• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Life is a Party
  • Recipe Index
  • Parties & Entertaining
  • Summer
  • Subscribe
  • Free Resource Library
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Parties & Entertaining
  • Summer
  • Subscribe
  • Free Resource Library
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Parties & Entertaining
  • Summer
  • Subscribe
  • Free Resource Library
×
Home » Recipes » Mains

Easy Recipe for Swedish Meatball Sauce

Modified: Jun 9, 2025 · Published: Aug 24, 2021 by Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

Jump to Recipe

This recipe for Swedish Meatball Sauce is quick and easy and perfect to make with frozen meatballs for Swedish meatballs without the trip to Ikea!

recipe for Swedish meatball sauce
Jump to:
  • Why We Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Not A Great Slow Cooker Recipe
  • Instructions
  • Expert Tip
  • Storage
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Recipes You'll Love
  • Recipe

We used frozen Swedish meatballs from the grocery store freezer section and our easy homemade Swedish meatball sauce recipe.  The sauce is a beautifully rich and creamy one and sure to be a hit.  It only has a few simple ingredients. You can make the best Swedish meatballs at home, anytime you want to without a trip to Ikea.

Why We Love This Recipe

  • Enjoy Swedish meatballs at home without the trip to Ikea!
  • These are quick and easy to make with frozen meatballs.
  • The sauce is creamy and the perfect gravy to enjoy with the meatballs and potatoes.
  • This recipe only has a few simple ingredients.

We served our Swedish meatballs as part of our Frozen themed dinner and movie night -you can read all about it here.  They were the perfect Scandinavian food to go with our theme.  Love Scandinavian food? You might also like our Midsummer Swedish inspired picnic.

This dinner was a real hit with everyone.  These are very similar to Ikea meatballs, so next time you're craving the Ikea version, you can make this easy recipe at home. Serve them up with oven roasted carrots or zucchini pancakes as perfect side dishes.

Ingredients

See the recipe card below for exact measurements.

Ingredients in small bowls to make a quick and easy Swedish meatball sauce.
  • Frozen Meatballs: We used frozen meatballs to make this a really easy recipe.  Choose your favorite, Italian meatballs, or Swedish meatballs from the freezer section.  The frozen meatballs cook directly from frozen in the oven in a single layer on a baking sheet, making this a quite easy dish.  We chose to reheat our frozen meatballs in the oven, and then add them to our finished creamy sauce in the sauce pan.  You could make your own homemade Swedish meatballs if you prefer.  Make sure your homemade meatballs are fully cooked before adding to them to the Swedish meatball sauce.
  • Heavy Cream: The heavy cream (whipping cream) in this recipe adds a richness and creaminess to the sauce. Do take care to prevent your cream from curdling in the sauce, which can happen when the heat is too high and the proteins and fats to separate.
  •  Dijion Mustard: Adds great depth and flavor to the sauce. We used grainy Dijon, but regular Dijion is a great choice too.

Not A Great Slow Cooker Recipe

You might be wondering about making a slow cooker version of this recipe. Sometimes it's great to know that dinner is cooking itself in the slow cooker, especially on a busy day.  These are not a great slow cooker choice, for several reasons.  For one, you would essentially be making the thickened sauce on the stove top and going through all the same steps, but just in advance, to create a thick traditional sauce, and then pouring it into the slow cooker.  

So that makes the slow cooker version no savings on prep or cooking times.  Some slow cooker Swedish meatball recipes don't really thicken the sauce and come out with something far too runny and not the best sauce.  The other problem is the high chance of the cream curdling if you add it at the beginning or things not being hot or creamy enough if you add it just at the end before serving.  It's best to make the easy Swedish meatball sauce on the stove top, right before serving over your flavorful meatballs.

Instructions

Expert Tip

The sauce itself has a roux base, which thickens the sauce to create the creamy gravy sauce.  When you are creating the roux you let the roux base brown.  If you don't let it brown enough at this stage the sauce will be too white, but if you let the roux brown too long it can burn and ruin the sauce, so take care to get it to the right shade of golden brown.

Frozen Swedish meatballs on a baking tray.
  1. Step 1: Place frozen meatballs on a baking tray and cook in the oven according to the directions on the package.
Making a roux for easy Swedish meatball sauce.
  1. Step 2: In a large skillet over medium high heat melt the butter and whisk in the flour to create a roux.
Browning a roux in a skillet for an easy Swedish meatball sauce.
  1. Step 3: Cook the roux until it becomes brown and smells nutty. Be sure not to undercook the roux or the sauce will be too white, and don't burn it either or the flavor will be ruined.
Making an easy Swedish meatball sauce in a skillet for frozen meatballs.
  1. Step 4: Add in the beef broth, cream, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a simmer over a low heat, taking care not to boil it after you add the cream.
Easy homemade Swedish meatball sauce in a skillet with meatballs.
  1. Step 5: Add the heated meatballs into the pan, and stir to combine with the sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley. The sauce will continue to thicken slightly as it sits.

Storage

Place any leftover meatballs and sauce in an airtight container.  Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this sauce with homemade meatballs?

Yes make it and serve with homemade or frozen meatballs.

Why did my sauce curdle?

Do not boil your sauce after you've added the cream. The heavy cream can split if the heat is too high and the proteins and fats separate.

Why is my sauce so white looking?

If you don't cook the roux long enough, until it's a dark brown color the finished sauce will be too white and pale and lack depth of flavor.

More Recipes You'll Love

  • Mac and cheese with panko breadcrumb topping.
    Best Homemade Mac and Cheese with Panko Breadcrumb Topping
  • braised beef ragu recipe
    Braised Beef Ragu Recipe
  • Chicken sausage and shrimp gumbo in a cast-iron pot.
    Tiana's Chicken, Sausage, and Shrimp Gumbo Recipe
  • Beef Steak, Guinness and mushroom pie served with salad on a plate.
    Beef Steak, Guinness, and Mushroom Pie Recipe

recipe for Swedish meatball sauce

If you try this Swedish Meatball Sauce Recipe or any other recipe on my blog please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting today!

Recipe

Easy recipe for Swedish meatball sauce with meatballs in a skillet.

Recipe for Swedish Meatball Sauce

Use this easy sauce with frozen or homemade meatballs.
4.60 from 15 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main
Cuisine: Swedish
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 3 cups
Calories: 257kcal
Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup butter
  • ¼ cup all purpose flour
  • 2 cups beef stock
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon dijion mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon fresh parsley chopped

Instructions

  • Place frozen meatballs on a baking tray and cook in the oven according to the directions on the package.
  • In a large skillet over medium high heat melt the butter and whisk in the flour to create a roux. Cook the roux until it becomes brown and smells nutty.
  • Add in the beef broth, cream, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a simmer over a low heat, taking care not to boil it after you add the cream.
  • Add the heated meatballs into the pan, and stir to combine with the sauce. The sauce will thicken slightly more as it sits. Garnish with chopped parsley and enjoy.

Video

Notes

Make this sauce and serve with any homemade or frozen meatballs.
This recipe is not a good one to make in a slow cooker.
The sauce itself has a roux base, which thickens the sauce to create the creamy gravy sauce.  When you are creating the roux you let the roux base brown.  If you don't let it brown enough at this stage the sauce will be too white, but if you let the roux brown too long it can burn and ruin the sauce, so take care to get it to the right shade of golden brown.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 257kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 287mg | Sugar: 2g
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @LifeisaParty or tag #lifeisaparty!

More Main Dishes

  • easy Mexican lasagna
    Easy Vegetarian Mexican Lasagna Recipe
  • A rainbow grilled cheese sandwich cut in half on a cutting board.
    Rainbow Grilled Cheese Recipe
  • pumpkin manicotti with sage browned butter
    Pumpkin Stuffed Manicotti with Browned Butter and Sage Sauce
  • homemade beef and vegetable soup
    Homemade Beef and Vegetable Soup Recipe

Reader Interactions

4.60 from 15 votes (15 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Life is a Party is all about helping you celebrate everyday with great food, entertaining and party inspiration, and seasonal crafts and home decor inspired by the holidays.

More About Dannyelle

Trending Recipes

  • Mac and cheese with panko breadcrumb topping.
    Best Homemade Mac and Cheese with Panko Breadcrumb Topping
  • Homemade iced capps in glasses on a wood table.
    Tim Hortons Copycat Iced Capp Recipe
  • Dirt Pudding no cream cheese in glasses with candy rocks, and fresh mint that looks like a little plant.
    Easy Dirt Pudding Recipe without Cream Cheese
  • Easy 3 ingredient coconut milkshake recipe.
    Easy Coconut Milkshake Recipe
  • Easy food processor scones on a plate with jam.
    Easy Food Processor Scones
  • Small batch pancakes for two.
    Easy Small Batch Pancakes For Two Recipe

Summer Ideas

  • Mushroom themed party picnic in backyard.
    Mushroom Themed Picnic Party
  • Cherry themed party table with food and cherry themed decor.
    Cherry Themed Party Ideas
  • Ice cream charcuterie dessert board in the shape of an ice cream cone.
    Easy Ice Cream Sundae Charcuterie Dessert Board
  • Butterfly themed party ideas party table, food, and decorations.
    Butterfly Themed Party Ideas
  • Strawberry themed party ideas with table setting, flowers, and food.
    Sweet Strawberry Theme Party
  • summer garden party
    Summer Garden Party

  • Subscribe
  • Recipe Index
  • Parties & Entertaining
  • Spring and Easter
  • Free Resource Library

Footer

back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • About

Subscribe

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Life is a Party

Share12
Pin2.3K
Post
Share12
Pin2.3K
Post

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.