These juicy beef meatballs baked in a creamy tomato and sour cream sauce are the definition of comfort food. Tender, flavorful, and smothered in rich sauce, they pair perfectly with mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta. If you love hearty beef dinners, also try our melt-in-your-mouth braised beef with onions or the hearty beef salad with corn and walnuts; and homemade turkey sausages make another family-friendly option.
Ingredients
- 450 g (1 lb) ground beef
- 1 egg
- 40 g (3 tbsp) rice
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 70 g tomato paste
- 200 g sour cream
- 500 ml (2 cups) water
- Spices, salt, and fresh herbs to taste
Instructions
- Finely chop and saute the onion. Boil the rice until almost done but still slightly firm, about 15 minutes.
- Combine the ground beef, egg, rice, onion, and spices; mix thoroughly.
- With wet hands, shape small meatballs and arrange in a baking dish.
- For the sauce, whisk the tomato paste with the sour cream, add the water, and stir. Pour over the meatballs — they should be fully covered.
- Bake at 180C (350F) for about 40 minutes.
Tips
- Keep your hands wet while shaping the meatballs so the mixture does not stick and each ball stays smooth and round.
- Make sure the meatballs are fully covered with sauce before baking so they cook evenly and stay juicy.
- For food-safety basics like safe internal temperatures for ground beef, see the resources at USDA; more meatball inspiration can be found at Allrecipes.
Nutrition per 100 g: 85.6 kcal, protein 10.3 g, fat 2.5 g, carbs 4.6 g.