4.81 from 42 votes

Frozen Swedish Meatballs

ByTrisha Haas Published: Updated:
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Transform frozen meatballs into a delicious, homemade meal with this easy and quick Swedish Meatball recipe. Perfect for those times when you crave a comforting home-cooked meal without the extra hassle.

This sour cream-based Swedish sauce is rich and delicious, making it seem like you’ve spent hours in the kitchen. Ideal for busy days, this recipe offers a tasty dinner in 30 minutes or less.

Swedish Meatball Recipe with egg noodles

Ingredients for Meatball Recipe

Discover how to turn frozen meatballs into a delicious Swedish delight in no time. Quick, tasty, and perfect for busy nights!

  • 32 oz frozen precooked meatballs
  • Beef broth (amount as per package instructions or to taste)
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • Egg noodles, cooked as per package instructions for serving

How to make Swedish Meatballs with Frozen Meatballs

Preparing the Meatballs:

  • Option 1: Use Frozen Meatballs for Convenience
    • Place frozen meatballs and beef broth in a large skillet.
    • Cover and heat over medium-low heat for 20 minutes or until the meatballs are thoroughly heated.
    • Remove meatballs and keep them warm.
  • Option 2: Opt. for Homemade Meatballs
    • Not limited to frozen, feel free to make your own beef, sausage, or sirloin meatballs.
    • Combine pork and beef for a truly delectable homemade meatball.
    • Once prepared, proceed with the sauce recipe.
Steaming frozen meatballs with beef broth in cast iron pan

How to make Perfect Swedish Meatball Sauce:

Make the Cream Sauce: Once the meatballs are cooked, remove them from the skillet and set aside, keeping them warm.

In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour, onion powder, salt, and pepper, whisking constantly until the mixture becomes bubbly and starts to thicken. This should take about 2-3 minutes.

Combine and Cook: Reduce the heat to low and gently stir in the sour cream until the sauce is smooth and well combined. Be careful to avoid curdling.

Homemade Cream sauce for frozen meatballs

Add the cooked meatballs back to the skillet, stirring well to coat them in the sauce. Continue to heat until everything is hot and bubbly.

Serve: Serve your Swedish meatballs hot over cooked egg noodles, rice, or with your favorite vegetable side dish recipes.

frozen swedish meatballs on a stovetop.

Choosing the Right Frozen Meatballs:

  • While this recipe works well with any high-quality frozen meatball, out of all the ones we have tried, Farm Rich Meatballs is our personal favorite.

What to serve with Swedish Meatballs

Serving Suggestions

Pair these succulent Swedish meatballs with a side of roasted broccoli, pressure-cooked cauliflower, or a light Strawberry Parmesan Salad for a well-rounded meal.

And although this typically is served over egg noodles (which are heavy), I still love to serve with bread. These easy yeast rolls are simple enough and quick rise.

roasted broccoli makes a great side for swedish meatballs.

FAQs

Can I use homemade meatballs instead of frozen? Absolutely! Feel free to make your meatballs from scratch using a mix of pork and beef for the best flavor.

What’s the difference between Swedish and Italian meatballs? The main distinction lies in the sauce. Swedish meatballs are served with a creamy gravy, made with heavy or sour cream, whereas Italian meatballs are typically served with a tomato-based sauce.

Here is our favorite classic Italian version: Old Fashioned Italian Meatballs

How can I make the sauce richer? Adding a bit of cream cheese to the sauce can enhance its richness and depth of flavor.

Enjoy this simple and satisfying recipe for Swedish meatballs using frozen meatballs, and surprise your family with a meal that tastes like it took hours to prepare.

Frozen Swedish Meatballs recipe with rich sour ream sauce on egg noodles for dinner
4.81 from 42 votes
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Swedish Meatballs Recipe with Frozen Meatballs

Author Trisha Haas – Salty Side Dish

Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
4 servings
Use frozen meatballs to create a delicious Swedish Meatball Pasta Dinner – cream based sauce that is rich, savory, and perfect for a week night. Simple, easy, and under 30 minutes – the combination of a perfect family friendly recipe.

Ingredients
 

  • 32 oz. package frozen (precooked) meatballs
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4-1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • egg noodles cooked and kept warm

Instructions

For Fresh Meatballs:

  • Prepare Fresh Meatballs: If using fresh meatballs, cook them as you normally would. Once cooked, proceed to the Swedish meatball sauce instructions below.

For Frozen Meatballs:

  • Heat Meatballs: In a large skillet, add the entire 32 oz. package of frozen meatballs and 2 cups of beef broth. Cover and heat over medium-low heat for 20 minutes, or until the meatballs are hot throughout and no longer frozen. After heating, remove the meatballs from the skillet and set them aside, keeping them warm.

Creamy Swedish Meatball Sauce:

  • Make the Sauce: In the same skillet, add 1 tablespoon of butter, 3 tablespoons of flour, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of pepper to the remaining broth.
  • Whisk Constantly: Heat the mixture over medium heat, whisking constantly until it becomes bubbly and thickens.
  • Add Sour Cream: Reduce the heat to low, and stir in 1/2 cup of sour cream until completely combined.
  • Combine Meatballs and Sauce: Add the warmed meatballs back to the skillet, stirring well to coat them in the sauce. Continue heating until everything is hot and well combined.
  • Serve: Serve the creamy Swedish meatballs over the cooked and warm egg noodles.

Notes

Using frozen foods in a way that make them more homemade is a great way to optimize the freezer as well as making a unique meal with less time. This recipe was being written in a time that everyone is stuck at home and therefore meat is at a scarcity – so do not be afraid to experiment with products you normally wouldn’t buy and make them even better! Serve these meatballs and sauce right over egg noodles or fettuccine noodles. So good!!

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cups | Calories: 109kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 672mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g

Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.
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4.81 from 42 votes

Trisha Haas is a home cook and mom who believes side dishes are the stars of any meal. On Salty Side Dish, she shares easy, family-friendly recipes that elevate everyday dinners. From quick sides to holiday favorites, Trisha’s blog is a go-to for families looking to add something special to their plates.

4.81 from 42 votes (41 ratings without comment)

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4 Comments

  1. Licia Bowman says:

    Made this tonight & it was delicious! I didn’t have egg noodles so I used linguine. Works just fine.

    Reply
  2. Stephen Reynolds of Beverly, MA says:

    Excellent! Ised 1.5 260x bags of “Cooked Perfect: brand frozen Swedish Meatballs; 1 cup of sour cream and added 1 T. Worcestershire sauce; 1/3 tsp each of allspice, smoked paprika, used white pepper and 1 T parsley flakes….

    Reply
  3. John Warinsky says:

    Sauce tasted good, but wasn’t very creamy. Also, ‘Swedish’ to me means there is some allspice, which was missing in the seasonings. Also, almost like it had too much flour. I won’t make again.

    Reply
    1. Trisha Haas says:

      Thank you for your feedback. I constantly try to improve on recipes so its helpful to have thoughts when someone doesnt love it.

      Trisha