You can enjoy a plate of these delicious gluten free Swedish meatballs right in the comfort of your own home. Just add some lingonberry jam and you're all set. No trip to Ikea needed! LOL.
I love these flavorful meatballs because it's an easy, hearty meal that's family friendly. Tender, juicy gluten-free meatballs are covered in a creamy gravy that's both gluten free and dairy free. I like to serve them over a bed of my gluten free mashed potatoes, but they are also perfect with rice, gluten-free egg noodles or even cauliflower rice.
Who doesn't love meatballs? They make dinnertime so much fun. If you want more meatball recipes, try my traditional Italian style gluten free meatballs or this hearty meatball stew.
Ingredient Notes
This easy Swedish meatball recipe uses just a few simple ingredients and it's both gluten free and dairy free.
- Lean Ground Beef and Ground Pork - The mixture of ground beef and ground pork are the basis for these delicious meatballs. Make sure you're using plain ground pork, not sausage which contains additional spices.
- Onion - A little bit of diced onion adds a nice flavor to the meatballs.
- Oil - I use olive oil for all of my cooking and baking, but any light flavored cooking oil will work fine here.
- Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs - Bread crumbs soaked in milk help keep the inside of the meatballs really tender and juicy. I normally use Schar brand of bread crumbs, but any brand should work fine.
- Garlic Powder and Allspice - These spices give the meatballs their trademark flavor.
- Egg - One beaten egg helps to hold the meatballs together while cooking.
- Vegan Butter - The creamy beef gravy for this meatball recipe has a roux base, which is made with melted butter and flour. If you're not dairy free, use unsalted butter in the same measure.
- Gluten-Free Flour Blend - I use Bob's Red Mill 1:1 flour for my recipes, but any gluten free flour blend will work fine here.
- Gluten Free Beef Broth - If you're following a gluten free diet, make sure you're using a gluten free beef broth. Store bought broths are a place where there is normally hidden gluten.
- Non-Dairy Milk - I used unsweetened coconut milk inside of the meatballs and in my meatball gravy. You could also use plant based heavy cream for a richer result. If you're not dairy free, use whole milk or half and half in place of the plant based milk.
- Coconut Aminos (or Gluten Free Soy Sauce) - This ingredient adds a bit of umami flavor to the sauce.
- Lemon Juice - A small amount of lemon juice helps to balance all of the rich flavors in this dish. If you don't have lemon juice, you could use apple cider vinegar instead.
See recipe card for full ingredient list and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Not Dairy Free - use dairy butter and whole milk or half & half in the same measure.
- No ground pork - You can replace the pork in these meatballs with 85/15 ground beef.
- Make it Egg Free - Replace the single egg with a flax egg.
- Lower Fat Option - Replace the ground meat with ground turkey or ground chicken. It will reduce the fat, but the flavor will also be different than traditional Swedish meatballs.
How to make Gluten Free Swedish Meatballs
You'll need to allow a little extra time for making these meatballs. They hold together best when the formed balls are refrigerated for 30 minutes before cooking.
STEP 1: Combine the gluten free bread crumbs and milk in a small bowl. Mix them well and allow them to sit while you prepared the other ingredients.
STEP 2: Add the oil and diced onions to a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until the onions are softened, about 5 minutes.
STEP 3: Once the onions have cooked, combine all of the meatball ingredients, including the soaked breadcrumbs in a large mixing bowl.
STEP 4: Mix the meatball mixture together with your hands. Once combined, form the meat mixture into balls and place them on a lined baking sheet. I like to use a medium cookie scoop to keep the balls even in size.
STEP 5: Working in batches, cook meatballs until all sides of the meatballs are browned and the internal temperature is at least 145F.
Remove the cooked meatballs to a plate and tent them with foil while you prepare the gravy.
STEP 6: Melt the butter in the same skillet you used for the meatballs. Add the gluten free flour and cook while stirring for 2-3 minutes.
STEP 7: Add the coconut aminos and beef broth. Stir it well to combine and break up any clumps. Reduce the heat to low and cook until it thickens into a gravy.
STEP 8: Pour the milk or cream into the gravy. Stir and cook until it's warmed through and smooth.
STEP 9: Add the cooked meatballs back into the pan with the gravy. Gently stir to coat the meatballs. Now you're ready to serve.
Expert Tip
Make sure to keep the gravy over low heat. If you get it too hot, the sauce will split.
Storage
Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
More dinner recipes to consider:
If you try this recipe, please leave a 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 star rating and let me know how you liked it in the comments below.
Recipe
Gluten Free Swedish Meatballs
Ingredients
For the meatballs
- ⅓ Cup Gluten Free Bread Crumbs
- ⅓ Cup Non Dairy Milk
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- ½ Cup Yellow Onion diced
- 1 pound Ground Beef
- ½ pound Ground Pork
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon Allspice
- 1 Egg lightly beaten
For the gravy
- ¼ Cup Vegan Butter
- ⅓ Cup Gluten Free 1-to-1 Flour Blend I use Bob's Red Mill
- 1 ½ Cups Gluten Free Beef Broth
- 1 Tablespoon Coconut Aminos
- ½ Cup Non Dairy Milk or Plant Based Cream
- ¼ teaspoon Lemon Juice
Instructions
Prepare the meatballs
- Combine the bread crumbs and milk in a small bowl. Mix well and set aside while you prepare the other ingredients.⅓ Cup Gluten Free Bread Crumbs, ⅓ Cup Non Dairy Milk
- Add the oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.2 Tablespoons Olive Oil, ½ Cup Yellow Onion
- Combine the ground beef, ground pork, cooked onions, bread crumb mixture, garlic powder, salt, pepper, allspice and beaten egg in a large mixing bowl. Use your hands to mix it together well, but don't overwork the meat.1 pound Ground Beef, ½ pound Ground Pork, 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder, ½ teaspoon Salt, ½ teaspoon Black Pepper, ⅛ teaspoon Allspice, 1 Egg
- Form the meat mixture into balls about 1 ½ Tablespoons in size and place them on a lined baking sheet.
- Cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Using the same skillet as you used to cook the onions, work in batches to cook the meatballs over medium heat. Brown the meatballs on all of the sides and make sure they are cooked through inside, with no pink remaining.
- Move the cooked meatballs to plate and tent them with foil.
Prepare the gravy
- Add the butter to the skillet and allow it to melt. Then mix in the flour. Cook the flour for 2-3 minutes while stirring.¼ Cup Vegan Butter, ⅓ Cup Gluten Free 1-to-1 Flour Blend
- Pour the beef broth into the roux mixture while stirring constantly. Break up any clumps of flour. Also add in the coconut aminos. Reduce the heat to low. Cook for 3 minutes or so, until it thickens like gravy.1 ½ Cups Gluten Free Beef Broth, 1 Tablespoon Coconut Aminos
- Pour in the milk or cream and add the lemon juice. Stir well and continue to cook until the sauce is heated through.½ Cup Non Dairy Milk, ¼ teaspoon Lemon Juice
- Return the cooked meatballs to the sauce and gently stir to coat the meatballs. Now you're ready to serve!
Notes
Tiffany is the recipe developer, stylist and food photographer behind Well Fed Baker. As a lifelong baker who had to go gluten free and dairy free in 2016, Tiffany strives to share allergen friendly recipes that never feel like they are free from anything.
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