Marianne Martinez
Swedish meatballs are a delicious and comforting meal that can be easily made in a crock pot. With a few simple ingredients and almost no prep, you can make a rich and creamy dish that's perfect for busy days. This recipe uses frozen meatballs, cream of mushroom soup, beef broth, and various seasonings to create a flavourful and satisfying dinner. Serve your Swedish meatballs with egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or rice for a hearty and comforting meal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meatballs | Frozen or fresh, beef or pork |
| Meatball recipe | Beef/pork, onion, breadcrumbs, eggs, and seasonings |
| Meatball cooking method | Bake for 10 minutes before adding to crock pot or cook in crock pot for 4-6 hours |
| Sauce ingredients | Cream of mushroom soup, beef broth, onion soup mix, steak sauce, Worcestershire sauce, ground mustard, evaporated milk, cornstarch, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika |
| Sauce cooking method | Whisk together, pour over meatballs, and cook in crock pot |
| Sides | Egg noodles, mashed potatoes, rice, green beans, biscuits |
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What You'll Learn
Meatball ingredients and preparation
To make Swedish meatballs in a crockpot, you can use either frozen meatballs or make your own.
If you're short on time, frozen meatballs are a great option. You can use any type of frozen meatballs, such as homestyle or Italian. Simply add them directly to the crockpot without worrying about them burning or overcooking. They will be perfectly tender and infused with flavour.
However, if you prefer to make your own meatballs, here's a recipe you can try:
Meatball Ingredients:
- Half ground pork
- Half ground beef (or you can use the full amount of either beef or pork)
- Onion (shredded or finely chopped)
- Italian seasoned, seasoned, or plain breadcrumbs
- Eggs
- Seasonings (such as salt and pepper)
Meatball Preparation:
- Combine the ground pork, ground beef, onion, breadcrumbs, eggs, and seasonings in a bowl until well mixed.
- Use a cookie scoop to get perfectly-sized meatballs and place them on a baking sheet.
- Bake the meatballs for about 10 minutes at 350°F (180°C). This helps them hold their shape better when cooking in the crockpot.
- The meatballs won't be fully cooked after baking, so they will continue cooking in the crockpot.
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Sauce ingredients and preparation
To make the sauce for Swedish meatballs in a crockpot, you'll need a variety of ingredients, including beef broth or beef consommè, cream of mushroom soup, onion soup mix, steak sauce, and seasonings. Here's a detailed breakdown of the sauce ingredients and preparation:
Sauce Ingredients:
- For the base of the sauce, you'll need beef broth or beef consommè. Beef broth adds depth of flavor and richness to the sauce. You can opt for low-sodium beef broth to control the saltiness of the dish.
- Cream of mushroom soup is a key ingredient in the sauce. It provides a creamy texture and a savory flavor that complements the meatballs. Look for condensed or low-sodium cream of mushroom soup.
- Onion soup mix adds flavor and convenience. It saves time by eliminating the need to chop onions. However, it can be quite salty, so consider using a low-sodium variety.
- Steak sauce is another essential component of the sauce. It brings a tangy, savory flavor to the dish. Common options include A1 steak sauce or similar varieties.
- Additional seasonings are used to enhance the flavor profile. This includes salt and pepper to taste, as well as other seasonings like Worcestershire sauce, ground mustard, garlic powder, and paprika.
Sauce Preparation:
- Start by whisking together the beef broth or consommè with the cream of mushroom soup in your crockpot. Ensure they are well combined.
- Add the onion soup mix and steak sauce to the crockpot. Whisk everything together until evenly combined. You can also add other seasonings like Worcestershire sauce, ground mustard, garlic powder, and paprika at this stage.
- Give the sauce a taste test and adjust the seasoning according to your preference. You can add more salt and pepper or adjust the amounts of other seasonings to suit your taste.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can create a slurry by mixing cornstarch with water and stirring it into the crockpot. Alternatively, you can simply let the sauce simmer with the lid off until it thickens to your desired consistency.
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Cooking the meatballs
Swedish meatballs are a delicious and comforting meal that can be made in a crockpot with minimal prep. The meatballs can be made from scratch or store-bought frozen meatballs can be used for added convenience.
To make the meatballs from scratch, combine ground beef, pork, onion, breadcrumbs, eggs, and seasonings in a bowl. Mix the ingredients until well combined, and use a cookie scoop to form evenly-sized meatballs. Place the meatballs on a baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes to help them hold their shape when added to the crockpot.
For frozen meatballs, simply add the desired amount to the crockpot. If using homemade meatballs, partially baking them first will help them hold their shape better during the slow cooking process.
Once the meatballs are in the crockpot, it's time to add the sauce. The sauce for Swedish meatballs typically includes beef broth or beef consommé, cream of mushroom soup, Worcestershire sauce or steak sauce, ground mustard, and seasonings such as salt, pepper, and parsley. Some recipes also include onion soup mix, onion powder, and minced garlic for added flavor. Whisk the sauce ingredients together in the crockpot, ensuring that everything is well combined.
Cover the crockpot and cook the meatballs on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-4 hours. The longer cooking time on low heat will result in more tender and flavorful meatballs.
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Serving suggestions
Crockpot Swedish meatballs are a versatile dish that can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some serving suggestions to consider:
Noodles
A popular way to serve Swedish meatballs is over a bed of freshly cooked egg noodles. You can either mix the noodles with the meatballs in the crockpot or serve the meatballs on top of a bed of noodles. This creates a hearty and satisfying dish. If serving a crowd, mixing the noodles and meatballs together in the crockpot can be a convenient option, keeping the dish warm and ready to serve.
Mashed Potatoes
For a comforting and indulgent meal, serve the meatballs over a bed of mashed potatoes. Cream cheese mashed potatoes or garlic mashed potatoes are especially recommended as a compliment to the gravy. You can also serve the meatballs with roasted red potatoes on the side.
Rice
Swedish meatballs also pair well with rice. This option provides a more neutral base that lets the flavour of the meatballs shine.
Vegetables
Almost any vegetable side dish tastes great with Swedish meatballs. Some suggested options include green beans, broccoli, peas, roasted asparagus, or a salad.
Breads and Rolls
Breads and rolls can also be a great addition to the meal. Homemade buns or crescent rolls can help to soak up the gravy and provide a hearty element to the dish.
Appetizer
Swedish meatballs can also be served as an appetizer. Simply provide toothpicks for guests to spear the meatballs, and serve without noodles as a bite-sized treat.
Dessert
For a full meal experience, consider serving a dessert after the Swedish meatballs. A suggestion is to pair the savoury main course with a sweet dessert like Easy Homemade Blueberry Cobbler.
With these serving suggestions, you can create a delicious and well-rounded meal featuring Crockpot Swedish Meatballs as the star dish.
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Storing leftovers
When reheating, you can use the microwave, oven, crockpot, or slow cooker. If you used egg noodles in your recipe, it is best to consume the leftovers within a day or two, as the noodles will continue to absorb liquid and become mushy over time.
If you wish to store the leftovers for a more extended period, you can freeze them. Allow the Swedish meatballs to cool completely, and then transfer them to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw and reheat slowly to prevent the sauce from separating. Freezing is not recommended by some sources due to the potential for the sauce to separate upon thawing.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need frozen meatballs, cream of mushroom soup, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, steak sauce, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, parsley, onion powder, minced garlic, a small chopped onion, egg noodles, and sour cream.
Cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 3-5 hours.
Swedish meatballs can be served with egg noodles, mashed potatoes, rice, or green beans.
Yes, but you may want to bake them for about 10 minutes first to help them hold their shape.
No, the recommended cooking time is 4-6 hours, so leaving them for 8 hours may overcook them.
