Swedish meatballs are a beloved dish that is served around the world. The savory meatballs are typically served with a creamy gravy-like sauce that complements their flavor perfectly. While Swedish meatball sauce can certainly be made from scratch at home, there are some convenient premade options available as well for those who want to save time in the kitchen.
What is Swedish meatball sauce made of?
Authentic Swedish meatball sauce is based on a roux that is enriched with cream or milk. The base of the sauce starts by cooking equal parts butter and flour together. This flour and butter mixture, known as a roux, helps thicken the liquid that is eventually added to the sauce.
After cooking the roux for a bit, milk or cream is whisked in slowly. This helps create the creamy gravy-like texture. The sauce is then seasoned with salt, pepper, nutmeg, and other warm spices.
Some recipes also include broth or stock in the sauce for extra flavor. Swedish meatball sauce has a smooth, rich consistency and pairs perfectly with the juicy, savory meatballs.
Are there premade options for Swedish meatball sauce?
Yes, there are several premade options for Swedish meatball sauce available at grocery stores or online:
Jarred Swedish Meatball Sauce
Several brands like Classico and Target’s Archer Farms sell jarred Swedish style meatball sauce. These sauces come fully prepared and just need to be heated before serving. The sauces have the creamy, gravy-like texture of classic Swedish meatball sauce with seasonings like black pepper, nutmeg, and allspice.
Boxed Swedish Meatball Sauce Mixes
There are boxed mixes that allow you to whip up Swedish meatball sauce by just adding milk or cream. Brands like McCormick offer these types of mixes. The powdered sauce base contains the thickening agents and seasonings needed to replicate the from-scratch sauce.
Frozen Swedish Meatballs with Sauce
Many frozen food brands sell packages of fully cooked Swedish meatballs that come with sauce packets. The meatballs just need to be heated through and then the sauce packet can be warmed up to serve. The IKEA food market is renowned for their frozen Swedish meatballs and creamy sauce.
Canned Condensed Cream Soup
In a pinch, canned condensed cream soups can be used as quick Swedish meatball sauce. Mixing the soup with milk and heating it up creates an instant cream sauce for meatballs. Mushroom or cream of celery soup are good options. Just add nutmeg, allspice, or other seasonings to taste.
What are the advantages of using premade Swedish meatball sauce?
There are several advantages that premade Swedish meatball sauce offers:
- Convenience – Premade sauce saves a lot of time in the kitchen. You can skip making roux and simmering sauce from scratch.
- Consistency – Jarred or packaged sauce delivers the ideal creamy texture expected from Swedish meatball sauce every time.
- Less dishes – Premade sauce means less pots and pans to clean up after dinner.
- No waste – Jarred or boxed sauce allows you to use only as much as you need so there are no leftovers going to waste.
- Easy storage – Unopened jars, pouches, or boxes of premade sauce are shelf-stable so they’re easy to stock in the pantry.
What are some popular brands for premade Swedish meatball sauce?
If you don’t want to make Swedish meatball sauce completely from scratch, here are some of the top brands for premade options:
| Brand | Product |
|---|---|
| Classico | Swedish Meatball Sauce Jar |
| Archer Farms | Swedish Meatball Sauce Jar |
| IKEA | Frozen Meatballs with Sauce |
| McCormick | Swedish Meatball Sauce Mix |
| Campbell’s | Canned Condensed Cream Soups |
Tips for using premade Swedish meatball sauce
To get the best flavor and texture when using conveniently premade Swedish meatball sauce, here are some useful tips:
- Read the instructions on packaged sauce for heating directions. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer on the stovetop or heat in the microwave.
- For jarred sauce, transfer it to a saucepan and heat it up slowly over medium-low heat. This prevents scorching.
- If the sauce seems too thick, stir in extra milk, cream, or broth to thin it out.
- Check the seasoning after heating up the sauce. Add more salt, pepper, nutmeg etc. if desired.
- For an extra flavor boost, stir in a small amount of Dijon mustard or chopped fresh parsley.
- Let the premade sauce simmer gently for 5-10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
Homemade alternatives to premade Swedish meatball sauce
Although convenient, premade Swedish meatball sauce often contains preservatives and artificial flavors. For a more natural sauce, you can make it from scratch but still simplify the steps:
Quick Blender Sauce
Saute onions and garlic, then blend with cream, chicken broth, flour, and seasonings for an easy homemade sauce.
Slow Cooker Sauce
Combine cream, broth, nutmeg, and other seasonings in a slow cooker. Cook on low heat for 3-4 hours, whisking occasionally, for rich sauce.
Pressure Cooker Sauce
Mix together broth, cream, flour, spices, and onions in a pressure cooker. Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes for quick sauce.
Simmered Condensed Soup
Heat condensed cream soups with extra milk or cream and spices for a simplified homemade sauce.
Conclusion
Premade Swedish meatball sauce provides a convenient shortcut for enjoying this classic dish any night of the week. Major brands offer jarred, canned, boxed, or frozen options for Swedish-style cream sauce. Using premade sauce saves time and dishes. Just be sure to heat it thoroughly and adjust seasonings as needed. With a few tips, premade products can deliver all the rich, savory flavor expected from authentic Swedish meatball sauce.