in a simple gravy over Fussili here, but you can use any pasta of your choice or serve them with homemade spaetzle. However, they’re also delicious over mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes, rice or quinoa which are all great gluten-free options. And if you follow a low-carb diet, simply serve this recipe as a main dish with vegetables on the side or over protein pasta like chickpea, lentil or pea noodles.

Vegan Swedish Meatballs Recipe (5)

How to store, freeze & make-ahead

This recipe makes not only a great lunch or dinner to enjoy at home, but it is also perfect for meal prep to take to work. You can store leftovers in the fridge for a few days or freeze the uncooked balls for longer storage. Just be sure to store the vegan Swedish Meatballs and the gravy separately! Otherwise, the meatballs will get soft and mushy. When ready to serve, simply reheat in the microwave or in the oven for a crispier result.

Vegan Swedish Meatballs Recipe (6)

How to make Vegan Swedish meatballs

This recipe is pretty easy to make in just a few steps, requiring simple pantry ingredients! However, I highly recommend watching the recipe video too!

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Step 1: Prep the vegan meatball mixture

Start by making the Meatballs: Cook the lentils in 1 ½ cup of water for 20 minutes, or according to the package instructions. In the meantime, heat the oil in a pan and sauté the onion until translucent. Add the garlic and sauté for another minute, until fragrant. Then add the chopped mushrooms and cumin and continue sautéing until the mushrooms are tender.

Vegan Swedish Meatballs Recipe (8)

Vegan Swedish Meatballs Recipe (9)

Next, place the oats in a blender or food processor and process them into flour. Then add in the cooked lentils, sautéed onions, garlic, mushrooms and the other ingredients for the Meatballs (see recipe card below). Pulse until combined, but not puréed, to get the perfect texture! Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Then set the no-meat lentil balls mixture aside for 10 minutes or refrigerate overnight, if you want to continue with the recipe the next day.

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Vegan Swedish Meatballs Recipe (13)

Vegan Swedish Meatballs Recipe (14)

Vegan Swedish Meatballs Recipe (15)

Step 2: Form the balls and bake

When ready to form the balls, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Form the lentil mixture into balls with wet hands. (This will prevent the lentil-mass from sticking to your skin.) Then place them on the prepared baking sheet and brush or spray them with a little oil. Bake for 25-30 minutes, turning them halfway through.

Vegan Swedish Meatballs Recipe (16)

Vegan Swedish Meatballs Recipe (17)

Step 3: Make the vegan gravy

To make the gravy add all the ingredients as written in the recipe card below (except the cornstarch and water) to a pot or saucepan and bring to a boil. In a smaller bowl or cup whisk together the cornstarch and 2-3 tablespoons of water to dissolve. Then whisk it into the gravy and bring it to a boil again, stirring occasionally. Simmer for a few minutes, until the gravy is nice and thick. Serve the gravy with these best vegan Swedish meatballs over pasta or mashed potatoes!

A little note: If you love mushrooms, feel free to serve these vegan meatballs with my mushroom gravy or mushroom stroganoff.

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These Vegan Swedish Meatballs (Koettbullar) are:

  • Meat-less
  • Egg-less
  • Dairy-free
  • Healthy
  • Can be made soy-free and gluten-free
  • Hearty
  • Easy to make
  • Tossed in a creamy gravy
  • Perfect for lunch, dinner, or meal prep
  • Incredibly delicious!

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Looking for more dishes with vegan meatballs, be sure to check out the following recipes:

  • Lentil meatballs in Indian Curry Sauce
  • No-Meat balls with Vegan Gravy over Mashed Potatoes
  • Vegan Meatballs with Spaghetti and Tomato Sauce
  • Vegan sweet potato falafel
  • Or how about Vegan Lasagna or Mexican One-pot Taco Pasta?
  • Also, my Lentil Bolognese and the classic Vegan Spaghetti Bolognese are incredibly delicious!

Anyway, if you try this recipe for Vegan Swedish Meatballs (Koettbullar), please leave a comment and rating! And if you take a photo of your delicious no-meat balls and share it on Instagram, please make sure to tag me @biancazapatka and use the hashtag #biancazapatka because I love seeing your remakes! Happy cooking!

Vegan Swedish Meatballs Recipe (20)

Author: Bianca Zapatka

This is the best vegan Swedish meatballs recipe - These no-meat balls "Köttbullar" are incredibly delicious, rich in plant-based protein from lentils, meaty in texture and can be made soy-free and gluten-free. They are coated in a simple creamy vegan gravy, making it to the perfect comfort food for vegans and non-vegans alike!

4.79 von 79 Bewertungen

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Course Lunch & Dinner, Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine Sweden

Servings 4 Servings

Calories 238 kcal

Ingredients

Vegan Meatballs

  • ½ cup (100 g) dry lentils green or brown
  • 1 ½ cup (360 ml) water
  • 1 tbsp oil + more for brushing
  • 1 onion diced
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 cup (150 g) mushrooms roughly chopped
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • ¾ cup (70 g) rolled oats gluten-free if needed
  • 3 tbsp fresh parsley chopped (or sub 1 tbsp dried herbs)
  • 2-3 tbsp soy sauce or tamari sauce (if gluten-free)
  • tsp salt or to taste
  • ½ tsp black pepper or to taste

Gravy

  • 1 cup (240 ml) vegetable broth
  • 1 14 oz can (400 ml) light coconut milk or other non-dairy milk
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce or tamari (if gluten-free)
  • 1 tsp dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot flour

To serve (optional)

  • pasta of your choice

Instructions

Vegan Meatballs

  • Cook the lentils in a pot with 1 ½ cups of water for 20 minutes, or according to the package instructions.

  • Meanwhile, heat the oil in a pan and sauté the onion for 3 minutes, until translucent. Add the garlic and sauté for another minute, until fragrant. Then add the chopped mushrooms and cumin and continue sautéing for about 3 minutes, or until the mushrooms are tender (*see step-by-step photos and recipe video above).

  • Place the oats in a blender or food processor and process them into flour. Then add in the cooked lentils, sautéed onions, garlic, mushrooms, parsley, soy sauce, salt, and pepper. Pulse until combined, but not puréed, leaving a little texture. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed. Then set the mixture aside for 10 minutes (or refrigerate overnight if you want to continue the next day).

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • Form the mixture into balls with wet hands and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Brush or spray the balls with a little oil and bake for 25-30 minutes, turning them halfway through.

Gravy

  • Add all ingredients (except the cornstarch and water) to a pot or saucepan and bring to a boil.

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and 2-3 tablespoons of water to dissolve. Then, whisk it into the gravy and bring to a boil again, stirring constantly. Simmer for a few minutes, until the gravy is thick and creamy.

  • Place the vegan meatballs in the gravy and serve over pasta, spaetzle or mashed potatoes!

  • Enjoy!

Notes

  • Storage: Store leftover sauce and vegan meatballs separately in the refrigerator or the balls will get mushy. Reheat leftover meatballs gently in the microwave or in the oven for a crispier result.
  • Sauce: You can also serve these vegan meatballs with mushroom gravy or mushroom stroganoff.
  • Please read my blog post for further information about this recipe!

Nutritions

Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 27.4g | Protein: 12.4g | Fat: 7.3g

Nutrition is calculated automatically and should be used as estimate.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @biancazapatka or tag #biancazapatka!

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Vegan Swedish Meatballs Recipe (21)

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Vegan Swedish Meatballs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Swedish meatball sauce made of? ›

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 are IKEA vegan meatballs made of? ›

Developed with meat lovers in mind, the plant ball is made from pea protein, oats, potato and apple. The meaty taste is achieved by adding umami flavors, such as mushroom, tomato and roasted vegetables.

Why are IKEA Swedish meatballs so good? ›

They're made with all-natural ingredients

The Ikea website lists the ingredients of their meatballs (which Ikea calls ALLEMANSRÄTTEN), and the rundown is surprisingly simple: Meat (a combination of pork and beef, for texture, flavor, and juiciness), onion, breadcrumbs, egg, water, salt, and pepper.

What's the difference between Swedish and Norwegian meatballs? ›

Norwegian meatballs are served in a brown gravy, while Swedish meatballs are made with a cream sauce.

What makes Swedish meatballs different from other meatballs? ›

Swedish meatballs are slightly smaller than traditional meatballs — think the size of a golf ball — so that they can be easily picked up by a toothpick and popped into your mouth. As for the sauce, Swedish meatballs are cooked in a rich, creamy gravy that is most often created from bone broth and cream.

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.

What is the difference between Swedish style and Italian style meatballs? ›

American meatballs are the biggest in size, with Italian and Swedish meatballs following on the depth chart. Italian meatballs call for seasonings like grated parmesan and oregano, while Swedish ones use seasonings like nutmeg and allspice. While it doesn't sound like a huge distinction, you'll notice it in the taste!

Why are IKEA meatballs so cheap? ›

Like many other things in business, selling inexpensive meatballs is a strategy for the company to turn more profit. To sell their products, they need to get people in the door. To do that, they entice people with cheap meatballs.

What is the jam they put on IKEA meatballs? ›

Product details. Swedes love to eat lingonberry jam with meatballs, mashed potatoes and cream sauce. But, the light sweetness is also great with other classic dishes like potato fritters, dumplings and pork pancakes.

What is the difference between IKEA plant balls and veggie balls? ›

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As the name suggests, the plant balls are entirely vegan and unlike Ikea's veggie balls, they have been designed to replicate the flavour and appearance of real meat.

Why did Ikea stop selling meatballs? ›

STOCKHOLM - Swedish furniture giant Ikea became entangled in Europe's widening meat scandal Monday, forced to withdraw meatballs from stores across Europe amid suspicions that they contained horse meat. Stores in the U.S. and Canada were not affected, Ikea said.

Are Ikea Swedish meatballs precooked? ›

If so, how long? ikea meatballs are already fully cooked. There's no need to cook them at all. All you have to do is heat them.

Does Costco sell Swedish meatballs? ›

Costco Swedish-meatballs-dinner Delivery or Pickup Near Me | Instacart.

How do Swedes eat Swedish meatballs? ›

Traditional Swedish way: Do not make the cream sauce at all. Serve meatballs over plain or stewed macaroni, plain or mashed potatoes, and lingenberry jam (optional)

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 Swedish meatballs have horse meat? ›

LONDON — The furniture giant Ikea joined a growing list of brands that have been touched by Europe's food scandal on Monday and withdrew its signature Swedish meatballs from its markets and cafeterias across most of Europe after one batch was found to contain traces of horse meat.

Are vegan meatballs healthy? ›

When it comes to nutritional differences, you'll save 341 calories by choosing our vegan meatballs over traditional meatballs. They also provide 6 more grams of fiber and they're 11 grams lower in saturated fat than typical meatballs.

Do Ikea still do vegan meatballs? ›

Have a ball. The plant ball is part of our ever-expanding HUVUDROLL family and can be bought in our Swedish Food Market. You can even try the plant ball in our restaurants where it's served with mashed potatoes, cream sauce, lingonberry jam and peas – just like the traditional meatball plate – and at the same low price ...

What is in Gardein meatballs? ›

WATER, TEXTURED SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, CANOLA OIL, VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN, SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), 2% OR LESS OF: METHYLCELLULOSE, YEAST EXTRACT, ONION POWDER, SALT, BARLEY MALT EXTRACT, SPICES, GARLIC POWDER, SUGAR, ...

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.

What are the main ingredients in Swedish meatballs? ›

The meatballs themselves are made with a combination of ground beef and pork, along with a touch of allspice and nutmeg. Onions and garlic add flavor and texture, and milk, egg, and breadcrumbs act as a binder. Finally, Parmesan cheese is a little “Cozy” touch that adds a subtle pop of flavor.

What's the difference between Swedish and Finnish meatballs? ›

"Finnish meatballs are meatier and bigger than Swedish meatballs. They are also served with lingonberry jam and boiled/mashed potatoes, and a gravy, but they are juicier and yummier.

Are Swedish meatballs pink inside? ›

Form the meat mix into 2 inch diameter meatballs, rolling them lightly between your palms to form them, then place them about an inch apart on the cookie sheets. Bake for about 20 minutes, until the outside of each ball is a nice light brown, but the center is still a rosy pink.

Are Swedish meatballs are traditionally served in a red tomato based sauce? ›

Italian meatballs are famously served in a bright, tangy, often chunky tomato sauce (marinara to the layman) whereas Swedish meatballs are cooked in a rich, roux-based, creamy gravy made with beef or bone broth and sour cream (or sometimes heavy cream).

Do 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.

What's the difference between meatball sauce and Bolognese 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.

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