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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.
![Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs Recipe - The Recipe Critic (1) Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs Recipe - The Recipe Critic (1)](https://i0.wp.com/therecipecritic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/swedish-meatballs-1200x1799.jpg)
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.
![Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs Recipe - The Recipe Critic (2) Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs Recipe - The Recipe Critic (2)](https://i0.wp.com/therecipecritic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/slow-cooker-Swedish-meatballs-1200x1200.png)
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.
![Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs Recipe - The Recipe Critic (3) Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs Recipe - The Recipe Critic (3)](https://i0.wp.com/therecipecritic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/swedish-meatballs-1-1200x1799.jpg)
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!
![Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs Recipe - The Recipe Critic (4) Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs Recipe - The Recipe Critic (4)](https://i0.wp.com/therecipecritic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/swedish-meatballs-2-1200x1799.jpg)
Serve Your Swedish Meatballs With These Dishes:
I like to serve slow cooker Swedish Meatballs with homemade mashed potatoesor 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!
Side Dishes
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
15 mins
Pasta
Tagliatelle Pasta
10 mins
Side Dishes
Dad’s Famous Mashed Potatoes
30 mins
Side Dishes
Rice Pilaf
40 mins
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Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs
4.80 from 25 votes
By: Alyssa Rivers
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!
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours hours
Total Time: 3 hours hours 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
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
Originally posted on September 12, 2018
Updated on October 2, 2023
Nutrition
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.
Additional Info
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Swedish
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!
About Alyssa Rivers
Welcome to my kitchen! I am Alyssa Rivers and the food blogger behind The Recipe Critic. The blog launched in 2012 as a place to share my passion for cooking. I love trying new things and testing them out with my family. Each recipe is tried and true, family-tested and approved.
Read More About Me
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