Description
Chicken Paprikash is a classic Hungarian dish featuring tender chicken thighs simmered in a rich, smoky paprika sauce with onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes. Finished with creamy sour cream, it’s traditionally served over boiled potatoes, egg noodles, or rice for a comforting, flavorful meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 8 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Vegetables & Sauce
- 2 medium onions, finely chopped
- 2 red or green bell peppers, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 large ripe tomatoes, deseeded and chopped, or a 400g can of chopped tomatoes
- 1½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons sweet smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon hot paprika (optional)
- 350ml chicken stock
- 200ml sour cream
To Serve
- Boiled potatoes, egg noodles, or rice
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Season the chicken thighs with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Heat vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Brown the chicken thighs in batches for 5–8 minutes until golden on all sides. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Cook the Vegetables: In the same pan, add chopped onions and cook for 8–10 minutes until softened and golden. Add chopped bell peppers and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and chopped tomatoes, cooking for 5–8 minutes until tomatoes begin to break down.
- Add Paprika and Flour: Sprinkle in all-purpose flour, sweet smoked paprika, and hot paprika if using. Cook for 30 seconds while stirring to release the flavors and combine evenly.
- Simmer the Chicken: Return the browned chicken thighs to the pan, gently mixing to coat them with the paprika mixture. Pour in the chicken stock, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove the lid and simmer uncovered for another 15 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Finish the Sauce: Stir in the sour cream and cook for an additional 5 minutes, ensuring the sauce becomes creamy and fully integrated. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve: Serve the chicken paprikash hot over boiled potatoes, egg noodles, or rice for a traditional and satisfying meal.
Notes
- For deeper flavor, use sweet smoked paprika, but adjust or omit hot paprika based on your heat preference.
- Ensure the tomatoes are well broken down to create a rich sauce; canned tomatoes are a convenient alternative.
- You can substitute chicken thighs with drumsticks if preferred.
- To keep the sauce smooth, temper the sour cream by mixing a few tablespoons of hot sauce into it before adding to the pan.
- This dish pairs well with a simple cucumber salad or steamed green beans.
