Meatballs in Creamy Paprika Sauce

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## 👩‍🍳 How to Make It

### 1. **Make the Meatballs**

In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, chopped onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined — don’t overwork the meat.

Roll into golf ball-sized meatballs.

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### 2. **Brown the Meatballs**

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Brown meatballs on all sides until golden (they don’t need to be fully cooked yet).
Remove and set aside.

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### 3. **Make the Sauce**

In the same skillet:

* Add butter and chopped onion. Sauté until soft.
* Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute (this helps thicken the sauce).
* Add paprika and stir for 30 seconds to bloom the spice.
* Slowly pour in broth, whisking to remove lumps.
* Simmer for 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened.

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### 4. **Add the Cream**

Turn heat to low. Stir in sour cream or heavy cream until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
Season with salt, pepper, and chili flakes if using.

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### 5. **Finish the Meatballs**

Return meatballs to the pan.
Cover and simmer for **10–12 minutes**, or until meatballs are fully cooked and tender.

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## 🍽️ Serving Suggestions

Serve your meatballs and creamy paprika sauce with:

* 🧈 **Buttered egg noodles**
* 🥔 **Mashed potatoes**
* 🍚 **Steamed rice**
* 🥖 **Crusty bread** (to soak up that sauce!)
* 🥬 A side of sautéed spinach or green beans

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## 📝 Tips & Variations

* 🐔 Use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version
* 🌶️ Want more heat? Add a pinch of cayenne or hot paprika
* 🍄 Add sautéed mushrooms to the sauce for extra depth
* 🧊 Freeze extra meatballs (without sauce) for quick future meals

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## ❤️ Final Thoughts

**Meatballs in Creamy Paprika Sauce** offer the perfect balance of comfort and spice. They’re rustic, flavorful, and come together with simple pantry ingredients — the kind of meal that feels like a warm hug at the end of a long day.

Once you try it, you’ll understand why this dish never goes out of style.

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**Want a printable version of the recipe or a step-by-step video? Just ask — I’m happy to help! 🍽️🔥**