Chicken Paprikash, also called Paprika Chicken, proves that the best things can come in one pot!
This Hungarian braised chicken is simple comfort food with a deep rich paprika flavor
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What is Chicken Paprikash sauce?
Hungarian Chicken Paprikash, or paprika chicken, is a traditional and easy Hungarian dish. It is simply braised chicken, with onions, cooked in flavorful seasonings of paprika and garlic. The sauce is super flavorful, especially with the addition of sour cream at the end. The deep red color is amazing and the flavor is rich.
Ingredients needed:
- Chicken Thighs – Large, skin-on or thigh/leg combo
- Oil and Butter – we use salted butter for a little extra flavor but unsalted is fine too
- Flour – serves as the main thickening agent for the sauce
- Salt and Pepper – use white pepper if you want a more pure red color
- Onion and Garlic – feel free to add more garlic if you like (we often do!)
- Sweet Hungarian Paprika – the key ingredient needed to make Chicken Paprikash so use the very best for this recipe. We prefer Szeged brand because it’s got the best flavor!
- Chicken Broth – look for a good organic brand or use homemade
- Sour Cream – the sauce gets its signature tangy and creaminess from sour cream
- Flat Leaf Parsley – technically optional but it adds a gorgeous pop of color
What kind of paprika is best for Hungarian Chicken Paprikash?
There are 3 types of paprika available:
- Sweet
- Smoked
- Hot
The best paprika comes from Hungary and it is their national spice. Sweet Hungarian Paprika is the best kind to use for this dish and you can easily find it at any major market or on Amazon. It’s worth the small investment and a little goes a long way!
Chicken Paprikash and Hungarian Goulash (which is a similar one-pan wonder but with beef) are probably the best-known dishes from the region.
Regular paprika is made with generic red sweet peppers, whereas Sweet Hungarian Paprika is made from a specific sweet pepper with vivid red color. The Hungarian peppers are grown in cooler climates so they retain more of their sugar, therefore there is no heat in Sweet Hungarian Paprika. If you like a little heat add a dash of hot paprika or cayenne to the sauce.
How to make Hungarian Chicken Paprikash:
This Chicken Paprikash recipe is a typical braise and as a result, once you’ve mastered it, any braise recipe will be similar in technique.
- Heat oil/butter in a Dutch oven or large ovenproof pan
- Lightly dredge the chicken pieces in seasoned flour
- Sear on both sides until lightly browned and the skin is crispy. You won’t be cooking the chicken all the way through during the searing stage, instead, it will finish later in the oven
- Searing is important for crispy skin, so sear in batches if needed, and do not overcrowd the pan otherwise the chicken will steam instead of sear
Sear chicken on both sides so the skin is crispy and lightly golden
- Once seared, remove the chicken from the pan, and set aside
- Reserve about 1 Tablespoon of the oil in the pan and saute the onions until clear
- Add the minced garlic and saute briefly until fragrant
- Add the flour and Hungarian paprika to the pan. Be sure to stir continually (for 5 minutes) as paprika can easily burn
- Whisk in the chicken broth and mix well
- Add the seared chicken pieces back into the pot in a single layer, skin side up
- Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until the thighs are cooked through, and the sauce is thickened. The actual cooking time can vary as a result of the size of the chicken pieces you choose
- While the chicken is cooking remove the sour cream from the refrigerator so that it can come to room temperature before using it
- Remove the pan from the oven and remove the chicken pieces to a plate
- Temper the sour cream before adding: Add a spoonful of the hot sauce to the room temperature sour cream and whisk. Add another spoonful and whisk again. The goal is to bring the temperature up on the sour cream so that when you add it to the hot sauce it doesn’t curdle. This step is important so DON’T skip it!
- Whisk the tempered sour cream into the pot with the sauce and onions
- Add chicken pieces back to the pot and return to the oven, skin side up, and cook for an additional 7-10 minutes
- Remove from the oven, sprinkle with parsley and serve in a shallow bowl to capture the sauce, or serve over precooked noodles
Sauce with sour cream added and finished Chicken Paprikash
What to serve with Chicken Paprikash:
This dish is traditionally served with rice, small new potatoes, or over noodles. The two best types of noodles for this chicken are medium-wide egg noodles or Spaetzle, which is a thick irregularly shaped German egg noodle. Both of these noodles are perfect because they capture the thick, delicious, paprika-based sauce.
How to store leftover Chicken Paprikash:
This dish is the perfect make-ahead dish. You can store the chicken and sauce together in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Also, this dish is easily stored in the freezer for 2-3 months. It’s always nice to double it up and freeze it for a quick dinner later. To serve, just rewarm, add a bit of chicken broth if needed, boil some noodles, and dinner is served! Perfect for a cold winter night.
Side dishes to serve with Chicken Paprika
- Our Arugula Beet Salad with Goat Cheese is a light starter
- This Tricolore Salad with Oranges is gorgeous and zesty with a clean citrus flavor
- Our Fresh Peach Salad with Cumin Port Vinaigrette has flavorful fresh peaches and crunchy candied pecans and tangy blue cheese
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Chicken Paprikash (Paprika Chicken)
Equipment
- Large Pot or Dutch Oven
Ingredients
- 8 large chicken thighs, skin on (or leg/thigh combo)
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground pepper
- 2 Tbsp canola or olive oil, or bacon fat
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 12 ounces yellow onion, peeled and large diced
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 4 Tbsp Hungarian Paprika, sweet (or 3 Tbsp sweet and 1 Tbsp hot)
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1¼ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F
- Heat 1 Tablespoon oil and 1 Tablespoon butter in a large oven-safe saute pan or Dutch Oven pan, over medium-high heat. Butter should be foamy and oil shimmering.
- In a shallow bowl combine flour, salt, and pepper. Dredge the chicken thighs in the flour
- Sear half of the chicken, skin side down, until the skin is crispy and golden brown, about 5-6 minutes. Flip chicken and sear the other side for 5 minutes. Remove to a plate.Add remaining oil and butter if needed, and repeat with the other half of chicken. Remove to a plate and set aside.
- Pour off all but 1 Tablespoon of the oil in the pan.
- Turn heat down to medium and add the onions. Cook about 7-8 minutes or until the onions are soft and clear. Be sure to scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Add garlic and cook for about 1-2 minutes. Add paprika and 2 Tablespoons of flour. Stirring constantly for about 5 minutes. Paprika can burn so be sure to keep stirring.
- Add the broth and blend well.
- Nestle the chicken back in the pot, skin side up.
- Cook in preheated oven and cook for about 30 minutes or until chicken thighs are cooked through, and the sauce has thickened slightly. (Cooking time will vary depending on the size of chicken pieces)
- Put sour cream in a bowl and leave out to come to room temperature while the chicken is cooking.
- If making noodles to accompany prepare them while chicken is cooking.
- Remove pan from the oven and remove the cooked chicken.
- Add a spoonful of the sauce to the sour cream bowl and whisk to "temper" the sour cream. Then add another spoonful and repeat. Don't skip this step. If you add sour cream to the hot sauce it could curdle, so it's important to temper it first.
- Whisk tempered sour cream into the pan to combine thoroughly.
- Place chicken pieces back into sauce, skin side up, and return to oven for 7-10 minutes to reheat.
- If desired, serve over noodles with sauce and 2 pieces of chicken on top.
Notes
- Be sure to use high-quality sweet Hungarian paprika for the best flavor
- Tempering the sour cream before adding it to the sauce is essential so don’t skip this step
- This recipe can be doubled
Dana
This was my first time making chicken paprikash, or even HAVING it, and wow. SO GOOD. Will definitely be making this again.
Tara
Oh yum! This chicken looks so good. Such incredible flavors all packed into one pot. Sounds perfect paired with the arugula beet salad.
Ned
The flavor profile is incredible on this recipe! 10 out of 10 will make this again!
Anjali
This looks so hearty and flavorful thanks to the added spices! Can’t wait to make it soon!
Tara W.
Not only is this dinner recipe so easy (thanks one pot recipes!) but it is bursting with tons of flavor! Can’t wait to make it again.
Chris Collins
This is total comfort food! Can’t wait to try the recipe in the week 🙂
Dannii
I love paprika chicken. Such easy comfort food, and this looks delicious.
Sadia Malik
delicious dish with amazing colors will make again
Emily Liao
This one is so flavorful! Loved the sauce and the chicken became so juicy.
FOODHEAL
Paprika adds an authentic flavor to food. I love adding it to almost my stews. This chicken looks delicious and tasty
Jayne
I agree and I add it to so many things! Thanks for stopping by!