Chicken Paprikash Recipe | Small Town Woman (2024)

by Beth Pierce 26 Comments

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Easy Chicken Paprikash combines bite-sized pieces of chicken pan-fried in butter, all smothered in a creamy sauce seasoned with sweet Hungarian paprika. Make this delicious Hungarian dish and impress your family and friends.

Chicken Paprikash Recipe | Small Town Woman (1)

Creamy Chicken Paprikash – Ultimate Comfort Food

Chicken Paprikash is the ultimate comfort food, warm, creamy, and full of flavor. Learn how to make this classic Hungarian dish with our easy-to-follow recipe. For the ultimate comfort food meal, serve it over egg noodles, dumplings, spaetzle, or mashed potatoes. If you like this recipe, try Hungarian mushroom soup, Hungarian goulash, Moroccan chicken, and cabbage soup.

Easy Ingredients – Awesome Paprikash

  • Chicken – boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
  • All-purpose flour
  • Sweet paprika – preferably Hungarian sweet paprika
  • Butter – salted or unsalted
  • Onion – sweet yellow
  • Garlic – fresh, of course
  • Chicken broth – low sodium
  • Kosher salt
  • Black pepper – fresh ground is always best
  • Sour cream – full-fat
  • Fresh parsley
Chicken Paprikash Recipe | Small Town Woman (2)

How to make Chicken Paprikash

First, add the cut chicken, 1 1/2 tablespoons flour, and 1 tablespoon sweet paprika to a bowl and toss to coat the chicken pieces. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet or pot over medium heat. Cook the chicken until golden brown on both sides and cooked through. Remove the chicken with a slotted spoon to a plate, leaving any fat and brown bits in the skillet.

Chicken Paprikash Recipe | Small Town Woman (3)

Melt the remaining butter in the skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until translucent and soft. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic, cooking for 1 minute while stirring continuously. Sprinkle in the remaining flour and paprika. Continue cooking for 2 minutes. Slowly stir in the chicken broth, whisking to combine. Simmer over low heat until thickened. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.

Chicken Paprikash Recipe | Small Town Woman (4)

Turn the heat as low as possible and stir in the sour cream. Add the chicken and its juices back to the skillet. Sprinkle with fresh chopped Italian parsley. Spoon over pasta, dumplings, mashed potatoes, or rice.

Beth’s Recipe Tips

  • This recipe is traditionally made with bone-in chicken but can also be made with boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs.
  • To thin the dish, add a bit of chicken broth, about 2 tablespoons at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.
  • For best results, use full-fat sour cream and reduce the heat to as low as it will go before stirring it in.
  • Though not traditional, other vegetables to consider adding aretomatoes, bellpeppers, or mushrooms.
  • Serve over dumplings, egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or rice.
Chicken Paprikash Recipe | Small Town Woman (5)

What is Hungarian Sweet Paprika?

Paprika is a spice made from dried and ground red peppers. Most commercial paprika comes from Hungary and has a variety of sweetness and heat levels; however, there are three basic types of paprika.

Sweet Paprika – is the most common type and the one most commercial brands fall into. This is the type that you need for this recipe. However, I encourage purchasing from a reputable spice company for the greatest flavor.

Hot Paprika – this type is made from hotter and more pungent peppers. It adds a spicy, peppery kick to recipes like Goulash.

Smoked Paprika – this paprika usually comes from Spain, but there are exceptions to that rule. It is made from peppers that are dried and smoked over fires. It is traditionally used in making Chorizo Sausage.

Store and Reheat

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power or on the stovetop on low. Because of the sour cream in this dish, I do not recommend freezing it.

More Chicken Recipes

  • French Onion Chicken
  • Chicken Taquitos
  • Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
  • Chicken Pesto Pasta
  • Chicken Potato Soup
  • Cajun Chicken Pasta

Chicken Paprikash Recipe | Small Town Woman (12)

Chicken Paprikash

This Chicken Paprikash is a Hungarian dish of lightly breaded chicken that is pan-fried in butter and smothered in a creamy sweet paprika sauce.

5 from 13 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 431kcal

Author: Beth Pierce

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs cut into bite-size pieces
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour divided
  • 2 tablespoons Hungarian sweet paprika
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
  • 1 medium yellow onion finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 cups chicken broth low sodium
  • Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
  • ¾ cup full-fat sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  • Add the cut chicken, 1 1/2 tablespoons flour, and 1 tablespoon sweet paprika to a bowl and toss to coat the chicken pieces.

  • Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook the chicken until golden brown on both sides and cooked through. Remove the chicken with a slotted spoon to a plate.

  • Melt the remaining butter in the skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until translucent and soft. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic cooking for 1 minute while stirring continuously.

  • Sprinkle in the remaining flour and the remaining paprika. Continue cooking for 2 minutes. Slowly stir in the chicken broth whisking to combine. Simmer over low heat until thickened. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.

  • Turn the heat as low as it will go and stir in the sour cream. Add the chicken and its juices back to the skillet. Sprinkle with fresh chopped Italian parsley.

Notes

  • This recipe is traditionally made with bone-in-chicken but it can be made with bone in skin-on chicken breasts, thighs, or legs or boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs.
  • To thin the dish simply add a little more chicken broth 2 tablespoons at a time until desired consistency.
  • For best results use full-fat sour cream and reduce the heat as low as it will go before stirring it in.
  • Serve over dumplings, egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or rice.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power or on the stovetop on low.
  • Because of the sour cream in this dish, I do not recommend freezing it.

Nutrition

Calories: 431kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 167mg | Sodium: 653mg | Potassium: 845mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2481IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 2mg

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More Easy Dinner Recipes

  • Corn Chowder
  • Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
  • Glazed Carrots
  • Garden Salad

Nutrition Disclaimer: All nutritional information shared on this site is an approximation. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on this site should be used as a general guideline.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. DK

    Chicken Paprikash Recipe | Small Town Woman (17)
    Wow, I love this chicken paprikash recipe! It’s so savory and creamy – the sour cream and paprika flavor mixes so well!

    Reply

    • Beth Pierce

      Thanks, DK! So happy that you enjoyed the chicken paprikash!

      Reply

  2. Erik James

    Chicken Paprikash Recipe | Small Town Woman (18)
    Such a wonderful and standout flavor in this. Surprisingly easy to make, I can’t wait to make it again impress my friends at a dinner party!

    Reply

    • Beth Pierce

      Thanks, Erik! I hope they enjoy it!

      Reply

  3. Aman

    Chicken Paprikash Recipe | Small Town Woman (19)
    This was a creamy and delicious chicken recipe. The family loved it. We love anything with paprika. Thanks a lot for sharing.

    Reply

    • Beth Pierce

      My pleasure, Aman!

      Reply

  4. Sashi

    Chicken Paprikash Recipe | Small Town Woman (20)
    This was amazing and such a treat! I served it over mashed potatoes and it was pure comfort food. Thank you!

    Reply

  5. Justina Edwards

    Chicken Paprikash Recipe | Small Town Woman (21)
    It was incredibly simple to make and soooo delicious! A new fav in our house. I can always count on you for great new recipes.

    Reply

    • Beth Pierce

      Thanks so much, Justina! I am so glad that you liked the dish!

      Reply

  6. Heather Johnson

    Chicken Paprikash Recipe | Small Town Woman (22)
    I love Paprika. This dish had such a delicious mix of flavors.

    Reply

    • Beth Pierce

      Thanks, Heather! So glad that you liked the chicken recipe. I love paprika too. It has so much flavor!

      Reply

  7. Missy

    Has anyone tried this without the sour cream? My hubby is not a fan.

    Reply

    • Barbara Tanner

      Chicken Paprikash Recipe | Small Town Woman (23)
      I make paprikash without sour cream. I add 2 tablespoons of regular cream at the end. It does change the flavor but we prefer it this way.

      Reply

  8. Jennifer

    I had no idea that paprika had a flavor until kind of recently. Lol! My Mom married in 1956 and received a spice rack thing as a wedding present, and since the paprika was only used on deviled eggs, that ancient red, tasteless powder in a jar lasted into the 1960s or 70s! I think then she bought a small can of red, tasteless powder at the A&P grocery that lasted into the 1990s- you get the picture. She wasn’t interested in cooking, to say the least, but I am, and wow- paprika has a taste, too! Or, as you mention, several flavors, depending on source, type, age, etc. I have 3 kinds in my cupboard. And, I now know that other herbs and spices have flavors as well- they aren’t just strange dark specks to make food seem fancy! Mom was very good at other things.
    I like the versatility of chicken paprikash, and thanks for this new recipe for it.

    Reply

    • Beth Pierce

      The pleasure is all mine, Jennifer! I love cooking with paprika and all kinds of other spices. Have you tried marjoram? I use it often to replace oregano.

      Reply

  9. Erin

    Sounds incredibly delicious! I would love to try this!

    Reply

  10. Catalina

    Chicken Paprikash Recipe | Small Town Woman (24)
    Love how creamy this chicken dish is! Perfect for tonight!

    Reply

    • Beth Pierce

      Thanks! So glad that you liked it!

      Reply

  11. Holley

    I love how flavorful and savory this dish is! Going in my dinner rotation for sure!

    Reply

    • Beth Pierce

      Thanks, Holley! I am happy to hear that you like the chicken!

      Reply

  12. kushigalu

    Chicken Paprikash Recipe | Small Town Woman (25)
    I love the combination of flavors here. The whole family really enjoyed this! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  13. Stephanie

    Chicken Paprikash Recipe | Small Town Woman (26)
    I make this dish a lot and you are definitely right about the paprika. The cheap kind is pretty flavorless. The “good” paprika makes it so much better!

    Reply

    • Beth Pierce

      Yes indeed!

      Reply

  14. Dannii

    Chicken Paprikash Recipe | Small Town Woman (27)
    I love anything with paprika and this was incredible. Really comforting.

    Reply

  15. Jess

    Chicken Paprikash Recipe | Small Town Woman (28)
    This is total comfort food at its finest!

    Reply

  16. Sandra

    Chicken Paprikash Recipe | Small Town Woman (29)
    I’m excited to try this recipe! Looks so good and sounds so easy to make!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Chicken Paprikash Recipe | Small Town Woman (2024)

FAQs

What is chicken paprikash sauce made of? ›

Paprikas csirke is made with pan seared bone-in chicken pieces tat are then braised in a simple sauce made with chicken stock, onions, garlic, tomato paste or tomatoes, and lots of good quality sweet Hungarian paprika. The one thing you mustn't skimp on is using good Hungarian paprika.

What does paprikash mean in Hungarian? ›

Paprikash, or paprikas in Hungarian, is a traditional paprika-based stew. The most famous preparation is chicken paprikash (paprikas csirke), although veal is sometimes used. Bone-in chicken pieces are browned in butter or lard, then braised until tender in a sauce of onions, garlic, water and paprika.

What is the history of chicken paprikash? ›

The origins of chicken paprikash predate the introduction of paprika and can be traced back to a simple one-pot chicken stew, a dish favored by the poor and thus often bolstered by large quantities of inexpensive onions. In time, paprika was added—and later a spare amount of tomato—creating a dish known as pörkölt.

What does paprikash taste like? ›

The spice Paprikash, or paprika, has a mild, sweet, earthy, sometimes musty flavor. Note that there are different types of paprika – sweet (called for in this recipe), spicy and smoked.

What makes Hungarian paprika different from regular paprika? ›

Hungarian paprika is often lauded as the most desirable and most flavorful iteration of the spice. It can be either hot or sweet and is made using ground Hungarian paprika chile peppers. In Hungary, paprika is further divided into eight categories based on gradations of sweetness and hotness.

Can I use regular paprika instead of Hungarian? ›

If you don't have this everyday version on hand, you can use sweet Hungarian paprika as a substitute. Because regular paprika is mainly used for color rather than flavor, though, expect the flavor of your dish to change if the recipe calls for a decent amount of the spice.

What's the difference between Hungarian and American paprika? ›

In Hungary there are many kinds of paprika, but in U.S. grocery stores you will likely just find one version that either comes from Hungary or from California. Paprika is the Hungarian word for pepper, and Hungarian-style paprika is not smoked, but rather fairly sweet.

What do Hungarians call paprika? ›

In Hungary this traditional food is called veresbors, while the pepper itself is called fűszerpaprika.

Do Hungarians love paprika? ›

Discover the history and tradition of this amazing 'red gold' spice. A trip to Hungary will teach you many things, and the unwavering Hungarian love for paprika will be one of them. It's a firm favourite in the spice rack of locals, and you'll find it featured within many traditional dishes.

What is the Hungarian paprika scandal? ›

Their beloved paprika has been banned from stores and markets after one-third of test samples were found poisoned with lead oxide. The drastic action was taken by health authorities last week after nearly 50 people were hospitalized with stomach aches, paralysis of limbs and other symptoms of lead poisoning.

Is paprikash good for you? ›

Paprika contains high levels of vitamins C and E, with the former providing protection against cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes. The iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium also found in paprika helps to purify the blood and keep the heart healthy.

What is unique about Hungarian paprika? ›

In Hungary, paprika is grown in the Kalocsa and Szeged regions, where the climate is drier and the sun burns longer, giving the peppers their unique color and sweet zest.

Which is better Spanish or Hungarian paprika? ›

Usually the Hungarian version is sweeter vs Spanish which is often smokier. This doesn't apply to all, and it depends on the brand/where you buy it in terms of how they label it. This also applies to US grocery stores, idk how or what they distinguish elsewhere.

What is the national dish of Hungary? ›

Hungary's national dish

Gulyás, known to English speakers as goulash, is a spicy meat stew containing lots of paprika pepper. Originally, it was eaten by the country's cattle herders and stockmen.

Is Hungarian paprika sweet or spicy? ›

Paprika is the Hungarian word for pepper, and Hungarian-style paprika is not smoked, but rather fairly sweet. It was the Turks who introduced the chilies to Hungary, and it's a very popular spice in Hungarian cuisine, giving distinctive flavor to soups and stews such as chicken paprikash and beef goulash.

What are the ingredients in Hungarian paprika? ›

Hungarian Paprika is one of the most popular spices in the world, made from ground dried red peppers, known for its spicy heat as well as a fiery flavor and crimson color that makes any food that it is added to so much more appealing.

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