These Swedish Meatballs are perfect for game day, holidays, and mealtime. You can make them ahead of time or serve them as a main dish over egg noodles.

It costs approximately $15.66 to make these meatballs. The recipe makes twelve servings for about $1.31 per serving.

For the perfect spread of appetizers at your next party, serve this Shrimp Cocktail and Shrimp Cocktail Sauce, Crockpot Little Smokies, and Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms alongside these Swedish Meatballs.

An overhead picture of the finished Swedish Meatballs over a bed of butter noodles.

Today I’m sharing my new favorite appetizer with you, Swedish Meatballs. I love making these for everything from game day to holidays. They’re always a crowd favorite, and they make a TON. I’m talking 60 cocktail-sized meatballs!

The meatballs are made using warm spices to create rich, creamy, and savory meatballs. They’re smothered in a rich, creamy sauce and almost melt in your mouth.

You can serve these meatballs over buttered egg noodles or rice to make it a main dish. YUM!

Ingredients and Estimated Cost

Per Serving Cost: $1.31

Recipe Cost: $15.66

  • 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter – $0.66
  • 2 medium yellow onions – $1.24
  • 4 slices rye bread – $1.11
  • 3 ½ cups beef broth – $1.68
  • 1 cup sour cream – $0.98
  • 2 large egg yolks – $0.22
  • ½ teaspoon ground allspice – $0.11
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg – $0.08
  • ½ teaspoon salt – $0.01
  • ½ teaspoon pepper – $0.03
  • 1 pound lean ground beef – $4.78
  • 1 pound ground pork – $4.39
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour – $0.05
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce – $0.10
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh dill + more for garnish – $0.22

NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have.

An overhead picture of all of the ingredients needed to make this recipe.

How To Make Crockpot Swedish Meatballs

  1. First, preheat the oven to 475 degrees F. 
  2. Then, melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook until softened. 
  3. Place the cooked onions, bread, broth, sour cream, yolks, allspice, nutmeg, salt, and pepper in a bowl and mix until smooth. 
  4. Add the ground beef and pork. Then, knead the mixture with your hands until it is well combined. 
  5. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top. Spray the rack with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside. 
  6. Next, roll the meat mixture into 1 ¼-inch meatballs and place them on the wire rack. 
  7. Bake for fifteen minutes and then place the meatballs in a slow cooker. 
  8. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat and then whisk flour into the butter.
  9. Cook for about three minutes and then whisk in the remaining broth. 
  10. Bring the mixture to a boil and then pour it over the meatballs in the slow cooker. 
  11. Cook the meatballs on low for four to five hours. 
  12. Ladle ½ cup of the sauce from the slow cooker to a small bowl. Whisk in the remaining sour cream, soy sauce, and dill. 
  13. Finally, gently stir the mixture back into the slow cooker and serve with extra dill to garnish. 

***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below. 

A picture collage showing how to make this Crockpot Swedish Meatballs recipe.

Recipe Variations

  • Serve these meatballs as a main course by spooning them over steamed white rice or buttered egg noodles. As a meal, these meatballs will serve eight people.

Storage and Serving Tips

MAKE AHEAD: You can make the meatballs and the sauce up to three days ahead of time. Just make sure you store the meatballs and the sauce separately.

SERVE: The meatballs can be kept in a Crockpot on low, partially covered, for 1-2 hours. 

STORE: Place the meatballs and sauce in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.

FREEZE: You can freeze the meatballs for up to three months, but please don’t freeze the sauce. The sauce does not freeze and defrost well.

A close up picture of the Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs being scooped up with a spoon.

Recipe FAQs

What makes Swedish meatballs different?

While the process of making various meatballs is the same, the flavors are different. Unlike an Italian meatball which is often made with garlic and Parmesan cheese, Swedish Meatballs are made with warm spices like allspice and nutmeg. In addition, Swedish Meatballs are smothered in a creamy white sauce, while Italian meatballs are paired with a tomato sauce.

What is Swedish meatball sauce made of?

The sauce consists of the following ingredients: butter, flour, beef broth, sour cream, soy sauce, and dill.

What goes best with Swedish Meatballs?

My favorite recipes to make to serve alongside Swedish Meatballs include these Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes, Rice Pilaf, Skillet Green Beans, Oven Roasted Broccoli, and Brown Sugar and Honey Glazed Carrots.

A close up picture of the Swedish Meatball Appetizer on a serving plate with toothpicks in the meatballs.

More Appetizers

An overhead picture of the finished Crockpot Swedish Meatballs.
4.41 from 10 votes

Swedish Cocktail Meatballs

Recipe Cost $ $15.66
Serving Cost $ $1.31
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 30 minutes
12 people
These Swedish Cocktail Meatballs are the perfect bites for game day, holidays, or even meal time. You can even make them ahead of time!

Ingredients
 
 

  • 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 medium yellow onions minced
  • 4 slices caraway-rye bread crusts removed, torn into pieces
  • 3 ½ cups beef broth
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • ½ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh dill + more for garnish

Instructions

PREP OVEN AND PAN:

  • Move the oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 475 degrees F.
  • Line a standard-sized rimmed cookie sheet with foil. Set wire rack inside a medium baking sheet and lightly spray rack with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

MAKE MEATBALLS:

  • Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until softened, about 8 minutes.
  • Transfer onions to a large bowl and add bread, ¼ cup broth, ¼ cup sour cream, yolks, allspice, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Mix and mash with a fork until smooth and well blended.
  • Add ground beef and pork. Knead the mixture with your hands until the ingredients are well combined.
  • Roll the meat mixture into 1 ¼-inch meatballs (you should have about 60 meatballs) and place them on a prepared wire rack.
  • Bake until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Transfer meatballs to a slow cooker.

MAKE SAUCE:

  • Melt the remaining butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Whisk flour into melted butter and cook until mixture starts to brown, about 3 minutes.
  • Slowly whisk in the remaining broth. Bring the mixture to a boil and pour it over the meatballs in the slow cooker.

SLOW COOK:

  • Cover and cook on low until sauce is slightly thickened and meatballs are tender, about 4-5 hours.

TO FINISH:

  • Ladle ½ cup of sauce from the slow cooker into a small bowl. Whisk in the remaining sour cream, soy sauce, and dill.
  • Stir the mixture back into the slow cooker.
  • Serve with extra dill as garnish.

Notes

  • This recipe makes about 60 meatballs. If you’re serving this as an appetizer, it will serve about 12 people. If you serve it as a main dish over buttered noodles, it will serve 8-10 people. 
  • Look for the rye bread in the grocery store’s bakery section, not on the sandwich bread aisle.  

Nutrition

Serving: 5meatballs | Calories: 308kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 106mg | Sodium: 653mg | Potassium: 363mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 335IU | Vitamin C: 1.8mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 2.1mg

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12 Comments

  1. These look amazing – thanks for sharing Jillian. Happy Holidays!

    1. Same to you! Thanks for stopping by!

  2. Delicious recipes like this make me feel really hungry! Now, I’m craving. Argh! =D

  3. Elizabeth says:

    I have so many memories of eating these as a child–they were a staple at my parent’s parties. I can’t wait to make these now!

  4. OMG Jillian you have my mouth salivating! I absolutely LOVE Swedish meatballs! Definitely trying this recipe! Saved!!

    1. Cathy, I’m so glad these meatballs piqued your interest! Enjoy! 🙂

  5. We always make swedish meatballs for an appetizer for Christmas at my dads! They are a favorite! I need to try your recipe!

  6. cheflolaskitchen says:

    Me along with my cousins never miss an opportunity to watch a football match together and have some tasty food while cheering for our teams. These meatballs are a sure thing for next meet up. Thank you Jillian.

    1. I’m so glad this recipe will come in handy! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂

  7. Claudia Lamascolo says:

    This dish brings me back to my best friends house and her mom made them once I had a great flash back just now. They sure were good and I need to try them soon

  8. Amy | The Cook Report says:

    I love Swedish meatballs and they make such a good snack idea!