Gluten-Free Swedish Meatballs

This easy Gluten-Free Swedish Meatballs recipe is the perfect cozy comfort food! Flavorful meatballs paired with creamy gravy & served with mashed potatoes…what could be better!?

When the weather turns colder this time of year, my craving for warming, delicious meals goes way, way up. In between plenty of gluten-free soup recipes & hearty meals like Pot Roast or chicken, I love working in a batch or two of this cozy Swedish meatballs recipe. YUM.

Considered these a (seriously leveled-up) gluten-free version of Ikea’s Swedish meatballs. You’ll combine tender meatballs with a savory, creamy sauce & fresh herbs. Compared to a pack of frozen meatballs, this cozy comfort food might be a little bit of a labor of love, but we find it’s 100% worth it!

So, cue up your coziest playlist and light some candles. It’s time to make something good! These easy gluten-free Swedish meatballs start with simple ingredients.

Simple Ingredients To Start

So, what do you need to make this gluten-free Swedish meatball recipe? Mostly pantry staples + a few simple ingredients. Let’s take a look:

• Gluten-Free Bread. Just like our gluten-free meatballs recipe, we’ll start by making a panade, a binding mixture that adds moisture & keeps the meatballs together. Rather than using gluten-free panko or gluten-free breadcrumbs, I’ve found I really prefer the texture of tearing up fresh gluten-free bread. It gives the meatballs a great texture and it’s easy!
• Eggs. Next, 2 large eggs help bind everything together and add moisture.
• Garlic. For delicious, savory flavor!
• Salt & Pepper. Plenty of kosher salt & black pepper in the meatballs and the gravy!
• Allspice. This is that special little “something” that gives Swedish meatballs their signature flavor.
• Ground Beef & Ground Pork. For the meatball mixture, I like a blend of lean ground beef and ground pork. You get a nice blend of flavor and a delicious, tender texture.
• Butter. For the gravy, we’ll be making a roux. For the fat, I like butter for flavor.
• Gluten-Free Flour. Then, for the thickener, we’ll add a little gluten-free flour. Use a 1:1 or measure-for-measure gluten-free flour blend. Coconut flour, almond flour, oat flout, etc. will NOT work here.
• Beef Broth. I recommend beef bone broth when possible, since you’ll get up to 3-4x the protein!
• Worcestershire Sauce. For umami & that extra little “something,” you’ll add a splash of gluten-free Worcestershire sauce. Don’t have any? Some coconut aminos or gluten-free tamari is your best substitute.
• Sour Cream OR Heavy Cream. There’s some debate about whether you make traditional Swedish meatballs with sour cream or heavy whipping cream. We’ve tried it both ways and love both. I usually use sour cream because of the slight tang that adds brightness to the gravy. If you prefer, you can absolutely use cream instead.
• Fresh Parsley. Last, but not least, is some fresh parsley for color and a note of fresh flavor.

How To Make Gluten-Free Swedish Meatballs, Step By Step

As always, you can find the full recipe with ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and tips in the recipe card below.

First Make The Meatballs

1. Make The Panade. In a large bowl, combine gluten-free bread crumbs, eggs, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon allspice. Mix well to combine, then set aside about 5 minutes to soak. 
2. Mix Up The Meatballs. Add ground pork and ground beef to the panade mixture and gently stir with a fork or your hands until just blended. Try not to overwork the mixture. 
3. Scoop & Roll Meatballs. Use a medium cookie scoop to measure 1 1/2 Tablespoon size meatballs from the meat mixture and roll each smooth with your hands. (I can usually get about 35 meatballs.) Place on a baking tray or plate, while you heat the oil. 
4. Brown Meatballs. In a large 12-inch skillet with high sides (or a Dutch oven if you don’t have a large enough skillet!), heat 1 Tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add about half of the meatballs and cook undisturbed 3-5 minutes or until well browned on the bottom. Flip each meatball and cook on the other side another 3-4 minutes until well browned. Remove browned meatballs to a clean plate and set aside. Add the other 1 Tablespoon olive oil to the pan and repeat this process with the second half of the meatballs. Drain any excess fat from the pan (but don’t worry about any browned bits! We actually want those, to help flavor our sauce!) 

Next, Make The Gravy & Finish The dish

5. Make Roux. Add butter to the pan and melt over medium heat. Sprinkle gluten-free flour over the melted butter and cook 1-2 minutes, to toast slightly. 
6. Whisk Gravy. Add beef broth, and whisk in Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon allspice. (Add Dijon mustard here, if using). Whisk over medium heat 3-5 minutes, until the mixture is smooth and slightly thickened. 
7. Simmer Meatballs. Add all the browned meatballs to the gravy in a single layer and simmer over medium heat 10-12 minutes (without stirring), or until meatballs are cooked through (the internal temperature of the interior should register at least 145 degrees F. on an instant read thermometer). 
8. Finish Sauce. Add sour cream or heavy cream and gently stir through until evenly blended. Garnish with fresh parsley (and another sprinkle of black pepper, if you like!)
9. Serve & Store. Enjoy warm over mashed potatoes, with a dollop of lingonberry jam, if you like! Store leftover Swedish meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge 2-3 days. 

Make It a Meal! (Serving Suggestions)

So, what should you serve with these gluten-free Swedish meatballs? Here’s what we suggest:

• Mashed Potatoes. A bed of fluffy mashed potatoes is the perfect pairing for these flavorful meatballs and creamy gravy! (I love these Instant Pot mashed potatoes best!)
• Lingonberry Jam. A traditional pairing! Some people refer to it as the Swedish version of cranberry sauce. I find it at IKEA or Amazon, but you can use whole berry cranberry sauce (not jellied cranberry sauce!) in a pinch.
• Green Beans. Some simple Seasoned Green Beans or Green Beans Almondine are our go-to for delicious flavor.
• Broccoli. Or, you can swap the green beans out for a simple side of broccoli!
• A Simple Salad. A light side salad like our House Salad or Simple Arugula Salad can be a great pairing with this hearty meal.

Not a mashed potatoes fan? You can swap in rice or buttered gluten-free noodles instead. It can be tricky to find gluten-free egg noodles, but other shapes like rotini can work in a (non-authentic) pinch. Or, you can serve it with mashed cauliflower or cauliflower rice for a lower carb option.