Ah, Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs 😋 — creamy, comforting, and perfect for a hands-off dinner. Here’s a step-by-step guide to make them tender and flavorful in your slow cooker:
Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (or half beef, half pork)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 small onion, finely grated
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp nutmeg (optional, classic Swedish touch)
For the sauce:
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 cup sour cream (added at the end)
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour or cornstarch (for thickening)
Instructions
1. Make the meatballs
- In a bowl, combine breadcrumbs and milk; let soak 5 minutes.
- Add ground meat, grated onion, egg, and seasonings. Mix gently until combined.
- Form small meatballs, about 1–1.5 inches in diameter.
2. Brown the meatballs (optional, but recommended)
- Heat a skillet with a little oil and sear meatballs until lightly browned on all sides.
- This adds flavor but is not mandatory; you can also place them raw in the slow cooker.
3. Prepare the sauce
- In the slow cooker, mix beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard.
4. Cook
- Add meatballs to the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for 4–6 hours or on high for 2–3 hours, until meatballs are cooked through.
5. Make it creamy
- In a small bowl, mix sour cream with flour or cornstarch until smooth.
- Stir into the slow cooker 15–20 minutes before serving.
- Let sauce thicken slightly while heating.
6. Serve
- Over egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or rice
- Garnish with chopped parsley if desired
Tips & Tricks
- Nutmeg gives a subtle warmth that makes them authentically Swedish.
- Searing meatballs first improves flavor but can skip for convenience.
- Use low-fat sour cream if you want lighter sauce.
- For extra richness, stir in a little butter at the end.
If you want, I can also give you a super creamy, restaurant-style version that uses no searing at all and is completely hands-off in the slow cooker, yet still perfectly tender.
Do you want me to do that?
