Oh my God, Swedish meatballs apparently aren't Swedish at all

Shocking news.
 By 
Laura Vitto
 on 
Oh my God, Swedish meatballs apparently aren't Swedish at all
A picture taken on November 2, 2014 in Stockholm shows a traditional Swedish dish, Swedish meatballs with mashed potatoes, peas, lingonberry jam and cream sauce. AFP PHOTO/JONATHAN NACKSTRAND (Photo credit should read JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images) Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Devastating news out of Sweden: Those meatballs the country's always given credit for? They're actually Turkish.

Much to the dismay of IKEA meatball fans everywhere, the official Twitter account of Sweden revealed the dish's origins in a surprisingly straight forward tweet shared Saturday.

It reads: "Swedish meatballs are actually based on a recipe King Charles XII brought home from Turkey in the early 18th century. Let's stick to the facts!"

Indeed, as the Guardian notes, King Charles XII spent five years living in Turkey during the early 1700s where he picked up the country's recipe for lamb and beef meatballs. Eventually, those came to be known as Swedish meatballs.

In light of this news, Sweden's Twitter account is doing its best to console shocked meatball fans:

Our condolences to the entire country of Sweden, and to the global staff of IKEA.

[H/T: The Guardian]

Want more clever culture writing beamed directly to your inbox? Sign up here for the twice-weekly Click Click Click newsletter. It's fun – we promise.

Mashable Image
Laura Vitto

Laura Vitto was Mashable's Deputy Culture Editor.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
The 'God of War' trilogy is getting a remake
A screenshot of the announcement video for the 'God of War' trilogy remake, showing the game's title.


AI-generated docs aren't covered by attorney-client privilege, judge says
The external stone facade of a building. On the stone is carved "United States court house".

'Mini Kindle Pods' are trending on TikTok, but these devices aren't what they seem
Two pictures of "mini Kindle pods" as seen on TikTok

How to watch 'Love Island: All Stars' online for free
Love Island promotional shot

More in Life

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 4, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 4, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone


Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!