A delicious and easy-to-make Chicken Paprikash recipe
Chicken Paprikash is a classic Hungarian dish that is bursting with flavor and warmth. Made with tender chicken, rich and creamy paprika sauce, and served over a bed of fluffy rice or noodles, this dish is perfect for a cozy and satisfying meal. Whether you’re cooking for a family dinner or hosting a dinner party, Chicken Paprikash is sure to impress.
When to Enjoy
Chicken Paprikash is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed at any time of the year. It is especially comforting during the colder months when you crave something hearty and warming. This dish is perfect for cozy family dinners or for entertaining guests.
Where it’s Popular
Chicken Paprikash is a traditional Hungarian dish that is popular not only in Hungary but also in neighboring countries such as Austria, Slovakia, and Serbia. It is a staple in Hungarian cuisine and can be found on the menus of many Hungarian restaurants around the world.
Pairing Suggestions
Chicken Paprikash pairs perfectly with a side of fluffy white rice or buttered noodles, which help to soak up the flavorful paprika sauce. For a complete meal, serve it with a fresh green salad or steamed vegetables on the side. To complement the dish, you can also pair it with a light and refreshing white wine or a crisp and fruity rosé.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips and tricks to make the perfect Chicken Paprikash:
- Use high-quality paprika for the best flavor. Hungarian sweet paprika is recommended for an authentic taste.
- Make sure to evenly coat the chicken pieces with paprika before cooking. This will help to infuse the dish with delicious flavor.
- To make the sauce extra creamy, you can add a splash of sour cream or heavy cream towards the end of cooking.
- For added depth of flavor, you can also sauté some onions and garlic before adding the chicken and paprika to the pan.
- Garnish the dish with fresh parsley or chopped green onions for a pop of color and freshness.
With these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to create a delicious and authentic Chicken Paprikash that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tbsp paprika
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the chicken thighs and cook for 5-6 minutes on each side until browned.
- Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the onion and garlic to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened.
- Stir in the paprika and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the chicken broth to the skillet and bring to a simmer.
- Return the chicken to the skillet and spoon some of the sauce over the top.
- Cover the skillet and simmer for 20-25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
- Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Whisk the sour cream into the sauce until fully incorporated.
- Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
- Return the chicken to the skillet and spoon the sauce over the top.
- Serve the chicken paprikash over cooked egg noodles or rice.
Totally bomb taste! I might just eat this every day.
Yesss! This is my go-to recipe now! Can’t get enough of it!
Is this really authentic? My grandma’s recipe doesn’t use sour cream!
Paprika? I thought it was gonna be more spicy. But real good anyway. Thanks!
I burned the chicken 😭 but it still tasted okay, I guess. Would try again!
I really dont like sour cream and it was too much for me. Maybe use less?
I don’t know why this is called ‘easy,’ it took me forever to clean up! But the taste was alright.
This was a hit with the family! So flavorful and easy to make. Will be making again.
Yummy! 😋
I made this for my boyfriend, and he loved it! I added some mushrooms too. Yum!
I followed it exactly and the chicken came out juicy. One question: should the sour cream be added off-heat to avoid curdling? I whisked it in while simmering and it was fine, but I was nervous.
I usually add the sour cream off-heat or at least lower the heat, but honestly your method (whisking in while simmering) works if it’s not boiling. Next time just keep it at a gentle simmer and whisk constantly.
Could’ve used more instructions for thickness. Also, I didn’t have onions so I used shallots and it was fine. Might reduce broth next time.
Hmm “reduce broth” sounds right, but also did you whisk the sour cream in off heat? If you simmer it hard, it can get weird. I usually do low heat after adding sour cream.
Thanks! I agree—next time I’ll add a step about how to tell the sauce thickness (like simmering a bit longer or adjusting broth). And good to know shallots work too.
I was skeptical about the “easy” part but it actually is. Only thing I’d change is maybe browning the chicken a bit longer for deeper color. Otherwise perfect weeknight meal.
Don’t think paprika is really necessary here. Just use any spice you have, won’t change much…
I don’t know… I mean, any spice? That’s kinda not how it works with recipes. 😕
Paprika is key to this dish! It gives that flavor and color. Trust me, it makes a difference.
Easy to make but my chicken took longer to cook than the recipe said. Still good though.
I don’t really get why everyone loves this dish. It was too creamy for my taste.
Too creamy? I thought that was the whole point! Try it with more spices maybe…
I actually love the creaminess! It’s such a comforting dish. Have you tried adding less sour cream?
Not gonna lie, 2 tbsp paprika seems like a lot. I was worried it would be overpowering, but it balanced out once the sour cream went in.
I felt the same way the first time I made paprikash—2 tbsp sounds aggressive. But like you said, browning the paprika and then mellowing it with sour cream really helps. It ends up savory instead of smoky-bitter.
Looks like a lot of ingredients for such a simple dish…
10/10 would recommend! Super easy and quick!! My new go-to dish.
I don’t see how this is easy. The steps seem complicated. I’ll stick to microwave meals.
I followed the recipe step by step, but it didn’t come out right. Maybe too much paprika? Idk.
OMG, my kids did NOT like it! Too creamy for them. But I thought it was ok.
This recipe is a game changer! So easy and delicious! My kids loved it.
Very easy recipe! My 10-year-old followed it perfectly! #proudmom
That’s awesome! It’s great to see kids getting involved in the kitchen. Chicken Paprikash is a fun recipe!
Disaster! My chicken burned and the sauce was too runny.
Paprika? Thought it was supposed to be Italian? My fam didn’t even touch it.
I tried this with boneless chicken breast instead, still good!
Superb dish! Paprika really gives it a kick. Will definitely make again!
I agree! Paprika adds such a great flavor! This dish reminds me of my grandma’s cooking!
Can u use yogurt instead of sour cream? I’m out and it’s a must-try for me.
This is the best chicken paprikash I’ve ever made! So creamy and full of flavor. Will definitely make it again!
Delicious! I served it over egg noodles like suggested and it soaked up the sauce perfectly. Would absolutely make again.
Pretty straightforward and hard to mess up. I used a little extra paprika because I like it bold. Sauce was creamy and flavorful.
Do you really need sour cream? I thought it was just for desserts.
delicous! 🙌 But be careful with the sour cream. Added a bit too much and it was all like… weird.
I followed the steps exactly, but mine came out a bit too thin even after simmering. Maybe I didn’t reduce the broth enough—still good though.
Good save! If it was thin, I usually keep it simmering uncovered a few minutes right after adding the broth, so it reduces a bit before the sour cream goes in.
Thin sauce makes sense—only 1 cup broth for that much chicken can still stay brothy. Next time maybe use less broth or simmer longer before adding the sour cream. Still sounds tasty though!
Not bad, but I think 2 tbsp paprika might be too much for my taste. I ended up using a little less and it still worked. Sauce was good though.
Best chicken ever! I used leftover chicken and it worked perfectly.
Glad it worked out for you! Leftover chicken is a lifesaver. Did you add anything special to it?
Leftover chicken? I don’t know about that… fresh is always better, right?
Mine didn’t thicken much after adding sour cream—maybe I didn’t reduce the broth enough. Flavor was still good, just looked a bit thinner than expected.
Good catch—sour cream usually wants a little time/heat to marry in, but it won’t magically thicken if there isn’t enough reduction. Next time I’d simmer the broth/onion/paprika a bit longer before adding the sour cream (or reduce the broth by like a third). Also make sure it’s not boiling hard once the sour cream goes in.
Mine didn’t thicken either 😅 I think I added the sour cream too early or didn’t let the sauce get hot enough. Still tasted awesome though. Might try a little flour/cornstarch next time? Idk, I’m not a chef lol.
Bland. I know I used enough paprika, but somehow it didn’t taste like much. Maybe my broth was salty or not salty enough? Not sure.
Chicken paprikash is one of those dishes my grandma made, and this is pretty close. Not 100% authentic, but honestly tasty and comforting.
Made this in 30 minutes flat! Very quick and tasty.
30 minutes? That’s hard to believe. It took me longer than that. 😒
I agree! This recipe is a lifesaver for busy weeknights. 🕒
Easy but boring flavor. I expected something more exciting. Not bad but not great.
I thought the same! Maybe adding some herbs or a squeeze of lemon could bring it to life? 🤔
This recipe is fantastic! My family loved it. The chicken was so juicy!
Eh. It was okay. Nothing special just chicken with sauce. The noodles were yummy tho.
I dunno, I thought it was pretty good! The sauce had a nice flavor to it. Maybe you didn’t add enough seasoning?
Honestly, how can you say it’s just chicken with sauce? That’s chicken paprikash! It’s supposed to be simple, but delicious. The noodles are a great touch, tho!
So easy!! I’m not even a cook and it worked. My family asked for seconds, which never happens, lol.
That’s awesome—“seconds” is the real approval! 😄 I’ve made this once and the paprika sauce is always so comforting. Did you serve it with noodles or rice?
I used chicken breasts instead and it turned out fine. Everyone loved it, so I can only assume the thighs are even better!
Yum! I added some bell peppers for extra crunch. Delicious!
I dunno, adding bell peppers seems like a lot. Isn’t the recipe perfect as it is?
That sounds great! I love bell peppers! Do they really make it crunchy?
Chicken thighs were juicy, no doubt. Next time I’ll brown them a bit longer to get deeper color on the outside.
The instructions are clear, but I had to add more salt at the end. Also, 20-25 minutes felt a bit long for thighs in my pan—next time I’ll check earlier.
Good point—thickness of the thighs really changes cook time. I’ve also had to salt again at the end once the sauce reduces.
Mine cooked in about 15-18 min, so 20-25 does sound long depending on your pan and heat. Glad you caught it early next time!
Chicken good, but I think I add too much salt, whoops!
I dunno, it seemed kinda bland to me. Needs more seasoning than just salt and pepper. 🤷♂️
Yum! I added extra garlic because I love garlic! 😉
Made this tonight and it’s super comforting. The paprika + sour cream combo is the real deal—tastes like it took way more effort than it did.
If you dont have chicken broth can you just use water? Asking for a friend.
Simple and tasty. Cooks fast. Noodles were a bit much tho. Can I skip them next time?
I mean, there’s no rule that says you have to use noodles. But they do soak up the sauce real nice! 🤷♂️
Sure, you can skip the noodles! Just serve the chicken with some veggies instead.
I’m skeptical about “easy” paprikash—sounds too simple. But it actually tastes legit. The sauce has that comforting paprika depth.
Yum! Made this last night. I added mushrooms and it was amazing!
Mushrooms sound like a great addition! I might try that next time too.
This was sooo good! My family loved it and asked for seconds. Will make again!
Paprikash? What is that? I thought this was a chicken stew. Confused.
I never heard of paprikash before either. Sounds fancy, but I’m just looking for a good chicken stew recipe. Is it really worth trying?
Paprikash is a traditional Hungarian dish! It’s basically a chicken stew with lots of paprika, which gives it that nice flavor and color. Don’t be confused, it’s super yummy!
My sour cream split a little 😬 I whisked it in off-heat though, so not sure what happened. Flavor is still nice—just not as silky.
Made this tonight—super comforting. The paprika flavor really comes through and the sour cream makes it creamy without being too heavy. Served with noodles and it was a hit.