Dairy-Free Swedish Meatballs are perfect with pasta or creamy mashed potatoes. The ultimate comfort food for weeknight dinners!
Swedish meatballs are delicious, juicy, and full of flavor. You need to add this to your dinner rotation asap.
In addition to being non-dairy, these swedish meatballs are also egg-free and gluten-free. You'd never guess it either!
Dairy-Free Swedish Meatballs
For years now, everytime I make my dairy-free and eggless meatballs, I want to recreate IKEA's Swedish Meatballs.
Well, I've finally perfected it and can't wait for you to try it! Here's what you'll need for the baked meatballs:
- Ground beef
- Onion
- Garlic
- Fresh parsley
How to Make Dairy-Free Swedish Meatballs Gravy
The gravy is arguably one of the most important parts of the entire dish! Here's how to make the swedish meatball sauce with no cream or dairy.
Ingredients
- Veggie broth
- Coconut milk
- Soy sauce (or tamari, if gluten-free)
- Dijon mustard
- Cornstarch (or alternative)
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt and pepper
Directions
As the meatballs cook in the oven, add all of the ingredients (except for the cornstarch and fresh parsley) to a skillet or saucepan, then bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to a simmer and whisk in cornstarch. Let simmer for a few minutes, stirring constantly, until the gravy is thick and creamy.
Transfer cooked meatballs to skillet and coat with gravy sauce. Serve swedish meatballs over fusilli pasta or mashed potatoes.
The Best Eggless Meatballs
These swedish egg-free meatballs are rich, savory, and comforting. Once covered in the creamy gravy, they're melt in your mouth delicious!
Want more delicious dairy-free dinner recipes? Try these next:
- Dairy-Free Meatball Subs
- Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes
- Loaded Burger Bowls
- Dairy-Free Fettuccine Alfredo
- Butternut Squash Mac n Cheese
- Dairy-Free Penne alla Vodka
- Zoodles with Homemade Meatballs
I hope you add my dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, and paleo friendly swedish meatball recipe to your weekly dinner rotation. If you try this recipe, please share a photo with me over on Instagram.
Dairy Free Swedish Meatballs
Ingredients
Allergy Friendly Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ small onion finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- 2 garlic cloves optional
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Salt and pepper to taste
Swedish Meatball Sauce
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1 (14 ounce) can light coconut milk or other non-dairy milk
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari (if gluten-free)
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- Fresh chopped parsley for topping
Instructions
- To make baked meatballs, start by mixing everything together in a large bowl. Roll the seasoned meat into small round balls and place onto a prepared baking sheet. Bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes or until cooked through. Once browned, remove from oven and set aside.
- To make the swedish meatball gravy, add all ingredients (except the cornstarch and fresh parsley) to a skillet or saucepan, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and whisk in cornstarch. Let simmer for a few minutes, stirring constantly, until the gravy is thick and creamy.To thin the sauce out, add dairy-free milk or water a tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
- Transfer cooked meatballs to skillet and coat with gravy sauce. Serve swedish meatballs over pasta or mashed potatoes. Enjoy!
Suggested Equipment
jeanbean14
It's funny to me that, in Sweden, they generally don't have any sauce on their meatballs. At least my relatives don't. They get them nicely browned on all sides (which I don't have the patience for - mine are browned on 2 sides only, lol). They don't serve them over noodles or potatoes. I believe it was a Betty Crocker cookbook that first introduced the wonderful cream sauce in the recipe. My cousin loved it and told me it was better than what they have at home. However, I have to say that their meatballs were better, just delicious. Maybe they had better beef or pork in the country in Sweden than I can get in the city in the U.S.
I always make them with the cream sauce, as did my mom, and we pretend it's authentic 'cause we don't want to do without that awesome sauce.
I notice IKEA has them with the sauce, so maybe the American recipe has made it's way back to the old country for good. 😉
I really appreciate the non-dairy recipe because one of my family members can't have dairy.
Jenna Urben
Thanks so much for leaving a comment, I really enjoyed reading it 🙂
Ann Benson
Excellent dish!
Jenna Urben
Thanks so much, Ann!
Margo Sluman
Excellent recipe! Thanks so much. (I halved the soy sauce though)
Jenna Urben
Thanks, Margo 🙂
Amber
I'm craving Swedish meatballs!! I don't like or own mustard, can I just leave it out or is there a swap I could make? Realize this is old, I hope you see it 😅 TIA!
Jenna Urben
Hi Amber! You can leave the mustard out, it’s just for added taste.
Nicole
I made these last night and it was a hit with my kids. I did have a couple modifications. I used Oat milk, and ran out, so used 1 1/4 cup of it. I put 1/2 tsp of garlic powder.... (personal taste), and coconut amino's instead of tamari. The only issue I had, is with 1 tbsp of corn starch, it just didn't get thick. I had to put a second one in and then it was about right. Maybe an oat milk thing? I served over Jovial egg noodles. Everyone said this can be added to the rotation, and I'll make the meatballs and freeze, then whip the sauce up as the meatballs reheat for a quick weeknight meal. Thanks!
Jenna Urben
I'm so happy to hear that, Nicole 🙂
Brittany
Can you freeze the sauce?
Jenna Urben
I have not tried freezing the sauce. I would suggest freezing the meatballs and sauce separately, if you try. Please let me know how it turns out.
Mary
I made the sauce from this recipe but used unsweetened rice milk instead of the almond milk, coconut aminos instead of soy sauce and chicken bone broth instead of vegetable broth. I used arrowroot flour with a touch of cornstarch for thickening and it was really tasty and I will make it again!! Ate it with the Ikea meatballs and egg noodles. YUM.
Jenna Urben
Hi Mary, thanks so much for your review and comment. I really appreciate it!
Adrianne
We made these tonight. The meatballs were fantastic. We cooked them on a sheet pan on our traeger, which turned out great. For the sauce, we went with coconut milk, as stated, but between that and the soy sauce (we used tamari and probably should have halved it, as it was too strong), it was not anything My husband or I could eat, let alone offer our kids, so we ended up pouring it down the sink and just eating the meatballs plain and melting butter for the noodles. If I made the sauce again, I would try a different non-dairy milk and would skip the soy sauce.
Jenna Urben
Hi Adrianne, I love that y'all cooked these meatballs on the grill. Such a great idea! I'm sorry to hear you weren't a fan of the coconut milk. Oat milk, almond milk, or soy milk should be a better dairy free milk alternative next time. Thanks for leaving a review and comment 🙂
Janeen
What is the oven temp for the meatballs? I'm making these right now...yikes.
Jenna | The Urben Life
Hi Janeen! Bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes.
Jennifer
How much corn starch?
Jenna | The Urben Life
1 tablespoon!