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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Paleo Swedish Meatballs (Dairy-free & Whole30)

    Paleo Swedish Meatballs (Dairy-free & Whole30)

    Published on Jan 11, 2021 · Last updated on Aug 24, 2021 ·

    Jump to Recipe

    Paleo Swedish Meatballs served with a creamy dairy-free gravy -  the ultimate comfort food made healthy! The meatballs are made with ground beef and almond flour and bathe in a creamy dairy free cashew sauce. Delicious served over cauliflower mash for a low carb dinner. 

    overhead shot of paleo Swedish meatballs served over cauliflower mash

    Swedish meatballs - also known as köttbullar or simply "Ikea Meatballs"! Oh, what's not to love about a steaming plate of juicy all-spiced Swedish meatballs swimming in a silky, rich and creamy gravy?

    Savory and tender and that sauce OMG! I’m generally a fan of all things gravy and mash but when it’s a creamy gravy that also happens to be healthy, dairy-free, gluten-free paleo, and low carb, EVEN Whole30?! That’s basically a miracle, right?

    two servings of paleo Swedish Meatballs in dairyfree cashew gravy served over cauliflower mash

    I know food bloggers tend to exaggerate at times  and I know those furniture store meatballs have a pretty serious fan club behind them. So let me just put it like this: I actually like these paleo Swedish meatballs way better than the ones at IKEA.  Why? I feel good about eating them plus the meatballs are super flavorful and that cashew cream gravy is LIFE!

    I feel we should all live our best life by making this sauce not only with these Swedish meatballs but also with zucchini meatballs for a plant-based meatball dinner. Not into cashew cream? Make the gravy using coconut cream and thicken with some arrowroot if needed.

    paleo almond flour beef meatballs in a skillet with creamy dairyfree gravy

    What to serve with Paleo Swedish Meatballs?

    If you want to keep things low carb, I recommend cauliflower mash or celeriac mash. If you are not on a Whole30 you could add some refined sugar-free lingonberry jam, my homemade cranberry sauce, or (not authentic but delish) raspberry jam.

    However, I totally feel this would be amazing served over zucchini noodles or just with a simple side salad.

    overhead shot of a skillet with paleo Swedish Meatballs in creamy cashew gravy

    How to make Paleo Swedish Meatballs:

    picture collage demonstrating how to make paleo meatballs with beef and almond flour

    Step 1  -Heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet (you’ll use the same skillet for the whole recipe). Cook onion over medium heat for 2 minutes or until softened. Let it cool a bit.

    Step 2 - In a large bowl, mix cooked onion, beef, almond flour, all spice, pepper, garlic powder, salt, parsley and egg. Don’t overwork the meat to keep it tender.

    Step 3 - Roll meat into meatballs and place on a large plate or lined baking sheet. It’ll make about 12/13 meatballs.

    picture collage demonstrating how to make Paleo Swedish meatballs with cashew gravy

    Step 4 - Heat two teaspoons olive oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Brown meatballs, rotating them 2-3 times carefully to brown all sides (this should take about 10 minutes or less). Reduce heat to low and continue cooking for 7-8 minutes or until almost cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside on a clean plate.

    Step 5 - Stir in beef broth, cashew cream, Dijon mustard, and coconut aminos. The sauce will look too liquid at the beginning, it’s normal. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a very slow simmer. Add meatballs back to the skillet and simmer until sauce has thickened a bit, about 2-3 minutes, keeping in mind that it will keep thickening once it cools down.

    Step 6 -Turn off the heat and serve immediately sprinkle with fresh parsley, over cauliflower mash, mashed potatoes or pasta.

    a plate with cauliflower mash topped with Paleo beef meatballs and dairyfree gravy

     

    Tips:

    • To reheat, remove meatballs for the sauce and whisk it in with a bit of broth (the sauce thickens a lot as it cools).
    • For the meatballs, you could also use ground chicken, pork or turkey or a mix of several meats, if you like.
    • During the winter months, serve these paleo Swedish meatballs with a side of my homemade sugar-free cranberry sauce. It is sweet and tart, just like lingonberries but way easier to source
    • Make sure you mix the meatballs ingredients just until combined but don’t overmix. Use your hands to mix the batter until just incorporated and then move on!
    • A dash of coconut aminos adds a nice depth of color and flavor to the sauce. If you are not on Whole30/paleo use soy sauce.

     

    5 from 5 votes
    Print

    Dairy Free Swedish Meatballs

    Paleo Swedish Meatballs served with a creamy dairy-free gravy -  the ultimate comfort food made healthy! The meatballs are made with ground beef and almond flour and bathe in a creamy dairy free cashew sauce. Delicious served over cauliflower mash for a low carb dinner.  
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Keyword almond flour meatballs, healthy Swedish meatballs, paleo meatballs
    Prep Time 20 minutes
    Cook Time 25 minutes
    Total Time 45 minutes
    Servings 4
    Calories 476 kcal

    Ingredients

    Meatballs

    • 1 small onion finely minced
    • 4 teaspoons olive oil divided
    • 1 lb lean ground beef / 500 g
    • ¼ cup almond flour
    • ½ teaspoon all spice
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley + more for serving
    • 1 large egg

    Creamy Gravy

    • 2 cups beef broth
    • 1 cup cashew cream click to see my super easy, 2-ingredient recipe
    • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
    • 2 teaspoons coconut aminos

    Instructions

    1. Heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet (you’ll use the same skillet for the whole recipe). Cook onion over medium heat for 2 minutes or until softened. Let it cool a bit.

    2. In large bowl, mix cooked onion, beef, almond flour, all spice, pepper, garlic powder, salt, parsley and egg. Don’t overwork the meat to keep it tender.

    3. Roll meat into meatballs and place on a large plate or lined baking sheet. It’ll make about 12/13 meatballs.

    4. Heat two teaspoons olive oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Brown meatballs, rotating them 2-3 times carefully to brown all sides (this should take about 10 minutes or less). Reduce heat to low and continue cooking for 7-8 minutes or until almost cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside on a clean plate.

    5. Stir in beef broth, cashew cream, Dijon mustard, and coconut aminos. The sauce will look too liquid at the beginning, it’s normal. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a very slow simmer. Add meatballs back to the skillet and simmer until sauce has thickened a bit, about 2-3 minutes, keeping in mind that it will keep thickening once it cools down.

    6. Turn off the heat and serve immediately over cauliflower mash, mashed potatoes or pasta.

    Recipe Notes

    To reheat, remove meatballs for the sauce and whisk it in with a bit of broth (the sauce thickens a lot as it cools).

    Nutrition Facts
    Dairy Free Swedish Meatballs
    Amount Per Serving (1 /4)
    Calories 476 Calories from Fat 333
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 37g57%
    Saturated Fat 18g113%
    Cholesterol 193mg64%
    Sodium 923mg40%
    Potassium 568mg16%
    Carbohydrates 7g2%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 2g2%
    Protein 30g60%
    Vitamin A 1103IU22%
    Vitamin C 5mg6%
    Calcium 86mg9%
    Iron 4mg22%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    If you tried this Healthy Paleo Swedish Meatballs Meatballs recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe below and let me know how it went in the comments – I love hearing from you! You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook for more deliciousness and behind-the-scenes!

    More healthy comfort food recipes from the blog:

    • Italian Wedding Soup 
    • Vegan Moroccan Spiced Chickpea Soup
    • Creamy Mushroom and Rice Soup
    • Healthy Turkey Taco Soup
    • Beef and Sweet Potato
    « Vegan Broccoli Cheese Soup (Dairy Free + Whole30)
    Cuban Mojo Chicken »
     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chenee A Lewis

      January 12, 2021 at 5:20 am

      So delicious! And the gravy is so creamy!

      • Marie

        January 13, 2021 at 12:21 am

        So happy you enjoyed it!

    2. Beth

      January 12, 2021 at 5:22 am

      This looks so delicious and tasty! I can't wait to give this a try! My family is going to love this!

      • Marie

        January 13, 2021 at 12:22 am

        Oh this one is a big hit, even with the little ones! Enjoy

    3. Sadia Malik

      January 12, 2021 at 8:03 am

      I love all the options for the sauce, will try with coconut.

      • Marie

        January 13, 2021 at 12:21 am

        That should be just fine but it will taste a bit more "exotic" than the cashew cream version .

    4. Amanda Wren-Grimwood

      January 12, 2021 at 11:26 am

      I haven't made meat balls for ages but this recipe is making me crave them! Thanks!

      • Marie

        January 13, 2021 at 12:20 am

        Oh any day is a good day when it comes to meatballs! Thanks so much

    5. Dannii

      January 12, 2021 at 12:16 pm

      We always get some meatballs when we are at Ikea. These paleo ones sound delicious.

      • Marie

        January 13, 2021 at 12:20 am

        Oh Dani these are AMAZING - and the sauce is so addictive! I recommend!

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