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Slow cooker Swedish meatballs braised in a rich and flavorful cream sauce. A combination of ground beef, pork, and warm spices make for a comforting and satisfying dish. Serve as an easy appetizer or hearty meal paired with mashed potatoes or egg noodles!
Complete your Swedish meatballs with these mashed potatoes and a side of roasted asparagus! It’s a hearty meal that everyone in the family will enjoy.
Crockpot Swedish Meatballs
I’m so excited to share this comforting slow cooker Swedish meatballs recipe with you. Let’s break it down- there are a couple key secrets to making meatballs that are extra juicy and tender. You’ve got to throw in a panade (fancy word for a starchy paste that makes them extra delicious), and then let them simmer gently, cooking low and slow. (The slow cooker does all the work here!) I’ve done tons of testing, so you’ll get that perfect texture and flavor every time you whip this up.
Using an electric slow cooker is the perfect vessel for braising meat over a long period of time. Compared to a stove top, the heating is more consistent and never gets above the boiling point. In other words, your meatballs won’t get overcooked! They’ll be nice and tender, not tough and dry. The spiced meatballs simmer in a lightly thickened beef broth, then cream is added at the end of cooking for some extra richness. I love this recipe because it’s virtually hands-off and a hit with the family every time. Let’s get started!
Ingredients Needed for Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs
Swedish meatballs are all about the perfect combination of ingredients! From juicy meatballs to a rich, flavorful sauce, each ingredient below plays a crucial role in making this dish so tasty. Check out the recipe card at the end of the post for measurements.
- Frozen Meatballs, Precooked: Frozen meatballs make preparing this dish so simple!
- Butter: Adds richness and flavor to the sauce.
- Flour: Used to make the panade and thicken the sauce.
- Beef Broth: Provides a savory base for the sauce. Mushroom or vegetable broth will also work, but it will change the overall flavor of the dish slightly.
- Heavy Cream: Adds creaminess and richness to the sauce. You can also use half and half for something a little lighter.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Enhances the flavor of these slow cooker Swedish meatballs with a tangy and savory taste.
- Dijon Mustard: So the sauce has a little extra tanginess and zing.
- Spices: I used a dash of allspice and nutmegs to give the meatballs a warm flavor.
- Salt and Pepper: Make the slow cooker Swedish meatballs taste better overall.
- Noodles: Serve as a base for the Swedish meatballs, soaking up all that delicious sauce.
How to Make Swedish Meatballs in a Slow Cooker
This recipe takes a little bit of prep work initially, but then it’s off to the slow cooker to let it work its magic! While these Swedish meatballs cook low and slow, you can go about your day and then come home to a hearty and delicious meal.
- Add Meatballs to Slow Cooker: Spray the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray then place the frozen meatballs in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Butter and Flour Mixture: For the sauce, melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the flour and whisk to create a paste.
- Add Liquids: Slowly stir in beef broth and heavy cream.
- Mix in Spices and Seasonings: Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, allspice, and nutmeg. Bring to a simmer until the sauce starts to thicken. Then season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour Into Slow Cooker: Pour the sauce over the meatballs.
- Cook: Cover and cook the meatballs for 2 hours on high, or low for 4 to 5 hours.
- Serve: Garnish the Swedish meatballs with parsley, and serve with mashed potatoes or egg noodles.
Keep Your Meatballs Warm
You can keep the meatballs in the pot on the warm setting until ready to serve. This slow cooker method of Swedish meatballs is super convenient for making ahead of time for dinner, parties, or potlucks.
Tips and Variations for Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs
Customize your slow cooker Swedish meatballs just the way you like them with these extra tips and tricks!
- Customize Sauce Thickness: Adjust the flour amount to control the thickness of the sauce. For a thicker sauce, add a bit more flour; for a lighter one, use less.
- Make it More Creamy: If you love a creamier sauce, increase the amount of heavy cream or even add a dollop of sour cream for an extra creamy finish.
- Serve With Lingonberry Sauce: If you’ve ever had the meatballs from Ikea, you’re probably familiar with this, but lingonberry jam or sauce is a traditional condiment served with this dish. It adds a little tangy sweetness that balances out the richness of Swedish meatballs.
Storing Leftovers
To save your leftover Swedish meatballs, let them cool down and pop them in a sealed container in the fridge. They’ll stay good for 3-4 days. When you’re ready to dig in again, you can warm them up in the microwave with a splash of water or toss them in a pan on the stove. Just keep stirring and heating until they’re nice and hot. Enjoy your tasty leftovers, but remember to gobble them up within a few days!
Serve Your Swedish Meatballs With These Dishes:
I like to serve slow cooker Swedish Meatballs with homemade mashed potatoes or wide egg noodle pasta. Trust me, you’re going to want to pour the sauce over everything, and the recipe makes a generous amount! Once you make this once, it will be on the weekly dinner menu. Good thing it’s so easy to whip up!
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Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs
Ingredients
- 26 ounces frozen meatballs, precooked
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- dash allspice
- dash nutmeg
- salt and pepper to taste
- noodles for serving
Instructions
- Spray the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray then place the frozen meatballs in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- For the sauce, melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the flour and whisk to create a paste.
- Slowly stir in beef broth and heavy cream.
- Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, allspice, and nutmeg. Bring to a simmer until the sauce starts to thicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour the sauce over the meatballs.
- Cover and cook the meatballs for 2 hours on high, or low for 4 to 5 hours.
- Garnish the Swedish meatballs with parsley, and serve with mashed potatoes or egg noodles.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
SOOOO good! Have made these twice this month. I make the meatballs and gravy the night before. It’s nice to be able to pop the crockpot insert in and in a couple of hours have a delicious lunch!
FYI others have mentioned the baking powder, it’s still in the instructions.
INSTRUCTIONS
In a medium-sized bowl whisk together ¼ cup heavy cream and egg.
Add in breadcrumbs and stir to combine, set aside.
In a large bowl add pork, grated onion, garlic, *******baking powder*****, 1 teaspoon salt, nutmeg, allspice, and black pepper.
The recipe has a total of 2 tsp salt, but at separate times, calls for 1tsp and 1.5tsp to total 2.5 tsp. Just clarifying, as I don’t want it too salty.
anyone make this in an insta pot??? sounds amazing just wanting to adjust cook time
I love yours recipes .Thank you for post on FB.
Your recipe is lovely but you didn’t specify how much baking powder to use or if I’m wrong and just didn’t read it, forgive me, they were still very good. Thank you so much for sharing, Sincerely, Sandra Racine
That was a typo, I apologize. I have now deleted it. I am so glad that you loved it! Thank you for sharing and following along with me! XOXO
It still says baking powder…
Thank you for taking the effort to actually make the gravy/sauce from scratch. So many other recipes for Swedish meatballs use canned cream of mushroom soup. I don’t need to tell you how much better the end product will taste when made with fresh ingredients. I now feel confident that I can make this for my daughter’s birthday party this weekend using fresh and basic ingredients!
How much baking powder?
You will leave the baking powder out. Thank you for letting me know! I will correct that!
Can the meatballs be cooked in the oven?
Yes, of course! That sounds delicious too!
I am such a sucker for meatballs. I can only imagine that making them in a slow cooker makes the flavors so good and the texture unbeatable! Yum.
I made this last night and my family loved it! I served it with mashed potatoes and roast vegetables on the side.
I love Swedish Meatballs and want to try this recipe! Step 3 in the instructions states: “In a large bowl add pork, grated onion, garlic, baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, nutmeg, allspice, and black pepper”, yet the baking powder is not listed in the ingredients. How much baking powder should I use in this step? Thank you.
Thank you for letting me know! There is no baking powder. I have updated the recipe.
I’m rather new to your site. I’m so excited about your recipes!!! They are wonderful! I wanted to say “thank you” for the tested reliability of your recipes. I will remain a fan I’m sure. Keep them coming! My husband was so impressed with the homemade saucy pork chops, he just couldn’t stop raving about them. Meatballs are next! You are making my job easier and I like that.
Looking forward to trying this. Sounds delicious! However, there is baking powder listed in the directions, but none in the recipe. Is this just omitted in the recipe?
Thank you for letting me know! It is a misprint. I removed it! XOXO
Love this site
This looks so tasty! Do you have the timing to make this in an instant pot?
I am not sure in the instant pot. Let me know if you try it and how it turns out! Enjoy! XOXO
Hello! Do you think I could double this recipe (I’m making it for a potluck) without overcrowding the slow cooker? Thanks!
Yes, of course! The more the better ;)!