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Home » Recipes » Sauces and Dip Recipes

Paprika Sauce

Updated: May 15, 2024 · Published: Nov 4, 2020 by Nicole B. · 8 Comments

4.67 from 15 votes
Total Time: 12 minutes minutes
Jump to Recipe

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.

Paprika sauce in a bowl with cilantro.

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.
Paprika sauce ingredients on a table.
You need cilantro, onion, smoked paprika, chicken broth, tomato paste, sour cream, heavy cream and butter.

How to make it:

See full ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card below!

Sauteed onion in a saucepan.
  1. Saute minced onion in butter.
Sauted onion and paprika in a saucepan.
  1. Stir in smoked paprika.
Paprika sauce in a saucepan.
  1. Pour in chicken broth and cook for a few minutes until reduced by about half.
Creamy paprika sauce in a saucepan.
  1. 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 in a bowl with cilantro.
Author: Nicole B.

Paprika Sauce

4.67 from 15 votes
This delicious paprika sauce is creamy, tangy and smoky. Makes about 1 cup.
Print Version (does not include images) Pin Recipe
Cook Time: 12 minutes mins
Total Time: 12 minutes mins
Servings: 4
Course: Sauces
Cuisine: American
Calories: 111
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients:
  

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ½ cup minced onion (about ⅔ of a small onion)
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika*
  • ¾ cup chicken broth
  • 1 ½ tablespoons tomato paste
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons full-fat sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro

Equipment:

  • measuring cups and spoons
  • knife and cutting board
  • small saucepan
  • wooden spoon
  • whisk
Prevent your screen from going dark

Method:
 

  1. 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)
  2. Stir in paprika and and cook until fragrant (a few seconds).
    2 teaspoons smoked paprika*
  3. Add the chicken broth. Bring to a boil and cook, uncovered, until reduced by about half (3 to 4 minutes).
    ¾ cup chicken broth
  4. Take off the heat and whisk or stir in the tomato paste.
    1 ½ tablespoons tomato paste
  5. Stir in heavy cream, sour cream and cilantro.
    ¼ cup heavy cream, 2 tablespoons full-fat sour cream, 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
  6. 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):

Calories: 111kcalCarbohydrates: 3.7gProtein: 1.9gFat: 10.2gSaturated Fat: 6.3gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 157mgPotassium: 164mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1.6gCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg

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.

Comments

  1. Ashley says

    July 07, 2025 at 4:47 pm

    My husband and I love this sauce! We pair it with chicken, farro, and veggies. It's just amazing!

    Reply
    • Nicole B. says

      July 08, 2025 at 7:16 am

      That's wonderful to hear, Ashley!! Thank you so much for coming back and leaving feedback, that's much appreciated!

      Reply
  2. judy Dunn says

    June 22, 2025 at 2:14 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Nicole B. says

      June 22, 2025 at 3:48 pm

      Love to hear that, Judy! Thanks so much for making the recipe and sharing your feedback, it's much appreciated!

      Reply
  3. Steffani K. says

    June 08, 2021 at 7:26 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Nicole B. says

      June 08, 2021 at 8:13 am

      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.

      Reply
      • Sue Greenwood says

        October 13, 2022 at 11:42 am

        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

        October 13, 2022 at 12:40 pm

        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! :)

4.67 from 15 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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Hi there!

I'm Nicole, the cook and photographer behind this website. You'll find lots of delicious recipes here, all centered around spices.

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