Homemade Chicken Paprikash Recipe (2024)

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This Chicken Paprikash recipe or paprika chicken is a hearty Hungarian dish. The chicken is cooked in a paprika gravy and served over egg noodles.

Our chicken paprikash recipe is a special dish that my Grandmother used to make for my family. As a child, it was one of my favorite meals.

A few years after Kim and I got married, she wanted to learn how to make some of my Grandmother’s recipes. I’m happy to report, Kim has done a wonderful job recreating those dishes.

From bean soups to spaetzle, she’s figured out how to make them all. Needless to say, I’m overjoyed!

So, for today’s recipe, we’re going to share an updated version of my Grandmother’s chicken paprikash. Let’s get started.

How to Make Chicken Paprikash:

  1. Grab a large saucepan, place it over medium heat, and heat the oil. Once it’s warm, add the onions.
  2. Let the onions cook until they’re soft. After that, sprinkle in the paprika.
  3. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then add it to the pan.
  4. Now, pour in 1 cup the broth and all of the tomatoes (with juices). Cover the pan and let everything cook for about an hour over low heat. When the chicken is done, remove it from the pot.
  5. In another pan or the microwave, heat the remaining broth. Carefully, whisk the flour into the warmed broth.
  6. Add the mixture to the saucepan, along with the sour cream. You can add extra salt if needed.
  7. Whisk everything together, over low heat, to create the gravy.
  8. Last, when the gravy reaches the thickness you like, turn off the heat and add the chicken back to the pot.
  9. Serve it over egg noodles, spaetzle. or even garlic mashed potatoes.

What do you serve with chicken paprikash?

Well, that depends. Personally, I prefer homemade spaetzle. However, some people like simple egg noodles. Boiled potatoes with salt and a side of sauerkraut makes for a hearty meal as well.

How do you thicken chicken paprikash?

There a couple of different ways to thicken the gravy. You can cook it down, which takes a while. Or, you can use the simple roux (broth and flour mixture). Another way is to use a cornstarch slurry; but I don’t recommend that method unless you’ve run out of options.

Can you substitute yogurt for sour cream in chicken paprikash?

Yes, you can substitute yogurt for sour cream. With that being said, it will affect the flavor. The gravy will a bit more bitter and will have a unique aftertaste that sour cream doesn’t have.

Other Chicken Recipes to Try:

  • Crispy Chicken Salad
  • Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
  • Southwest Chicken Salad
  • Teriyaki Chicken Casserole

Homemade Chicken Paprikash Recipe (4)

Homemade Chicken Paprikash Recipe

4.8 from 47 votes

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Author: Kimberly

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 Servings

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons canola oil, or vegetable oil
  • ¾ cup white onion, diced
  • 3 tablespoons Hungarian paprika
  • 1 ½ pounds chicken, any variety; cut into chunks
  • 14 ½ ounces diced tomatoes
  • 1 ¼ cups low-sodium chicken broth, ¼ cup reserved
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 8 ounces sour cream
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Heat the oil (over medium heat) in a deep stockpot and add the onions. Cook them until soft and translucent, then add the paprika.

    2 tablespoons canola oil

    ¾ cup white onion

    3 tablespoons Hungarian paprika

  • Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Place it in the stockpot.

    1 ½ pounds chicken

  • Carefully pour in the tomatoes and 1 cup of chicken broth.

    14 ½ ounces diced tomatoes

  • Cover and simmer over low heat for 1 hour. Ensure that chicken cooks all the way through.

  • After the chicken cooks, remove it from the pan and set it aside.

  • Heat the remaining ¼ cup of chicken broth just until warm. You can heat in your microwave.

  • Mix the broth and flour and stir until a thick slurry forms. This is the roux.

    3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • Add the sour cream, salt, and roux to the stockpot and whisk to combine. Continue to whisk over low heat until gravy reaches desired thickness.

    8 ounces sour cream

  • Serve the chicken and gravy over spaetzle or other egg noodles.

Suggested Equipment

Nutrition

Serving: 4ounces | Calories: 406kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 108mg | Sodium: 374mg | Potassium: 512mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2200IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 3mg

Notes

The calories listed are an approximation based on the ingredients and a serving size of about 4 ounces of the chicken and gravy. Furthermore, it does NOT include the noodles shown in the photos. Actual calories will vary. The paprika chicken can be stored in a sealed container in your fridge for up to 3 days.

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Homemade Chicken Paprikash Recipe (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.

Is paprikash the same as goulash? ›

Goulash terminologies can be confusing. Abroad, goulash has retained its original meaning — a paprika-strewn beef stew usually served with egg dumplings (galuska or nokedli) on the side. A paprikash is essentially the same thing except it's made with chicken or veal and finished with sour cream.

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 paprika and Hungarian paprika? ›

Spanish paprika is typically of the sweet variety and is made from Spanish chiles. 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.

What are Hungarian seasonings? ›

After paprika, garlic and onion bulbs are some of the most popular aromatics, either or both being used in most every savoury dish. Herbs are also a key component of Hungarian cuisine, with dill, bay leaf, marjoram, and parsley being the most common.

What country did chicken paprikash originate from? ›

Chicken paprikash (Hungarian: paprikás csirke or csirkepaprikás) or paprika chicken is a popular dish of Hungarian origin and one of the most famous variations on the paprikás preparations common to Hungarian tables. The name is derived from paprika, a spice commonly used in the country's cuisine.

Who invented chicken paprikash? ›

My belief is that, unlike goulash, which was invented by trail herders on the move, Chicken Paprikash originated among the farmers of southern Hungary.

Why do Hungarians eat so much paprika? ›

“It's an essential ingredient in Hungarian cuisine and it gives many dishes their brilliant, orange-red colour and intense, peppery flavour and aroma. Paprika can be sweet, hot and even smoked – and it comes in different grades of coarseness and colour.”

What type of paprika is best? ›

If you're thinking of purchasing new paprika, I'd recommend semi-sweet Hungarian, which has a balanced, bittersweet flavor, and hot pimentón for more complex kick. Those two should cover most of your paprika needs. But why stop there? With a spice as versatile as paprika there's no reason to hold back.

What does gulyás mean in Hungarian? ›

The name originates from the Hungarian gulyás [ˈɡujaːʃ]. The word gulya means 'herd of cattle' in Hungarian, and gulyás means 'herdsman' or 'cowboy'. The word gulyás originally meant only 'herdsman', but over time the dish became gulyáshús ('goulash meat') – that is to say, a meat dish which was prepared by herdsmen.

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.

What makes Hungarian paprika different from regular paprika? ›

Spanish paprika is typically of the sweet variety and is made from Spanish chiles. 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.

Is there a difference between Hungarian paprika and regular 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'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.

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