This creamy paprika sauce has a delicious smokiness from smoked paprika and a nice tang from tomato paste and sour cream. I finished it with chopped cilantro for a great, herby freshness. Serve it with chicken or steak and corn for a stellar dinner.
Recipe ingredients and notes:
- You can use smoked hot paprika for a spicy sauce or smoked sweet paprika for a milder sauce. (Hot smoked paprika is sometimes also labeled "picante.")
- As always, I recommend to get the spice from a dedicated spice shop. Freshness and quality of the smoked paprika are really important for the flavor of this sauce.
How to make it:
See full ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card below!
- Saute minced onion in butter.
- Stir in smoked paprika.
- Pour in chicken broth and cook for a few minutes until reduced by about half.
- Take off the heat and stir in tomato paste, then heavy cream, sour cream and cilantro. Turn the heat back on and heat the sauce through.
How to serve it:
This sauce is delicious on grilled or roasted chicken breast or on steaks. For a vegetable side dish, I recommend corn. It goes great with the smoked paprika and the cilantro.
Full Recipe
Paprika Sauce
This delicious paprika sauce is creamy, tangy and smoky. Makes about 1 cup.
Equipment:
Ingredients:
Method:
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Add the onion and saute until starting to soften (about 2 minutes).2 tablespoons unsalted butter, ½ cup minced onion (about ⅔ of a small onion)
- Stir in paprika and and cook until fragrant (a few seconds).2 teaspoons smoked paprika*
- Add the chicken broth. Bring to a boil and cook, uncovered, until reduced by about half (3 to 4 minutes).¾ cup chicken broth
- Take off the heat and whisk or stir in the tomato paste.1 ½ tablespoons tomato paste
- Stir in heavy cream, sour cream and cilantro.¼ cup heavy cream, 2 tablespoons full-fat sour cream, 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
- Turn the heat back on and heat the sauce through, stirring continuously.
Recipe notes:
*You can use smoked hot paprika for a spicy sauce or smoked sweet paprika for a milder sauce. Storage: Transfer any leftover sauce into an airtight container and store in the fridge. Reheat on the stovetop over gentle heat, stirring continuously.
Did you make this recipe?Please consider leaving a review- THANK YOU!
Nutrition (estimate only):
More gourmet cream sauces:
- This oregano sauce recipe comes together in just 5 minutes!
- For something spicy, try this chipotle sauce for chicken.
- This rosemary cream sauce has a great herbal flavor.
Ashley says
My husband and I love this sauce! We pair it with chicken, farro, and veggies. It's just amazing!
Nicole B. says
That's wonderful to hear, Ashley!! Thank you so much for coming back and leaving feedback, that's much appreciated!
judy Dunn says
Made this sauce on a very hot day. Decided it was a rice bowl kinda day. Couldnt have been happier with the thick smoky paprika flavor. will definately do it again. I did it warm but could easily be done for a cool rice bowl. Thankyou for this yummy recipe.
Nicole B. says
Love to hear that, Judy! Thanks so much for making the recipe and sharing your feedback, it's much appreciated!
Steffani K. says
I love this sauce! I think I ended up making it with a sweet smoked paprika, which was still lovely, though I like the little love tap the hot paprika gives this recipe. How/where do I find the hot paprika? King Soopers had regular paprika and smoked paprika, but neither indicated they were Spanish or sweet/hot...
Thanks for another fantastic recipe! I love this site.
Nicole B. says
Thank you, Steffani! I'm so glad you liked the sauce. I get paprika from The Savory Spice Shop. They have smoked Spanish hot (and a number of other varieties as well) and I have always found the quality of their products to be excellent.
Sue Greenwood says
I made this sauce this evening to have with pork schnitzel it was delicious I had to add some cayenne pepper as I ran out of hot so I added smoked and hot paprika and cayenne pepper su h a lovely sauce. I've made a bulk amount so I can freeze it for later. Lovely 😍 thanks for the recipe. I will recommend it to all my family and friends.
Nicole B. says
That is wonderful to hear, Sue! I'm so glad you liked the sauce! And thank you so much for spreading the word, I really appreciate that! :)