Our easy Swedish meatballs with frozen meatballs are made in the crockpot. A quick-to-prepare recipe utilizes frozen meatballs, evaporated milk, and is served with mashed potatoes. A kid favorite!
These easy crockpot Swedish meatballs make for a flavor-packed dinner meal that everyone will enjoy. With ingredients you likely already have at home, this dish can easily be made any night of the week.
For more tasty dinner ideas, consider Instant Pot Roast Beef and Gravy, Nacho Fries Bell Grande or Instant Pot Beef and Noodles. For more meatball recipes check out Crockpot Frozen Meatballs and Gluten-Free Chicken Meatballs.
Swedish meatballs pair extremely well with mashed potatoes. For an easy mashed potato recipe, here is our Cheesy Garlic Mashed Potatoes that kids love.
Equipment
- slow cooker
- measuring cups and spoons
- stir spoon
- small bowl
Ingredients
- 14 ounce beef broth
- 10 1/2 ounce can French onion soup
- 4 ounce canned mushroom pieces, drained
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon tamari
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 16 ounces frozen meatballs
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- 12 ounce 2% evaporated milk
How To Make
This is a Swedish meatballs crockpot recipe that can be cooked on high for 1 hour or low for 4-6 hours. Pick the option that works best for your family.
Combine the ingredients
To start, add the beef broth, French onion soup, mushrooms, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and Dijon mustard to the base of a slow cooker and stir. Then, add the frozen meatballs and cook on high or low.
Pro Tip: Use store-bought beef broth or make a homemade batch of our Instant Pot Beef Bone Broth.
You are going to be so thankful for the frozen meatballs – they are such a time saver. Between work, school and extra curricular schedules, we all need simple and easy options to turn to on busy nights.
Mix the cornstarch slurry and add the evaporated milk
After the meatball mixture finishes cooking, combine the cornstarch and water in a small bowl and set aside.
Then, pour the evaporated milk into the slow cooker and stir. Next, slowly stir in the cornstarch slurry into the crockpot. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour or until sauce starts to thicken.
Serve
Serve over mashed potatoes or egg noodles. You can also pair with steamed broccoli or fresh green beans for a complete meal.
Tips and Tricks
- Sear the Meatballs: Before adding the frozen meatballs to the slow cooker, consider searing them in a hot skillet with a bit of oil. Searing will add extra flavor and help the meatballs hold their shape during slow cooking. It’s an optional step, but it can enhance the dish.
- Enhance Flavor with Herbs and Spices: Consider adding some dried herbs and spices to the sauce for extra flavor. A pinch of dried thyme, rosemary, or a bay leaf can elevate the taste of the dish. Adjust the seasoning to your preference.
- Fresh Mushrooms: While canned mushrooms work well, using fresh mushrooms can provide a more robust and natural mushroom flavor. Slice and sauté them briefly before adding them to the slow cooker.
- Use Homemade Beef Broth: If possible, use homemade beef broth instead of store-bought for a richer and more authentic taste. You can make beef broth by simmering beef bones, vegetables, and herbs.
- Adjust Sauce Thickness: If the sauce doesn’t thicken as much as you’d like, you can make additional cornstarch slurry by mixing more cornstarch with water and adding it to the slow cooker. Just make sure to whisk it in well to avoid lumps.
- Customize with Garnishes: When serving, consider garnishing the Swedish meatballs with fresh chopped parsley, chives, or a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese for added flavor and presentation.
- Double the Recipe: If you have a larger slow cooker or want leftovers, double the recipe and freeze the extra portions for quick and easy future meals.
- Prep Ahead: You can prepare the sauce ingredients (except for the evaporated milk) the night before and store them in the slow cooker insert in the refrigerator. In the morning, simply add the frozen meatballs and start cooking.
- Taste and Adjust: Taste the sauce before serving and adjust the seasoning if needed. You can add more Worcestershire sauce, tamari, or mustard to suit your taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nope! You can simply toss the frozen meatballs right into the crockpot.
If planning to make this recipe with homemade meatballs, cook the meatballs separately and add to the sauce once thickened. You will not want to place uncooked meatballs in the crockpot to cook – the texture will be unappetizing.
A single batch serves up to 6 people. Adjust the recipe as needed depending on how many mouths you have to feed.
If serving with egg noodles, we recommend cooking the noodles in a separate pot. Adding the noodles to the crockpot will result in overcooked noodles.
Yes! To make this recipe Gluten-Free choose gluten free beef broth, French onion soup, Worcestershire sauce, and meatballs. Swap tamari for soy sauce. Serve over mashed potatoes or gluten free pasta.
Storage and Freezing Instructions
- To store your Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs, first, allow any leftovers to cool to room temperature. Then, transfer them to an airtight container or a freezer-safe resealable bag. You can store them in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- To freeze Swedish meatballs with sauce portion the meal into airtight freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, leaving a bit of space at the top for expansion. Squeeze out excess air from bags if using, or press plastic wrap directly onto the sauce’s surface in containers to minimize contact with air. Label each container or bag with the contents and freezing date for easy reference. Place the containers or bags in the freezer, ensuring they’re laid flat for even freezing.
- When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen Swedish meatballs, simply thaw them in the refrigerator overnight, reheat the meatballs and sauce together in a saucepan or microwave, and serve over your choice of side dish. Properly stored, frozen Swedish meatballs can last in the freezer for up to 2-3 months, ensuring you have a convenient meal option whenever you need it.
Other Crockpot Meal Ideas
- Crockpot Santa Fe Chicken
- Healthy Chicken and Rice Crockpot Recipe
- Crockpot Chicken and Noodles
- Crockpot Chicken and Potatoes
- Slow Cooker Whole Chicken & Vegetables
- Crockpot Sesame Chicken
- Crockpot Cheesy Hashbrown Potatoes
- Crockpot Irish Beef Stew
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Crockpot Swedish Meatball Recipe
Ingredients
- 14 ounce beef broth ✅
- 10 1/2 ounce can french onion soup ✅
- 4 ounce canned mushroom pieces, drained
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce ✅
- 1 tablespoon tamari
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard ✅
- 16 ounces frozen meatballs ✅
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- 12 ounce 2% evaporated milk ✅
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients. To the base of the slow cooker add the beef broth, french onion soup, mushrooms, Worcestershire sauce, tamari, and dijon mustard. Stir. Add the frozen meatballs. Cook on high for 1 hour, or low 4-6 hours.14 ounce beef broth, 10 1/2 ounce can french onion soup, 4 ounce canned mushroom pieces, drained, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon tamari, 1 tablespoon dijon mustard, 16 ounces frozen meatballs
- ⭐️Mix the cornstarch slurry and add the evaporated milk. In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and the water. Stir in the evaporated milk then slowly stir in the cornstarch slurry. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour or until sauce starts to thicken.2 tablespoons cornstarch, 2 tablespoons water, 12 ounce 2% evaporated milk
- Serve. Serve over mashed potatoes or egg noodles.
Notes
Tips
- Pair with egg noodles or mashed potatoes, and steamed broccoli or fresh green beans for a complete meal
- Use frozen meatballs for a time saver
- Use store-bought or homemade beef broth
- Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 1 hour
CCK Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Nutrition
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