Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Meatballs in mushroom sauce is the ultimate comfort food! Beef and pork meatballs pan seared and simmered in a creamy mushroom sauce.
Is it just me or after a really trying week do you also want a big huge bowl of comfort food? I know that I need it! Especially days when it’s blustery and cold outside. That is when it’s time for some stick to your ribs, make your tummy smile food. And that is exactly what these Meatballs in Mushroom Sauce are.
My whole family loved these, and I am sure that yours will too. Let’s talk about what you need to make them.
What ingredients do you need to make meatballs in mushroom sauce?
There are two parts to this dish: the meatballs and the cream sauce. Both are relatively easy to make and they don’t need many ingredients.
For the meatballs:
GROUND BEEF AND COUNTRY SAUSAGE: The combination of both meats really makes these meatballs shine. Country sausage is sometimes called “breakfast sausage” it is usually seasoned with salt, pepper and sage. It is different than Italian sausage, don’t substitute Italian sausage in this recipe.
ONION/GARLIC: Mince these so there are not large chunks of them in the meatballs.
HERBS DE PROVENCE: A dried herb blend with herbs that are typically found in the Provence region of France. It is usually a blend of savory, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, oregano and sometimes lavender.
EGG/BREADCRUMBS: Both of these help bind and hold the meatballs together.
WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE: A fermented sauce that has the same umami quality as soy sauce.
SALT/PEPPER
For the Mushroom Sauce you’ll need:
MUSHROOMS: I like to use crimini mushrooms in this recipe. They have a much more earthy flavor than white button mushrooms.
FLOUR: This will help thicken the sauce
BEEF BROTH: Use low sodium so that you can control the salt content of the recipe.
MILK: Use whole milk or half and half for a creamier sauce.
SOUR CREAM: This also adds creaminess while giving the sauce a little tang. Use full fat sour cream. Non-fat sour cream may cause the sauce to separate a bit.
How do you make meatballs in cream sauce:
The two parts of this recipe: the meatballs and the cream sauce. Start out separately but then come together to simmer resulting in one delicious comfort food dinner.
STEP #1: In a bowl combine sausage, ground beef, minced onion, garlic, bread crumbs, egg, Herbs de Provence, Worcestershire, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mix with hands until well combined. Roll into approximately 15 meatballs.
STEP #2: Heat olive oil in large pan over medium heat. Fry meatballs in batches until all are browned, but not cooked through. Set aside. The meatballs will finish cooking in the sauce.
STEP #3: Reserve pan drippings. Add sliced onion and mushrooms to the pan. Cook 5-7 minutes or until browned. Sprinkle flour over the top and cook 1 minute.
STEP #4: Pour beef broth into the pan. Be sure to scrape up flavor bits from the bottom.
STEP #5: Whisk in the milk and sour cream. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Return meatballs to the pan. Spoon sauce over the meatballs and cook 25-30 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve.
To me these Meatballs in Mushrooms Sauce are perfect served over a mound of my Homemade Mashed Potatoes. Since this dish is so decadent, it’s also great to have a simple vegetable side dish to serve along side, I recommend sautéed broccoli or dill green beans.
If you’re looking for more meatball recipes, check these out:
1/4teaspoonfresh cracked black pepperplus more to taste
2tablespoonsolive oil
2cupssliced mushrooms
2tablespoonsflour
1cuplow-sodium beef broth
1cupmilk
1/4cupsour cream
Instructions
In a bowl combine sausage, ground beef, minced onion, garlic, bread crumbs, egg, Herbs de Provence, Worcestershire, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mix with hands until well combined. Roll into approximately 15 meatballs.
Heat olive oil in large pan over medium heat. Fry meatballs in batches until all are browned, but not cooked through. Set aside. The meatballs will finish cooking in the sauce.
Reserve pan drippings. Add sliced onion and mushrooms to the pan. Cook 5-7 minutes or until browned. Sprinkle flour over the top and cook 1 minute.
Pour beef broth into the pan. Be sure to scrape up flavor bits from the bottom.
Whisk in the milk and sour cream. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Return meatballs to the pan. Spoon sauce over the meatballs and cook 25-30 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve.
Notes
When adding the beef broth, be sure to scrape up the browned bits that have stuck to the bottom of the pan. That is called "fond" and there is so much good flavor there! The meatballs won't be cooked through after pan searing, but they will finish cooking in the sauce. You can use a meat thermometer to make sure they reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
This is delicious! I bought beautiful organic mushrooms and used a little smoked paprika. We paired it with mashed potatoes and my granddaughter, 6, declared it a big success. A veggie-filled salad and dinner was delicious!
Hi Lena! I used country sausage, which I think is also known as breakfast sausage. :) I hope you enjoy it! I’ve been meaning to make it again, I think I will this week!
I copied this years ago and made it last night for dinner. It was delicious. I didn’t have any pork sausage but substituted a lb of ground beef instead. Put it on Pinterest today under my recipes. Thanks for the great recipe.
Love this recipe, and the family loves it too. I made it easier by using precooked meatballs which makes it a good quick meal for a busy family. I serve it over egg noodles sometimes and mashed potatoes at other times.
So good! We just had this for dinner and it reminded me of the Beef Stroganoff that my mom made for me when I was a kid. I have one kid who doesn’t like mushrooms too much but she ate the sauce and meatballs anyway. Thank you for a great recipe. And a new favorite.
Hey I’m making these as we speak..I substituted ground turkey,because my hubby doesn’t eat red meat nor pork..we’ll see how it goes! Thanks for the great recipe,girl! Keep ’em comin’!
We made this tonight. So yummy! One question–did yours also have a bit of fat at the top of the sauce? It was from the meatballs when they went back into the sauce.
In other recipes, thanks for your posts! We’ve made this, the shrimp tacos, chocolate cookies, and others. Everything has been yummy!
Hey Aly, I am glad to hear that you not only enjoy this but some of my other recipes as well! I didn’t notice any fat at the top of my sauce but you might be able to get rid of that by dabbing the meatballs with paper towels to get rid of some of the excess fat before putting them back in the sauce.
The meatballs look fabulous! I have such a hard time photographing meat – it always comes out grayish and unappetizing, but your pictures makes the food look as delicious as it sounds.
These meatballs with this sauce look to be packed with flavors!
Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Ann
August 29, 2024 at 2:12 amLovely comfort food. I added a bit of Worcestershire sauce and American mustard to the sauce and added finished it all off in the oven.
Autumn Brooke
October 1, 2021 at 12:06 pmI can’t wait to make this. I love mushrooms and the cream sauce sounds so good.
Wendy
January 12, 2021 at 8:20 pmThis is delicious! I bought beautiful organic mushrooms and used a little smoked paprika. We paired it with mashed potatoes and my granddaughter, 6, declared it a big success. A veggie-filled salad and dinner was delicious!
Deseree
January 12, 2021 at 10:20 pmOhhh that sounds like a perfect comfort food meal to me!! Glad you enjoyed them :)
Lena
October 5, 2018 at 9:57 amWhat type of pork sausage do you use? As far as flavoring goes. Breakfast or Italian? Thanks so much! This looks delicious!
Deseree
October 5, 2018 at 6:56 pmHi Lena! I used country sausage, which I think is also known as breakfast sausage. :) I hope you enjoy it! I’ve been meaning to make it again, I think I will this week!
Karen
August 19, 2017 at 11:21 amI copied this years ago and made it last night for dinner. It was delicious. I didn’t have any pork sausage but substituted a lb of ground beef instead. Put it on Pinterest today under my recipes. Thanks for the great recipe.
Yin Do
November 4, 2015 at 11:36 amWhat herb did you top that off with?
Des @ Life's Ambrosia
November 4, 2015 at 8:57 pmParsley :)
Jenna
February 26, 2015 at 6:05 pmSuper yummy! I’ve made this a few times and enjoy it most when I follow the recipe strictly :)
Kimberly Marie LaMie
September 15, 2014 at 4:09 pmLove this recipe, and the family loves it too. I made it easier by using precooked meatballs which makes it a good quick meal for a busy family. I serve it over egg noodles sometimes and mashed potatoes at other times.
Missladyhawke
July 26, 2014 at 6:32 pmSo good! We just had this for dinner and it reminded me of the Beef Stroganoff that my mom made for me when I was a kid. I have one kid who doesn’t like mushrooms too much but she ate the sauce and meatballs anyway. Thank you for a great recipe. And a new favorite.
Deseree
July 26, 2014 at 10:06 pmYou’re welcome! I’m happy to hear that your family enjoyed it :)
Deseree
August 18, 2009 at 5:03 pmYou’re welcome Kiesha! I am happy to that you enjoyed these. It is also great to hear that ground turkey works as a substitute. :)
Kiesha
August 18, 2009 at 4:07 pmok..just finished..came out FANTASTIC!!!
Kiesha
August 18, 2009 at 2:19 pmHey I’m making these as we speak..I substituted ground turkey,because my hubby doesn’t eat red meat nor pork..we’ll see how it goes! Thanks for the great recipe,girl! Keep ’em comin’!
Aly
August 14, 2009 at 12:09 amWe made this tonight. So yummy! One question–did yours also have a bit of fat at the top of the sauce? It was from the meatballs when they went back into the sauce.
In other recipes, thanks for your posts! We’ve made this, the shrimp tacos, chocolate cookies, and others. Everything has been yummy!
Deseree
August 14, 2009 at 11:12 amHey Aly, I am glad to hear that you not only enjoy this but some of my other recipes as well! I didn’t notice any fat at the top of my sauce but you might be able to get rid of that by dabbing the meatballs with paper towels to get rid of some of the excess fat before putting them back in the sauce.
Mrs. L
August 13, 2009 at 10:16 amNow how did you know I’ve been craving meatballs in a cream sauce! Oh yum, I have to make these soon.
Chrys
August 12, 2009 at 5:15 pmThis is comfort food at it’s best! I can’t wait to try this out. It looks amazing!!
Ciaochowlinda
August 12, 2009 at 3:36 pmSounds comforting and truly delicious.
kokomama
August 12, 2009 at 2:10 pmThe meatballs look fabulous! I have such a hard time photographing meat – it always comes out grayish and unappetizing, but your pictures makes the food look as delicious as it sounds.
cassie
August 12, 2009 at 10:07 amLooks wonderful. Hope this week is going better for you.
Carrie
August 12, 2009 at 4:57 amComfort food sounds so good to me, too! This looks really great.
Karine
August 11, 2009 at 5:24 pmThese meatballs with this sauce look to be packed with flavors!