Why do my meatballs fall apart in the slow cooker?

One disadvantage to the slow cooker is that meatballs may fall apart if you put them in the pot raw . By partially cooking the meatballs before you put them in the slow cooker, you can ensure your meatballs do not fall apart.

Why is beef stroganoff so good?

Stroganoff sauce is a sour cream gravy made with beef broth that's thickened with flour. It's flavoured with mustard and has mushrooms in it. I love the pale brown creamy colour against the deep golden brown seared beef !

What to add if meatballs are falling apart?

Try soaking your breadcrumbs in milk for extra moisture and fluffiness . If using eggs, 1 large egg per 500g of meat should suffice – too much egg in the mixture will produce a firmer result. You can also make simple paleo meatballs with the addition of just salt and spices.

Do meatballs get more tender the longer they cook in sauce?

As the collagen in the meat dissolves over time, it transforms into gelatin, which not only adds a silky texture to the sauce but also contributes to the overall richness and depth of flavor. The longer the simmer, the more tender and succulent the meatballs become.

How to add more flavor to beef stroganoff?

Quartered mushrooms and a combination of pearl onions and shallots give the finished dish a more interesting texture and flavor. Adding gelatin to the chicken stock gives it more body, letting the sauce come together more tightly to coat the meat and noodles.

What to add to hamburger helper Stroganoff to make it taste better?

Be it cheesiness or something else. I'm not big on mushrooms and the like, so my usual goto of spicing it up is to add the meat, then garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, pinch of paprika(sometimes none), small amount of cavenders, and occasionally, if Im in a sweet mood, brown sugar .

How do you add sour cream to Stroganoff without curdling?

You are combining essentially what is a hot stew and cold sour cream out of the fridge. This is what causes the cream to curdle. I like to err of the side of caution and I let the pot and its contents cool completely, then I stir through the sour cream , no more curdling!

How to stop meat falling apart in a slow cooker?

Speed 1A is recommended (it replaces stirring in a pan). For traditional slow-cooked dishes such as boeuf bourguignon, blanquette of veal, etc. (meat cooked in a large amount of liquid for a long time): halfway through, you can select speed 0 to stop very tender meat from falling apart.

What is the secret to firm meatballs?

Egg: Adds more moisture and helps the mixture firm up once cooked . Parmesan: My secret ingredient for the best meatballs! Parmigiano-Reggiano adds flavor and salt to our mixture.

Why does slow cooked meat fall apart?

When roasted, the collagen and connective tissue present in meat will start to break down . It will melt more thoroughly if slow-roasted, and if you add liquid, it will break down even more quickly as it's water soluble.

Slow Cooker Meatball Stroganoff - Bites with Bri (2024)

Published: Aug 7, 2023 by Brianna May · This post may contain affiliate links.

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This Slow Cooker Meatball Stroganoff is creamy, full of flavor, and filling. It’s made with Worcestershire, soy sauce, seasoning, and beef broth. Once cooked, you can serve this delicious saucy dish over egg noodles.

Slow Cooker Meatball Stroganoff - Bites with Bri (1)

There’s nothing better than a warm bowl of slow cooker meatball stroganoff over egg noodles when you’re craving a comforting dish on gloomy days. It’s filling, tasty, and a recipe the entire family will love.

This is one of my favorite slow cooker meatball recipe ideas, especially since it's so easy to toss together. The prep time for this recipe is minimal, as you'll be tossing most of the ingredients directly into the slow cooker. It's a great set-and-forget dish. Prep it before work, and you'll find a satisfying meal waiting for you when you walk in the door later.

I use Dijon mustard in this recipe but if that isn't for your taste palate, check out The 10 Best Substitutes for Dijon Mustard!

You can make this meal more nourishing by pairing it with a veggie side, like, Fresh Green Bean Casserole with Bacon, or Balsamic Glazed Brussel Sprouts.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
How to Make Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
Recipe Serving Suggestions
Expert Tips
Recipe FAQs
More Main Dish Recipes
Slow Cooker Meatball Stroganoff

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Flavorful – The spices, sauces, and mustard combine to create a delicious slow cooker meatball stroganoff sauce.
Umami-rich – The soy sauce provides a yummy, savory, meaty flavor that complements the meatballs perfectly.
Creamy – Sour cream is the secret ingredient that helps create a creamy stroganoff sauce.
Filling – This yummy recipe is packed with protein and veggies to help keep you satisfied until your next meal.
Easy – This recipe requires only three kitchen tools/appliances.
Moist & Tender – Slow cooking the meatballs in a flavorful sauce helps create moist & tender meatballs.
Great for family meals – This recipe is easy to scale, so you can double or triple the recipe depending on how many mouths you’re feeding.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Slow Cooker Meatball Stroganoff - Bites with Bri (2)

Meatballs: For this slow cooker meatball stroganoff, you can use any meatballs you prefer (including vegetarian options). However, it's necessary to select meatballs that taste good since they're the main component of the dish.
Kosher Salt: All of my recipes are tested with Morton kosher salt unless noted otherwise. It is the best salt for everyday cooking because of its size and flavor. If using table salt, the amount should be reduced. I highly recommend picking up some kosher next time you are at the store!
Noodles: I recommend using egg noodles for this crock pot meatball stroganoff recipe since they soak up the rich sour cream sauce well. However, you can use any noodles you have on hand. Noodles with a tube shape or ridges are best since they hold more sauce than other varieties.

Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.

How to Make Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Quick Overview

Add meatballs, veg, seasoning, and broth to the slow cooker.
Cook on high.
Whisk cornstarch and broth.
Add broth mixture to slow cooker.
Cook for 30 minutes.
Boil noodles.
Stir cream into the sauce.

Step by Step Instructions

Slow Cooker Meatball Stroganoff - Bites with Bri (3)

Cook on high if you need the stroganoff to be ready sooner.

Do not add sour cream while the heat is still on, as it can curdle.

Step 1: Add the meatballs, mushrooms, onion, garlic, mustard, Worcestershire, soy, thyme, paprika, onion powder, salt, pepper, and broth to the slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 6 hours.

Step 2: Whisk together the cornstarch and about ¼ cup of the broth from the slow cooker.

Step 3: Stir the cornstarch mixture into the slow cooker. Cook for an additional 30 minutes on HIGH or 1 hour on LOW. The sauce should thicken up slightly.

Step 4: While the sauce thickens, boil the egg noodles if using. Turn the slow cooker off and stir in the pasta and sour cream.

Recipe Serving Suggestions

Garnish with fresh herbs, a dollop of sour cream, or slices of chives/green onions.

If I don’t cook noodles with this slow cooker meatball stroganoff, I will make a potato or bread side dish to help sop up the sauce from this easy meatball stroganoff. Here are a few ideas:

Expert Tips

Use cornstarch. Adding cornstarch (or flour) is key to creating slow cooker meatball stroganoff sauce. Without this ingredient, the sauce will be overly watery.
Create a slurry. If you add dry cornstarch directly into frozen meatball slow cooker recipes, like this stroganoff meatballs dish, you'll end up with a clumpy sauce. You can ensure the cornstarch dissolves correctly by mixing it with water first to create a slurry. Once it’s dissolved in the water, add it to the sauce.
Temper the sour cream. Adding sour cream to the stroganoff sauce while the crock pot is on will lead to a curdled sour cream. You can also avoid curdling the sour cream by adding a spoonful of the hot sauce into the sour cream first and combining. This step will help bring the sour cream’s temperature up. Then, you can mix the tempered sour cream into the stroganoff sauce.

Additions & Variations

Homemade Meatballs – If you’re using homemade meatballs, it’s best to brown them on the stove first. This extra step helps create a crispy crust, which can help keep the meatballs from falling apart in the slow cooker.
Sauté Onions, Mushrooms, and Meatballs – You can create more flavor by browning these ingredients first. This note works for frozen and fresh meatballs.
Vegetarian – Turn this easy beef stroganoff with frozen meatballs dish into a vegetarian-friendly option with a few swaps. Use vegetable broth and vegetarian/vegan meatballs instead of beef or pork.

Slow Cooker Meatball Stroganoff - Bites with Bri (4)

Recipe FAQs

Is beef stroganoff the same as Swedish meatballs?

No, these two dishes are not the same. Swedish meatballs are made from ground meat, while beef stroganoff typically includes strips or cubes of beef. In this slow cooker meatball stroganoff, I've combined meatballs with a stroganoff sauce.

What is the difference between stroganoff and Swedish meatball sauce?

Stroganoff and Swedish meatballs both have a creamy sauce and beef broth base. However, there are a few differences between the two. Stroganoff sauce has mushrooms, while Swedish meatball sauce does not. Another key difference is the seasoning for each sauce. Swedish meatballs are typically seasoned with spices like nutmeg and ginger, while Stroganoff sauce includes paprika, onion powder, and thyme.

More Main Dish Recipes

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs
Easy Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta
How To Cook a Beef Brisket in the Oven

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