Easy Swedish Meatballs (Crockpot, Instant Pot, or Stovetop) Recipe
This Easy Swedish Meatballs recipe features tender frozen meatballs simmered in a creamy mushroom gravy, made effortlessly in a slow cooker. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner, it's served best over egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or rice. The rich sauce, enhanced with Greek yogurt or sour cream, offers a traditional Swedish flavor with minimal prep and maximum taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Swedish
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 2 lbs frozen cooked meatballs (homemade or store-bought)
Gravy
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
- 2 Tbsp cold water
- 1 ½ cups low sodium beef broth
- 10.5 oz condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter (melted)
- 1/3 cup whole milk (or ½ cup heavy cream instead of milk and butter)
- 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ cup full-fat plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- Salt to taste (about ¼ tsp)
Instructions
- Make Cornstarch Slurry: In a small cup or bowl, mix together the cornstarch and cold water until smooth to create the slurry that will thicken the gravy.
- Add Slurry to Slow Cooker: Pour the cornstarch slurry into the slow cooker, preparing it for the gravy ingredients.
- Combine Gravy Ingredients: Add beef broth, condensed cream of mushroom soup, melted butter, milk, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika to the slow cooker. Whisk all ingredients together until well combined.
- Add Meatballs: Place the frozen cooked meatballs into the slow cooker and stir gently to coat them evenly with the gravy mixture.
- Cook Meatballs: Cover the slow cooker and cook on high heat for 2 to 3 hours or on low heat for 4 to 6 hours, until meatballs are hot and the gravy is thickened.
- Finish with Greek Yogurt: Once cooking is complete, turn off the heat and stir in the Greek yogurt or sour cream to add creaminess to the sauce.
- Season to Taste: Add salt to taste, approximately ¼ teaspoon, and mix well.
- Serve: Serve the meatballs hot over egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or rice. Enjoy this comforting meal!
Notes
- You can use homemade or store-bought frozen cooked meatballs for convenience.
- Substitute ½ cup heavy cream in place of milk and butter for a richer gravy.
- Adding Greek yogurt or sour cream at the end enhances creaminess but prevents curdling if added after cooking.
- Adjust salt according to your dietary preferences and the saltiness of the broth used.
- For a thicker gravy, you can increase the cornstarch amount slightly.
