Crockpot Swedish Meatballs
Frozen meatballs are one of my favorite shortcut ingredients. Keep a bag in the freezer and you’re already halfway to dinner. This crockpot Swedish meatballs recipe is proof of that! The meatballs slowly cook in a rich, creamy sauce made with just a handful of pantry staples, and by the time dinner rolls around you’ve got a cozy comfort food meal.
I think you’ll also love my crockpot lasagna soup, crockpot sweet chili sloppy Joes, crockpot sweet and sour meatballs, crockpot Korean BBQ meatballs, and crockpot Mexican meatballs!
Top Tip: Want a little extra flavor? Brown the frozen meatballs in the air fryer or oven before adding them to the slow cooker. It’s completely optional, but those caramelized edges add a little something extra to the finished dish. If you skip this step then the finished dish will look at a little paler, but it’ll still taste just as good. Just add a little extra pop of color by garnishing with parsley.
Ingredients & Process Overview
Instead of making meatballs from scratch, we’re taking a shortcut with frozen meatballs and letting the slow cooker do the rest. They simmer away in a creamy, savory sauce made with cream of mushroom soup, onion soup mix, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth, soaking up all that flavor as they cook.
Right at the end, you’ll stir in the sour cream to create that classic rich, creamy Swedish meatball sauce. Serve everything over buttery egg noodles, fluffy rice, or even mashed potatoes if that’s what you’ve got. It’s the sort of dinner that feels cozy enough for a Sunday but is easy enough for a busy Tuesday.
Recipe Notes & Tips
- Don’t thaw the meatballs first. They can go straight from the freezer into the slow cooker.
- Wait to add the sour cream. Stirring it in during the last hour keeps the sauce smooth and creamy.
- Give everything a good stir before serving. It’ll bring the sauce together and coat every meatball.
- Use full-fat sour cream if you can. It’s less likely to split and gives the sauce the richest texture.
- Taste before adding extra salt. The onion soup mix and beef broth already bring plenty of seasoning.
- Want an even thicker sauce? Leave the lid off for the last 20-30 minutes of cooking, or stir in a cornstarch slurry if you prefer a really rich gravy.
- This is a great recipe for entertaining. You can leave it on the Warm setting after cooking, making it perfect for serving family or guests without any last-minute stress.
Serving Ideas
Traditionally, Swedish meatballs are served over buttery egg noodles, but don’t feel like you have to stop there.
They’re just as delicious spooned over creamy mashed potatoes or fluffy white rice, with plenty of that rich sauce ladled over the top. If you want to add something green, steamed broccoli, green beans, or peas all work really well alongside.
This is also a great recipe for casual entertaining. Set the slow cooker to Warm and let everyone help themselves, with bowls of noodles, rice, or mashed potatoes on the side. Add a sprinkle of fresh parsley and a little cracked black pepper just before serving, and you’ve got a meal that feels far more impressive than the amount of effort it took.
Substitutes & Variations
This is one of those recipes that’s really easy to adapt depending on what you’ve already got in the fridge or freezer.
- Frozen meatballs: Homemade meatballs or turkey meatballs work just as well.
- Cream of mushroom soup: Swap it for cream of chicken or cream of celery soup for a slightly different flavor.
- Sour cream: Plain Greek yogurt can be used instead. Just stir it in at the end, as you would with the sour cream.
- Beef broth: Chicken broth works perfectly if that’s what you have on hand.
- Make it extra creamy: Stir in a few ounces of cream cheese along with the sour cream.
- Add mushrooms: Sliced mushrooms can go straight into the slow cooker with the meatballs.
- Add garlic: A couple of cloves of minced garlic give the sauce an extra boost of flavor.
- Finish with fresh herbs: A sprinkle of chopped parsley or fresh dill brightens up the finished dish beautifully.
- Lighten it up: Use turkey meatballs and light sour cream for a lighter version that’s still plenty comforting.
Crockpot Swedish Meatballs
Ingredients
- 32 oz meatballs
- 1 (10.5 oz) can of cream of mushroom soup
- 1 packet onion soup mix
- 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup sour cream
- Egg noodles or rice for serving
Instructions
- Add the frozen meatballs to your slow cooker.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, onion soup mix, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth until smooth.
- Pour the sauce over the meatballs, making sure they're well coated.
- Cover and cook on Low for 5-6 hours or High for 2½-3 hours.
- About an hour before serving, stir in the sour cream until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Give everything one final stir, then serve over buttery egg noodles, fluffy rice, or mashed potatoes with plenty of that delicious sauce spooned over the top.
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