Stouffer's Family-Sized Swedish Meatballs

I love Swedish meatballs, noodles - not so much. So when I saw Stouffer's has added Swedish meatballs (minus the noodles) to their meatball lineup, I had to try them.

I had been disappointed with their mashed potatoes and scalloped potatoes selections, and I had already tried their Italian meatballs. I was so hoping those would be soft and juicy like the ones in their spaghetti, but alas, they were hard and didn't taste that good.

But the Swedish meatballs were delicious. Of course, they're only available right now from QFC and QFC prices are always a couple dollars more than Safeway. I think I paid $12.99 for what to me was maybe a serving and a half of meatballs, so I guess I'm not going to get them too often.

I know, I know, I should make my own. And to be honest, I like the Swedish meatball mix that comes in an envelope. In fact, I have the envelope and instead of making meatballs, I think I'll use it to make a sauce I can just pour over a hamburger patty.

But if I can afford it, I'll get these meatballs from Stouffer. I think with a couple of sides, I should be able to get two full servings from them.

I have an IKEA here in Frisco. I haven't bought their Swedish meatballs in a long, long time. I used to like them. I assume they haven't changed. I've never had the Stouffer's. I don't know how they compare.

CD

You can probably make 10 or so servings of your own meatballs for that amount of money. With a few extra minutes of your time, you can make a sauce to go with them and serve them with whatever starch you want.

How To Make Better-than-IKEA Swedish Meatballs

Had to look it up, thinking that I'd first tried Ikea's 'Swedish Meatballs' in the late 70's but, LOL, obviously I was way off as they only started selling them in '85. Shortly after that I had them at my mom's from a small house store cook. And they were always with a Cream of Mushroom gravy/sauce (aka Cream of Mushroom Soup). It got to the point of always having them and then the natural transition was I just assumed that Swedish Meatballs were always served with that iconic Cream of Mushroom gravy/sauce/soup.
So FYI dragn! it's not!

dragnlaw said:

Had to look it up, thinking that I'd first tried Ikea's 'Swedish Meatballs' in the late 70's but, LOL, obviously I was way off as they only started selling them in '85. Shortly after that I had them at my mom's from a small house store cook. And they were always with a Cream of Mushroom gravy/sauce (aka Cream of Mushroom Soup). It got to the point of always having them and then the natural transition was I just assumed that Swedish Meatballs were always served with that iconic Cream of Mushroom gravy/sauce/soup.
So FYI dragn! it's not!

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No, you were right - Ikea started serving the meatballs in the stores in the mid-'60s.

GotGarlic said:

You can probably make 10 or so servings of your own meatballs for that amount of money. With a few extra minutes of your time, you can make a sauce to go with them and serve them with whatever starch you want.

How To Make Better-than-IKEA Swedish Meatballs

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IKEA meatballs are one of my "lazy foods." I make my own sauce, but sauces generally fall below my "maximum effort for a lazy meal" threshold.

CD

caseydog said:

IKEA meatballs are one of my "lazy foods." I make my own sauce, but sauces generally fall below my "maximum effort for a lazy meal" threshold.

CD

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The only ikea around me is about a half hour drive away and I don't like the furniture, so I've never been in it, so I've never had the meatballs.

GotGarlic said:

The only ikea around me is about a half hour drive away and I don't like the furniture, so I've never been in it, so I've never had the meatballs.

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I don't care for most of their furniture, but I do have a few pieces that I like, because they are good quality for the price, and very functional. The chairs in my home theater are from IKEA, and are very comfortable. They also have some nice looking, yet cheap lamps.

Since I have one 5.2 miles (according to Google Maps) from my house, I sometimes go there on a HOT summer day, just to get out of the house and wander around looking at things in air-conditioned comfort.

I'm pretty sure I could make better meatballs at home, but the IKEA meatballs do taste good.

CD

GotGarlic said:

No, you were right - Ikea started serving the meatballs in the stores in the mid-'60s.

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True, but their famous "iconic" ones were much later and I only had them because someone said they were amazing. The following is from their website:-

The birth of an icon​

We've been serving food at IKEA stores since the 1960s, but in 1985 Swedish chef Severin Sjöstedt created a meatball that was delicious, affordable and easy to serve, based on the traditional Swedish meatball. After 10 months of tireless testing and tasting, the IKEA meatball was born.

CD

GotGarlic said:

You can probably make 10 or so servings of your own meatballs for that amount of money. With a few extra minutes of your time, you can make a sauce to go with them and serve them with whatever starch you want.

How To Make Better-than-IKEA Swedish Meatballs

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I could but that would negate the point of not having to cook them, which is why I'd buy them in the first place. Also, I still have that little fridge with limited freezer space. I just don't always have the space to freeze extra food.

GotGarlic said:

The only ikea around me is about a half hour drive away and I don't like the furniture, so I've never been in it, so I've never had the meatballs.

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Their furniture is named after my relatives …

Their meatballs are good but not as good as Myrtle’s. And she was Norwegian !