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    Home > Holidays and Events > Game Day Food

    Baked Paprika Meatballs with Sour Cream

    Updated: Jun 22nd 2021 • Published: Aug 6th 2018 • 8 Comments

    Jump to Recipe SaveSaved!
    pinterest image showing a beef meatball on a fork with text at the top of the image

    These Hungarian-style paprika meatballs are amazingly juicy and full of flavour! Plus they are baked not fried! They are perfect for serving as finger food at a party, or mix your favourite marinara sauce with a little sour cream and serve these wonderful baked meatballs over pasta or spaetzle.

    Pile of meatballs in a metal bowl with a fork in a meatball

    Imagine biting into a juicy beef meatball, punchy with the flavors of smoked paprika and fennel. So juicy and tender, with a light crust. Imagine dipping it into a pillowy mound of sour cream, cool and refreshing. Now imagine watching others do the same. Before you know it the bowl is empty and the party is in full swing. Nothing gets people chatting and mingling like good finger food. The food you don't have to put your drink down for.

    And these paprika meatballs fit that bill. Grab a mini fork or a cocktail stick, spear one, enjoy one and carry on your conversation.

    metal bowl lined with brown paper, piled with paprika meatballs and garnished with parsley

    What is more instead of making the house smell of fried meatballs you can oven bake these babies!

    How to Cook Meatballs in the Oven

    So oven baked meatballs is the easiest way to cook meatballs!!!! You can cook so many at once, making it perfect for a party! You can ensure they are all perfectly cooked through and most importantly you don't have to stand by the stove cooking up batches of meatballs!

    Meaning if you are having a party you can use this time to clear up the Lego that the kids have decided needs to be in the formal living room!!! Or you can put some party make-up on, arrange your flowers or just sit with a glass of wine and congratulate yourself on your amazingness 😀 (hands up who will be doing the Lego option? Please tell me it isn't just me!)

    What temperature do you cook meatballs in the oven?

    I like to bake my meatballs at 400ºF/205ºC. This ensures they cook through and gives them a light crust without drying out. The 'crust' is important here, because without it the meatballs can fall apart when they are skewered.

    How long does it take to cook meatballs in the oven?

    These meatballs will take 10-12 minutes in the oven to cook. This is assuming you have made the meatballs using the instructions below. The recipe calls for 1 inch meatballs (use a cookie scoop to ensure even sized meatballs)

    If you make your meatballs bigger then they will need longer cooking.

    Close up on a pile of meatballs showing the light crust on the outside

    What to serve with meatballs for a party

    These paprika meatballs are packed with flavor so I like to serve them with a pot of sour cream. This continues the slight Hungarian feel and also works so well with the smoky paprika.

    Ideas for dips to go with meatballs:

    • Sour cream
    • chipotle mayo
    • smoked bbq sauce
    • blue cheese dip
    • sweet onion dip
    • creamy onion and garlic dip
    • chilli spiked tomato sauce
    • thick english style gravy

    Paprika meatball on a mini fork being dipped into a terracotta pot of sour cream

    Enjoy x

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    p.s If you are a big meatball fan then why not try these other meatball recipes that are perfect for serving as party finger food.

    • Moroccan Lamb Meatballs
    • Indian Spiced Chicken Meatballs
    • Thai Pork Meatballs
    • Sticky Sesame Chicken Meatballs
    • Mini Thai Chicken Meatballs

    Why not pin this recipe for Baked Paprika Meatballs for later. Pin it here

    sq image showing a close up of a fork spearing a paprika beef meatball
    Print Recipe
    4.89 from 9 votes

    Baked Paprika Meatballs with Sour Cream

    These Hungarian-style oven baked paprika meatballs are amazingly juicy and full of flavour! Plus they are baked not fried! They are perfect for serving as finger food at a party, or mix your favourite marinara sauce with a little sour cream and serve these wonderful baked meatballs over pasta or spaetzle.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time10 mins
    Course: Appetizer, Main Course
    Cuisine: Hungarian
    Servings: 40
    Calories: 37kcal
    Author: Claire | Sprinkle and Sprouts
    For more great recipes follow me on PinterestFollow @sprinklessprout
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    Ingredients

    US Customary - Grams

    For the Meatballs

    • 1 onion
    • 2 garlic clove
    • 1 lb ground beef - not the super lean variety
    • ½ cup breadcrumbs
    • 2 tablespoon milk
    • 1 egg
    • 2 teaspoon sweet paprika
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon fennel seeds - lightly crushed
    • ¼ cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
    • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika

    To serve

    • 1 cup sour cream/your favourite dip

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 400°F.  Line a baking sheet by parchment paper.
    • Grate the onion into a large mixing bowl and crush in the garlic.
    • Add the remaining ingredients and mix until just combined. (Don't over mix)
    • Scoop out small amounts of the mixture and roll them into 1 inch balls. (see note 1)
    • Place them on the prepared baking sheet.
    • Bake for 10-12 minutes until cooked through with a light crust.
    • Serve immediately or at room temperature with sour cream or your favourite dip (see note 2)

    Notes

    1. I find if I lightly coat my hands with oil before rolling the meatballs, they will form a nicer ball and the mixture doesn't stick to your fingers.
    2. Ideas for dips to go with meatballs:
      • Sour cream
      • chipotle mayo
      • smoked bbq sauce
      • blue cheese dip
      • sweet onion dip
      • creamy onion and garlic dip
      • chilli spiked tomato sauce
      • thick english style gravy

    Nutrition

    Calories: 37kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 77mg | Potassium: 42mg | Vitamin A: 60IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.3mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @sprinklesandsprouts or tag #sprinklesandsprouts

     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Helene says

      August 12, 2018 at 9:10 pm

      5 stars
      Great idea with the sour cream. Paprika, Parsley, meat and sour cream, that's food from my childhood. 🙂

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        August 31, 2018 at 5:04 am

        Thank you Helene 😀
        They are flavors that just work so well together aren't they.

        Reply
    2. Alyssa says

      August 12, 2018 at 12:24 pm

      5 stars
      I am a HUGE meatball fan and I love this baked variety. Total party food! 🙂

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        September 03, 2018 at 6:19 am

        Thank you Alyssa 😀

        Reply
    3. Taryn says

      August 06, 2018 at 9:55 am

      5 stars
      This is such a nice change from the typical meatballs in marinara sauce we usually eat! Thanks for a great recipe.

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        August 07, 2018 at 4:17 am

        Thank you Taryn, I am such a big meatball fan I need to find so may different ways to eat them 😀

        Reply
    4. Tatiana says

      August 06, 2018 at 6:48 am

      5 stars
      Well seasoned meatballs is always a key to success! And i absolutely adore the idea of adding sour cream as a dip, fantastic!

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        August 07, 2018 at 4:10 am

        Thank you Tatiana, they are always such a hit 😀

        Reply

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