Chicken Paprikash Recipe - Ultimate Comfort Food! (2024)

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Chicken Paprikashis one of the most famous and beloved Hungarian recipes out there, and it’s not hard to see why. Tender chicken, hearty veggies, and a rich, creamy paprika-infused sauce make each bite unforgettable. Hungarian comfort food will become your family’s newest obsession!

You know what’s cool aboutchicken paprikash(besides the amazing flavor…)? It looks like something you had to slave over all day. But in reality, this is a very hands-off dish. You’re only responsible for a little prep, the occasional stir, and adding a spice or two. You don’t have to tell anyone just how easy it is to make!

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Paprikash Recipe

• Tender and Juicy Chicken. If you’ve ever wondered what to make with a chicken breast, this is the dish for you. This chicken stays incredibly tender and juicy thanks to cooking it low and slow after a hard sear. The result is succulent chicken that falls apart with a fork.
• Sauce. Let’s be clear – the sauce is the star of this dish. Creamy, rich, and deliciously spiced, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. You’ll want to be sure you have some good bread to sop up every last bite!
• So Easy. Whenever I see a dish that takes longer than an hour, I often assume that means it’s complicated. Not so with chicken paprikash! With the exception of a little prep in the beginning, the vast majority of the cook time is hands off.

What Does Chicken Paprikash Taste Like?

Chicken paprikash is one of our favorite traditional Hungarian recipes. It’s similar to goulash, but it uses flour as a thickener and includes sour cream in the gravy. It has a rich, savory flavor with light sweetness thanks to the use of paprika, a spice commonly found in Hungarian cuisine. The richness added by the sour cream only makes everything more irresistible!

What You’ll Need

You probably have some chicken breasts in that fridge or freezer of yours. Got some wine?! Heck yeah you do! Onions, carrots and tomatoes, too? Canned will do. Get it all together and let’s do this! Scroll to the recipe card for exact amounts.

• For the Chicken: Boneless chicken breasts, flour, paprika, salt, pepper, and olive oil.
• Veggies: Onions, carrots, garlic, and tomatoes (fresh are best, but canned is fine).
• Seasoning: Parsley, thyme, and paprika.
• For the Sauce: White wine, chicken broth, and sour cream.
• Egg Noodles: For serving.

How to Make Chicken Paprikash

Now that you have all your ingredients prepared, it’s time to get cooking! Check out the recipe card for detailed directions.

• Sear the Chicken. Mix your spice rub together in a medium-sized bowl while you heat some olive oil in a large skillet. Coat each side of the chicken breast with the spice rub, shake off any excess, and add it to the hot oil. Brown each side for 4-5 minutes and set aside.

• Saute Veggies. Add onions, carrots, parsley, and thyme to the skillet and saute for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute until it’s very fragrant. Mix in the tomatoes, being sure to scrape up all the browned chicken bits from the bottom.

• Make the Sauce. Pour in the wine and chicken broth and bring everything to a boil.
• Cook. Return the chicken to the pan, turn the heat down to low, cover, and cook for an hour.
• Finish. Just before you’re ready to serve, take the chicken out of the pan, and whisk the sour cream into the sauce until it’s totally combined. Serve over egg noodles and enjoy!

Recipe Tips

• Spices. If it’s been a while since you’ve frequented your spice cabinet, make sure none of them are more than 8 months old. If so, they won’t have nearly as much flavor as they’re supposed to – and paprika is a central ingredient in this dish. I recommend using paprika that’s newer than 3 months old for the best results.
• Paprika. The best kind of paprika to use for chicken paprikash is – you guessed it – authentic Hungarian paprika. If you can get your hands on it, you’re in for some serious yumminess. Hungarian paprika is super rich and flavorful, but it’s not a dealbreaker if you don’t have access to it. Just use regular sweet paprika instead! If the flavor isn’t strong enough, you can always add some extra.
• Chicken Temperature. Before you place your chicken over the egg noodles and pour on the sauce, go ahead and check the internal temperature of the meat with an instant read thermometer. If your chicken pieces are particularly thick, they may need a little more time to cook. Once the chicken reaches 165°F, you’re good to go!
• Egg Noodles. Wide or medium-wide egg noodles pair best with chicken paprikash. They do a better job of holding onto that sumptuous sauce!
• Cook the Noodles While the Sauce Simmers. In order for your noodles to be nice and warm when you add the chicken and the sauce, cook them on another burner while the sauce and the chicken simmer rather than preparing them at the beginning.

How to Serve Chicken Paprikash

We love to serve paprikash over egg noodles in our house. It’s super traditional and really good. But feel free to change things up if you’re not feeling the egg noodles for any reason. These flavors would be great over cauliflower rice, dumplings, mashed potatoes, or jasmine rice. I also heartily recommend a good piece of crusty bread or naan to soak up all that delicious sauce!

Storing Leftovers

• Refrigerate:Leftover chicken paprikash should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Enjoy it within 3-4 days.
• Reheat: Reheat it over medium-low heat until the chicken is warm and the sauce is simmering.
• Freeze:Since this dish uses sour cream in the sauce, I don’t recommend freezing it. The thawing process will cause the sauce to separate.

More Easy Chicken Recipes

• Baked Garlic Butter Chicken
• Easy Crock Pot Salsa Verde Chicken
• Creamy Pesto Chicken Recipe