The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.
Swedish Meatball Casserole will surely please the whole family. It’s an easy dish that you can make ahead of time.
This recipe costs approximately $14.05 to make. The recipe makes six servings for about $2.34 per serving.
We love making this casserole for dinner on busy weeknights. Preparing the meal takes about fifteen minutes and less than an hour to cook.
This dish is a classic comfort meal that is both filling and satisfying. You’ll love this fun twist on a favorite dish.
We use frozen meatballs in this Swedish Meatball Casserole to save time with the preparation. You’ll enjoy being able to serve a flavorful, savory, delicious meal that is easy to make any night of the week.
What You’ll Love About Swedish Meatball Casserole
- Time-Saving: This easy meal will save you time in the kitchen. You can make the casserole earlier in the day and then bake it later in the day before dinner.
- Comfort Food: Casseroles are known for being serious comfort food, and this Swedish Meatball Casserole is no exception.
- Simple Preparation: This meal only takes about fifteen minutes to make. Perfect for throwing together when you have lots of other things going on and do not have much time to spend in the kitchen.
Ingredients & Estimated Cost:
- 8 oz wide egg noodles – $1.15
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter – $0.28
- ½ cup diced onion – $0.23
- 1 cup button mushrooms – $0.86
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour – $0.02
- 2 ½ cups beef broth – $1.06
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce – $0.14
- ½ cup sour cream – $0.57
- ½ cup heavy cream – $0.75
- 26 oz package frozen meatballs – $8.99
The recipe cost is calculated by the amounts needed for the recipe. To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained. The pricing for this recipe was updated in September 2023.
How To Make Swedish Meatball Casserole
***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.
- First, cook the noodles to al dente, drain the water, and then set the noodles aside.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and spray a 13×9 baking dish with cooking spray.
- Next, melt the butter in a saucepan and cook the onions and mushrooms for about three to five minutes.
- Make a roux by whisking in the flour and cooking for one minute.
- Slowly whisk in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce and heat to simmer. Cook until it has thickened.
- Then, remove from the heat and whisk in the heavy cream and sour cream. Season with salt and pepper.
- Mix the noodles, sauce, and meatballs. Add it to the prepared baking dish.
- Bake for twenty to thirty minutes.
- Finally, garnish with parsley and serve.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Cheese: Add shredded Swiss or Gruyère to the casserole for extra creaminess and flavor. Sprinkle it on top for the last 10 minutes of baking.
- Protein Substitutions: Instead of traditional beef meatballs, consider using ground turkey, chicken, or a vegetarian meatball substitute.
- Cream Substitutes: If you want a lighter version, you can substitute sour cream with Greek yogurt and use a lower-fat milk alternative, like almond or skim milk, instead of heavy cream.
- Gluten-Free: To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free egg noodles and replace the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend or cornstarch for thickening the sauce.
- Breadcrumbs: If you prefer a crunchy topping, sprinkle some breadcrumbs mixed with melted butter on top of the casserole before baking.
Serving and Storage Tips
To serve:
- Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.
- You can keep the casserole out for no more than two hours before it needs to be covered and stored.
To store:
- Store Swedish meatball casserole in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Cover the casserole tightly with plastic wrap or foil to prevent it from drying out.
To freeze:
- Freeze Swedish meatball casserole for up to 3 months.
- Let the casserole cool completely before freezing.
- Wrap the casserole tightly in two layers of plastic wrap and then in a layer of aluminum foil.
- Label and freeze.
To thaw:
- Place the frozen casserole in the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
To reheat:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Remove the casserole from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Cover the casserole with foil and bake for 20-30 minutes or until heated.
Swedish Meatball Casserole Recipe FAQs
Our sauce is made of beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, heavy cream, and sour cream. It makes a creamy gravy sauce that soaks into the noodles perfectly.
We love to make our Caesar Salad Kit Hack without Anchovies and some Easy Garlic Bread to serve alongside this Swedish Meatball Casserole recipe.
Get Kids Involved
Ages 2-3: Have your little one help gather the ingredients and items needed for making this casserole. They can begin learning how things work in the kitchen.
Ages 4-5: Ask your child to mix the ingredients before assembling the casserole.
Ages 6-8: Teach your child to whisk in the flour to make the roux. Learning to make a roux will be a valuable skill to master.
Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe unsupervised while you do the happy dance in the corner!
Budget Tips
A casserole is a cost-effective meal to make to feed your family. You can have a delicious, crowd-pleasing meal for less than fifteen dollars.
More Main Dish Recipes
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- Chicken Stuffing Casserole
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- Ham and Noodle Casserole
- Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
- Cheeseburger French Fry Casserole
- Green Chile Enchilada Casserole
- Pizza Casserole
- Baked Chicken and Rice Casserole
Swedish Meatball Casserole
Equipment
- saucepan
- Measuring cups and spoons
- whisk
- mixing spoon
- 13×9-inch baking dish
- cutting board
- chef's knife
Ingredients
- 8 oz uncooked wide egg noodles
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup finely diced onion
- 1 cup button mushrooms sliced thinly
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ cups beef broth
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup heavy cream
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- 26 oz package of frozen meatballs thawed or homemade
GARNISH:
- fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
COOK NOODLES:
- Cook noodles to al dente, drain, and set aside.
PREP OVEN AND PAN:
- Move the oven rack to the middle position.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Spray a 13×9 baking dish with cooking spray.
MAKE SAUCE:
- Melt butter in a saucepan.
- Add onions and mushrooms and cook until soft, about 3-5 minutes.
- Whisk in flour to make a roux and cook for 1 minute.
- Gradually whisk in beef broth and Worcestershire sauce and heat to simmer. Cook until thickened.
- Remove from heat and whisk in heavy cream and sour cream.
- Season with salt and pepper.
ASSEMBLE AND BAKE:
- Mix noodles, sauce, and meatballs and add to the prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes or until sauce is bubbling and thickened.
SERVE:
- Serve with parsley if desired.
Beth says
I can’t tell you how much I love this. I always say that if you can turn something into a casserole you should. Love it!
Deb says
Loved it. I made it vegan with meatless meatballs and used non dairy cheese and cream. Was sooo good.
Justine says
This is total comfort food! Easy to make and absolutely delicious – can’t wait to have it again!
Ali says
Loved this swedish meatball casserole!! It was the comfort food I was craving. The leftovers will be perfect for lunches this week.