Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs

Homemade Swedish meatballs are a classic comfort dish and making them in the slow cooker means they are both easy and deeply flavorful. With a rich gravy and soft noodles, this family favorite comes together with just a little prep and some hands-off cook time. The best part is the sweet touch of blackberry preserves that sends the sauce over the top. This is the recipe I pull out on chilly Sundays for a dinner everyone is truly excited for.

What Makes It Special

Uses mostly pantry staples and easy-to-find ingredients
Hands-off slow cooker method for stress-free cooking
Sauce gets extra richness and depth from sour cream and berry preserves
Filling enough for a crowd or hungry family
My first try at this recipe was on a busy weeknight when I wanted something homemade but hands-off. Now my family looks forward to these meatballs as a special treat after long days.

What You’ll Need

• Ground chicken or ground beef: for a more traditional flavor both make tender meatballs
• Ground pork: for juiciness and a richly savory base
• Panko bread crumbs: soak in the half and half and keep the meatballs soft choose fresh panko if you can
• Half and half: tenderizes and adds silkiness to the meat mixture
• Egg: helps bind the meatballs and keep them moist
• Garlic powder and dried minced onion: provide classic Swedish flavors check your spices for freshness
• Nutmeg and allspice: these warming spices make the dish distinctly Swedish use freshly grated if possible
• Beef broth: forms the base of the slow cooker gravy go for low sodium if you want more control over salt
• Butter: gives the gravy its classic creamy texture always use real butter for best results
• Flour: for thickening and smoothing out the gravy
• Sour cream: stirs into the sauce for tangy creaminess full-fat works best
• Seedless blackberry preserves: add subtle sweetness opt for seedless to keep the sauce silky
• Reames Frozen Egg Noodles: wide noodles catch the gravy perfectly try to find the frozen kind for best texture

Let’s Cook This Together

Make the Bread Mix:

Mix together panko and half and half in a small bowl and let soak for five minutes to soften the crumbs which ensures soft and tender meatballs

Form the Meatballs:

In a large bowl add the ground chicken pork soaked panko egg garlic powder dried onion nutmeg allspice and salt use your hands to gently combine everything just until uniform overmixing can make the meatballs dense

Sear the Meatballs:

Heat a tablespoon of butter in your skillet over medium high heat using damp hands roll the meat mixture into balls about the size of ping pong balls arrange meatballs in the hot skillet and brown for about two minutes per side turning gently to get color all over this builds flavor for the final dish

Slow Cook the Meatballs:

Transfer the seared meatballs to your slow cooker pour in the beef broth cover and set to low for about six hours or high for about three hours until the meatballs are cooked through and tender

Make the Gravy:

In the same skillet melt the remaining butter over medium heat whisk in the flour and stir constantly until a light golden paste forms this takes about one to two minutes slowly ladle in about three cups of the broth from the slow cooker whisking constantly so the mixture stays smooth as it thickens

Finish the Sauce:

Now whisk in the sour cream and spoon in the blackberry preserves whisk until the sauce is silky and slightly thick then let it bubble gently for five minutes this brings all the flavors together

Cook the Noodles:

While the gravy simmers cook the egg noodles according to their package instructions until tender then drain

Serve It Up:

Return the cooked meatballs to the gravy stir gently to coat then spoon meatballs and sauce over a bed of egg noodles on each plate add a sprinkle of chopped parsley for color if you want

Pin

Good to Know

High in protein and satisfying
Flavor improves as leftovers
Noodles freeze well for meal prep
When I first added the blackberry preserves I was worried it would taste too sweet but it is now everyone’s favorite part of this dish. My youngest always asks for extra sauce on the side and for me the aroma that fills the kitchen makes it feel like a holiday dinner even on the most regular evenings.

Keeping It Fresh

Store meatballs and sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. You can freeze the meatballs for up to three months without the gravy and make a fresh batch of sauce when you are ready to reheat them. The noodles also freeze well just toss them with a drizzle of oil before freezing to keep them from sticking.

Easy Ingredient Swaps

You can substitute ground turkey for chicken if that is what you have on hand. No blackberry preserves Try apricot or raspberry jam for a similar sweet richness in the sauce. If you need a dairy free alternative for sour cream use unsweetened plain coconut yogurt for creaminess.

Pin

How to Serve It Right

Always serve these meatballs hot over freshly cooked egg noodles so they soak up all that wonderful sauce. For a little extra color and crunch sprinkle chopped parsley or sliced green onions on top. This recipe pairs beautifully with a crisp cucumber salad or simple green beans.

Behind the Dish

Swedish meatballs have been beloved for centuries and while our version takes a few shortcuts the spirit stays the same. In Sweden they are often served with lingonberry sauce but I discovered that blackberry preserves work just as well and are easier to find. This American twist makes the dish more accessible but keeps that comforting balance of sweet and savory.

Kitchen Wisdom

Mix the meat gently to keep the balls tender
Brown the meatballs well for best flavor
Always whisk your gravy as it cooks for a silky finish

Recipe FAQs

→ Can I use ground beef instead of chicken?

Yes, ground beef can be substituted for ground chicken to provide a more traditional flavor and texture.

→ Why add blackberry preserves to the sauce?

The preserves add a subtle sweetness that enhances the savory gravy and balances the richness of the meatballs.

→ How do I thicken the gravy if it's too thin?

Create a slurry with cornstarch and water, then whisk it into the gravy until your desired consistency is reached.

→ Can these be made ahead and frozen?

Yes, you can freeze the meatballs after cooking and reheat when ready. Prepare fresh gravy for best results.

→ Is it possible to use store-bought frozen meatballs?

Certainly, but choose plain chicken or homestyle varieties to ensure the flavors remain complementary.

→ What type of noodles work best?

Egg noodles are recommended for their texture and ability to soak up the flavorful sauce, but other pasta can be used if preferred.