Easy Slow Cooker Meatball Stroganoff

Keep it simple and tasty with this crock pot meatball stroganoff recipe. Just put everything in the crock pot, and soon you’ll be enjoying a creamy family dinner with juicy meatballs. The whole family will love this dinner.

A slow cooker filled with meatballs stroganoff being scooped by a spoon.

Table of Contents

Why We Love Meatball Stroganoff (In The Crock Pot)

Dump And Go Meal – Sometimes you just need a quick meal with little prep that you can just dump and dinner is ready. This is one of those slow cooker recipes that is just pretty fast and easy, and does make a great weeknight dinner.
Cozy Dish – This is one of those stick to your ribs kind of meals with a sour cream sauce that is just delicious. I’m not usually the biggest fan of condensed soup but in this dish there are so many other flavors it just adds to the creaminess.
Similar To Beef Stroganoff But With A Twist! – This dish is similar to beef stroganoff and also kind of like Swedish meatballs, but is a little simpler and less expensive to make. Consider this the shortcut version of classic beef stroganoff. I can’t wait for you to try this recipe, it’s pure comfort food made easy!

Ingredients For To Make Slow Cooker Stroganoff Meatballs

Ingredients for crock pot meatball stroganoff with title text labels.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions below in the recipe card.

frozen meatballs – You can use beef meatballs or you can also swap out chicken or pork meatballs. My homemade beef italian meatballs recipe can be used if rolled on the smaller side, and you’ll need to double the recipe to two pounds of ground beef.
white mushrooms sliced, you could also use shiitake mushrooms or portabella mushrooms. I often remove the stems as we like the texture of the cap better
1mushroom soup condensed canned soup. You could also use cream of celery soup.
Lipton French Onion soup dry mix
brown gravy mix
beef broth – vegetable broth can also be used
Worcestershire sauce
garlic powder – you can also use four cloves of garlic diced or two teaspoons of refrigerated minced garlic
sour cream – unflavored greek yogurt could also be used
egg noodles – The recipe instructions assume you are using a dried egg noodle. Check the package for how long to boil the noodles in salted water and default to the package directions if needed for how long to cook.

Ground beef and pasta were meant to go together for family dinners! Try the cheesy beef and shells, the cheeseburger pasta or the mexican style nstuffed shells for more great dinner ideas.

How To Make Crock Pot Meatball Stroganoff

Place meatballs, mushrooms and cream of mushroom soup in the bottom of the slow cooker. Add dry Lipton French Onion soup mix, dry gravy mix, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce and garlic powder to the slow cooker. Stir everything well to combine.

A crock pot full of frozen meatballs, condensed soup, mushroom and spices for meatball stroganoff.

Cover the slow cooker and cook for 1-2 hours on high or cook on low for 3-4 hours. Flip to warm until you are ready to serve
Right before you are ready to eat, cook egg noodles in a large pot of salted boiling water for about 8-10 minutes or according to the package directions.
Open the slow cooker and add the sour cream. Stir the sour cream into the meatballs.

A crock pot filled with meatballs in sauce with a large amount of sour cream on top being mixed in.

Serve over noodles, topping with fresh parsley if desired. Serve and enjoy! You can also serve over mashed potatoes.

A crock pot filled with meatball stroganoff in a creamy sauce.

How Do I Reheat Crockpot Meatball Stroganoff?

I find it’s easiest to reheat this recipe in the microwave. You can add a little more water or a spoonful of sour cream if the sauce starts to become too thick. Leftovers can also be reheated on the stovetop.

Frozen meatball stroganoff extras also will reheat easiest in the microwave, but also can be reheated on the stovetop.

Meatball stroganoff on top of egg noodles on a plate.

What To Serve With Meatball Stroganoff?

I often serve this easy meatball stroganoff recipe over egg noodles, but their are other options. Potatoes are a great option that goes well with this recipe. Try this recipe with creamy mashed potatoes, crispy baked potatoes, or even a roasted potato wedges.

To round out the meal I like to serve this recipe with a fresh green salad or honey roasted carrots.

Can I Freeze This Meatball Stroganoff Recipe?

Yes you can freeze leftovers of this recipe after making if placed in a covered freezer container or freezer zip top bag.

How Long Will Slow Cooker Meatball Stroganoff Last?

Expect this meatball stroganoff will last for about three days when stored in a covered airtight container in the refrigerator.

Can I Make Meatball Stroganoff On The Stove?

Yes you can make this recipe on the stove, though I haven’t tried it. Place all the ingredients except the sour cream in a pot. Bring the broth to a boil. Then cover the pot, lower the temperature and simmer everything until the meatballs have heated all the way through. Stir in the sour cream, cook the pasta and dinner is served.

Recipe Variations And FAQ

Can I Use Turkey Meatballs?

Yes turkey or chicken meatballs can be swapped into this recipe if you prefer. I do recommend still using the beef broth to give you the deeper beef flavor.

What Can I Swap For Mushrooms In Stroganoff?

There are other vegetables you can substitute for mushrooms. Try peas, diced zucchini, diced carrots or even cauliflower in place of the mushrooms.

Can I Leave Out The Mushroom Pieces Altogether?

You can also leave the mushrooms out if you prefer. While the mushrooms do add flavor, the soup in this recipe will give you mushroom flavor without the actual mushroom pieces.

What Is the Difference Between Stroganoff And Swedish Meatballs?

Stroganoff is usually made with beef, in this case we are using meatballs but it is often whole beef pieces. The dish has a rich sour cream sauce flavored with beef, mushrooms and onions with spices such as paprika and thyme. Swedish meatballs are often made with a combination of pork and beef. The sauce is also a creamy sauce made with sour cream but often has spices such as nutmeg, all spice and ginger.

Should I Thaw The Meatballs Before Putting Them In The Slow Cooker?

Place the meatballs in the slow cooker frozen, don’t defrost them ahead of time. Defrosting the meatballs first can cause them to become mushy.

Can I Use Fresh Meatballs Made With Raw Meat?

While you can use homemade meatballs, it is best to use fully-cooked meatballs in this recipe. Putting meatballs made from raw meat straight in the sauce will likely cause the meatballs to be mushy instead of tender meatballs when cooked in the slow cooker. Instead bake or pan fry the meatballs first and then add them to the sauce ingredients. If made with homemade meatballs that have been cooked but are not frozen, you will only need about an hour or two in the slow cooker before flipping the heat to warm. You can also use homemade cooked meatballs that are frozen.

Can I Cook The Noodles In The Crockpot?

No, cooking the noodles in the crock pot for this dish will make them too sticky and mushy. I recommend cooking the noodles separately for this recipe.