Easy Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs (From Frozen)
47 Comments Jan 19, 2022
Updated Jun 13, 2024
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Make easy Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs for dinner tonight! This is a classic recipe with plenty of thick and creamy gravy and cinch to throw together with the help of frozen cooked meatballs.
Easy Swedish meatballs are a main course dish, not usually served as an appetizer like grape jelly meatballs or barbecue meatballs.
Table of Contents
If you want to try something new in your kitchen, this recipe will be perfect for you! It only takes about 10 minutes to prepare, and then just let the crockpot do all the work while you go about your day.
What are Swedish Meatballs?
Swedish meatballs are slightly creamy in a brown gravy sauce. The sauce also has a different seasoning than traditional meatballs, adding a rich flavor. They are sometimes made with onion soup mix, instead of gravy.
What is the difference between Italian meatballs and Swedish meatballs?
Spices are the difference. These meatballs are made with different spices and are topped with a creamy brown sauce rather than a red sauce. The seasonings for the Swedish Meatballs are a little more intense than a traditional meatball, and the cream sauce adds to them. The creamy sauce is what makes them Swedish.
Recipe Ingredients
- Meatballs – I am using frozen meatballs to save time, but you can make homemade meatballs. My favorite is Costco Italian meatballs, but any homestyle or Italian style will work great. These are usually made from ground beef.
- Cornstarch – This helps to thicken the sauce.
- The Gravy – Water, beef broth, cream of mushroom soup, brown gravy mix and Worcestershire sauce. Sour cream is added just before serving (or heavy cream). Plain greek yogurt can be substituted for the sour cream if desired.
- Seasonings – Use dried parsley, garlic powder, onion powder and fresh parsley for garnishing
- Egg noodles – Serve the meatballs over egg noodles.
Step by Step Directions
Step One – Combine the cornstarch and the water until smooth, then add the beef broth and stir. Add the meatballs.
Step Two -Add the seasonings, Worcestershire sauce, cream of mushroom soup, and gravy mix. Wait to add the sour cream.
Step Three – Stir together well; it’s ok if the cream of mushroom soup is chunky, it will melt during the cooking time.
Step Four – Place the lid on the slow cooker—cook on high for 3 hours or low for 5 hours. Stir occasionally during the last hour of cooking.
Step Five- Once the meatballs are done, stir in the sour cream (or heavy cream) and serve the meatballs over egg noodles and garnish with parsley.
What do I serve with this?
- Wide egg noodles are the most poplular choice with crockpot Swedish meatballs, don’t mix them into the slow cooker, let each guest choose how much noodles and meatballs they want.
- Crockpot Mashed Potatoes are a great side dish for anything with gravy!
- Rice is one of my favorite ways to serve this. It soaks up more gravy than any of the other options.
Recipes FAQs
They will last for a few days in the refrigerator, up to 4 days. Once the meatballs have cooled, you can place them in the fridge. Make sure you have them in an airtight container not to spoil sooner.
The frozen Swedish meatballs will last for about three months in the freezer. Ensure they are cooled and stored in an airtight container or freezer bag.
The quickest way to reheat a small serving of these meatballs is in the microwave. You can also reheat it on the stovetop in a saucepan.
You can use different noodles, but it will change the flavor. Egg noodles have a taste and shape that is traditional with egg noodles. You can also skip the noodles and use rice or mashed potatoes with them.
Frozen meatballs only get better with time, they stay very moist and soak up the flavors of the sauce while cooking. Though there is a point when the entire dish will overcook and burn, don’t let this cook too much longer than the suggested cooking time.
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Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups beef broth
- 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
- 2 Tbsp. cold water
- 32 oz. frozen cooked meatballs, Italian or home style works fine.
- 10.5 oz. can cream of mushroom soup
- .87 oz. package of brown gravy mix
- 2 Tbsp. worcestershire sauce
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. dried parsley
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- 1/2 cup sour cream OR heavy cream, (WAIT TO ADD) – Can use plain greek yogurt
- fresh parsley for garnishing
- large egg noodles for serving
Instructions
- In a small bowl add the cold water and corn starch, whisk with a fork until smooth. Add to the slow cooker along with the broth. Mix the broth with the cornstarch slurry.
- Add meatballs to the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Top with cream of mushroom soup, brown gravy mix, Worcestershire sauce, dried parsley, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir well to mix all ingredients. It's ok if the cream of mushrooms doesn't dissolve, it will melt with the cooking time.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 5 hours. Stir occasionally towards the end of the cooking time.
- When cooking time is complete, add the sour cream and stir. Serve the meatballs and gravy over large egg noodles or rice.
How to Video
Sarah’s Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Easy and tasty!
Great recipe. Very easy to make and taste delicious, my entire family loved it.
I realize this is the Magical Slow Cooker (which I love) but I just got an Instant Pot and would like to try this recipe in it. Any changes, tips or should it be good to go?
It should be fine! If you get a burn warning, add a splash more water.
Can I use Half/Half cream instead of sour cream or heavy cream?
Yes! That will work just fine
Is it okay to use the frozen Swedish meatballs?
Yes
Can I use anything other that mushroom soup? Can’t stand mushrooms and am celiac , Campbell soups are not GF.
Try pacific foods cream of chicken.
I use cream of celery and it’s delicious
Campbell’s make gluten free versions now, too. I am using it today!
Yay! That’s SO Great to hear.
Looks yummy! Anxious to try all kinds of things! Thanks….stay happy and healthy! I’m a hemorrhagic stroke survivor and so thankful to be alive! Hugs
Can you replace cream of mushroom soup with something else?
Cream of celery is a great option . It has no distinct flavor.
Can you use cream of chicken soup if you do not like mushroom.
Yes, or cream of celery.
Cream of onion is great with this.
Is there a substitute for the cream of mushroom soup?
Yes, cream of celery.
Sounds delicious