Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs
 |
By Alyssa Rivers
on Oct 02, 2023, Updated Nov 04, 2024 |
Slow cooker Swedish meatballs are braised in a rich and flavorful cream sauce. Combining ground beef, pork, and warm spices makes for the most comforting and satisfying meal. Serve as an appetizer or hearty meal.
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: I love this recipe because it’s virtually hands-off and a hit with the family every time. You’re going to love it!
- Tradition: So many people go to Ikea to get their Swedish meatball craving fix. This recipe is even better and made simple with the slow cooker.
- Crowd Pleaser: Swedish meatballs have a mild, creamy flavor that appeals to both kids and adults. The dish is versatile, too—you can serve it over noodles, rice, or mashed potatoes.
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 is crucial 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 nutmeg 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 Crock Pot
This swedish meatballs 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 at 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 on high for 2 hours 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 Leftover Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs
- Fridge: 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.
- Reheat: 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!
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
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.
Originally posted on September 12, 2018
Updated on October 2, 2023
Calories: 522kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 22gFat: 46gSaturated Fat: 23gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 147mgSodium: 478mgPotassium: 437mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 827IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.