If you’re planning to visit the Swedish homeware giant anytime soon, check out the UK IKEA vegan menu so you know what to order when you’re feeling peckish.
IKEA has made huge strides in sustainability in recent years and has big plans in terms of its food offering, which is great news for anyone looking to enjoy the IKEA vegan menu.
By 2025, the chain wants 50% of main meals offered in its restaurants to be plant-based, 80% of main meals offered in the restaurants to be non-red meat and 80% of all packaged food offered to be plant-based.
To meet these targets, the popular Swedish brand has introduced various vegan options to its menu, including vegan versions of its famous meatballs. Let’s look at what’s on offer for 2024…
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IKEA restaurants offer affordable meals and some tasty vegan options too! Image © IKEA
What’s vegan at IKEA Swedish restaurants?
Is there anything more exciting than queueing at the IKEA restaurant in anticipation of tasty, low-cost food and unlimited drinks refills? We think not!
And the best thing is that vegans don’t have to miss out on all the fun as there are plenty of vegan options on the menu at IKEA.
IKEA vegan breakfast items
If you visit an IKEA store before 11.30am, you can tuck into a fairly decent brekkie for under £3. Bargain!
Choose from hash browns, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms and toast – but hold the butter as this contains milk. There’s also fruit salad if you prefer a more refreshing start to your day.
IKEA Plantballs
After 11.30am, the lunch and dinner options are served. And yes – vegans can now enjoy IKEA’s iconic meatballs, without the animal ingredients!
IKEA Plantballs were introduced in 2020, and believe us when we say they are so realistic you might just find yourself double checking you’ve ordered the vegan version.
Firm in texture, meaty in taste and visually identical to IKEA meatballs, the Plantballs are made from pea protein, potatoes, oats, onion and apple plus mushrooms for that umami hit.
Plantballs come served with vegan-friendly sides of peas, fries and Lingonberry Jam.
Unfortunately however, the traditional creamy gravy served with the non-vegan meatballs contains dairy so is not vegan-friendly, and the mash potato contains cow’s milk.
Penne pasta with tomato sauce
If you don’t fancy anything meaty, the IKEA penne pasta with tomato sauce is vegan-friendly.
You could also add a side salad of lettuce, cucumber, tomato and grated carrot.
It’s also worth noting that IKEA offers seasonal specials, some of which are vegan-friendly – just check they are labelled as such before ordering.
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The vegan Plantballs at IKEA are deliciously meaty, but be sure to order them without gravy and with fries instead of mash. Image © IKEA
Vegan-friendly drinks at IKEA Swedish restaurants
Thirsty? Don’t worry – there’s lots to choose from!
If it’s a hot drink you’re after, ask at the till for vegan milk and you’ll be given sachets of oat milk to add to your tea or coffee.
There are also vegan-friendly cold drinks available, including all drinks from the soda fountain. Choose from sparkling apple, blackcurrant, raspberry, elderflower, lemon, pear and lingonberry along with sugar-free cola.
Vegan desserts at IKEA Swedish restaurants
Sadly, there aren’t currently any vegan desserts on offer at IKEA Restaurants in the UK, but it’s worth noting that IKEA changes its menu regularly, with new items popping up depending on the season.
Keep your eyes peeled for any new dessert items labelled as vegan in the chiller cabinets…
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Head to the IKEA Swedish Bistro near the exit and tuck into a plantbased hot dog! Image © IKEA
What’s vegan at IKEA Swedish Bistros?
You’ve loaded up your trolley with a bedside table, a garlic crusher, 4 packs of glasses and 3 picture frames. It’s time for a snack, surely?
Once you’re through the tills, you can enjoy even more treats from the IKEA vegan menu at the Swedish Bistro. Here’s what’s on offer…
Plant-based hot dog and fries
If you’re in the mood for some good old-fashioned fast food, you’ll be pleased to hear that IKEA launched a plantbased hot dog in 2023 which is incredibly close in taste, texture and look to the meat alternative.
Made from rice protein, onion and apple, it has a firm bite and a smokey taste – even the meat eaters won’t be able to tell that this a vegan hog dog!
You can enjoy the IKEA plant-based hot dog with fries, crispy onions, gherkins, ketchup and mustard.
Plant-based strawberry soft serve ice cream
Made from concentrated fruit and served in a vegan-friendly cone, IKEA vegan ice cream launched in 2019 and is a deliciously sweet treat for when you’re done shopping.
What’s even better is that it has half the carbon footprint of its dairy equivalent. Oh, and it only costs 65p. Win win!
Vegan ice cream in a cone for just 65p? Yes please! Image © IKEA
What’s vegan at IKEA’s Swedish Food Market?
During the Covid pandemic, IKEA realised that customers wanted to enjoy the taste of IKEA even when they’re at home. Cue a slew of new food options launched into the Swedish Food Market, which usually sits next to the Swedish Bistro.
Let’s take a look at the IKEA vegan menu in the food market…
Firstly, you can take home a pack of vegan IKEA ‘HUVUDROLL’ Plantballs, £4.95 for 500g. These are the same tasty Plantballs that you’ll find in IKEA restaurants – store them in your freezer until you’re in need of a quick and easy meal at home.
If you prefer a less meaty meatball, try the IKEA ‘HUVUDROLL’ Veggie Balls, £5.95 for 1kg. These are made from chickpeas, peppers, sweetcorn, kale and carrots and can be cooked from frozen in the oven or microwave.
There’s also the option to buy a pack of frozen ‘KORVMOJ’ Vegetable Hotdogs made from lentils, quinoa, kale, onion and carrot, £3.50 for 460g. These are great if you’re not a fan of vegan meat alternatives.
New products to shop and take home
Always looking to innovate, IKEA has launched a brand new product to buy and take home to cook.
Whilst we’re not sure about the name ‘SLAGVERK Wheat-based Pieces’, these crispy chicken-nugget alternatives cost £4.50 for 500g and are a brilliant freezer staple for midweek meals.
