Chicken Paprikash, or Paprikás Csirke, is one of Hungary’s most beloved comfort foods. Tender chicken is gently simmered with onions and sweet Hungarian paprika, then finished with a creamy sour cream sauce. Serve it with Hungarian dumplings or egg noodles for a delicious homemade meal.

🍽️ Recipe at a Glance

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 4–6
Cuisine: Hungarian
Course: Main Course

🛒 Ingredients

For the Chicken

1.2 kg chicken thighs or drumsticks
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or lard
2 medium onions, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons sweet Hungarian paprika
1 medium tomato, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
250 ml chicken stock or water
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper

For the Creamy Sauce

200 g sour cream (tejföl)
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2–3 tablespoons cooking liquid from the chicken
½ teaspoon sweet Hungarian paprika

To Serve

Fresh parsley, optional
Hungarian nokedli (dumplings)
Egg noodles
Rice, if preferred

👩‍🍳 How to Make Chicken Paprikash

1. Prepare the Chicken

Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels.

Season lightly with salt and black pepper.

Set aside while preparing the onion base.

2. Cook the Onions

Heat the oil or lard in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat.

Add the chopped onions and cook for approximately 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and lightly golden.

Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.

3. Add the Paprika

Remove the pot from the heat for a moment.

Stir in the sweet Hungarian paprika.

This helps prevent the paprika from burning and developing a bitter flavor.

4. Add the Chicken

Return the pot to medium heat.

Add the chicken pieces and turn them several times so they’re coated in the paprika and onion mixture.

Add the chopped tomato and bell pepper.

5. Simmer the Chicken

Pour in the chicken stock.

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.

Cover and cook for approximately 35–40 minutes, turning the chicken occasionally.

The chicken should be tender and thoroughly cooked.

🥣 6. Make the Creamy Paprika Sauce

In a bowl, whisk together the sour cream and flour until smooth.

Add a few tablespoons of the hot cooking liquid to the sour cream mixture and whisk again.

This gradually warms the sour cream and helps prevent it from separating when added to the pot.

7. Finish the Sauce

Reduce the heat to low.

Slowly stir the sour cream mixture into the chicken sauce.

Add the remaining paprika if desired.

Warm gently for several minutes until the sauce becomes creamy and slightly thickened.

Avoid boiling vigorously after adding the sour cream.

Taste and adjust the salt and pepper.

🍽️ How to Serve

Traditionally, Chicken Paprikash is served with nokedli, small Hungarian dumplings that are perfect for soaking up the creamy paprika sauce.

You can also serve it with:

Egg noodles
Buttered noodles
Rice
Boiled potatoes
Fresh crusty bread

Finish with a little fresh parsley for color.

⭐ Tips for the Best Chicken Paprikash

Use Hungarian paprika

Sweet Hungarian paprika provides the characteristic flavor and beautiful color.

Chicken thighs work especially well

They stay tender during the gentle simmering process.

Don’t burn the paprika

Adding paprika after briefly removing the pot from the heat helps preserve its sweet, aromatic flavor.

Temper the sour cream

Mixing the sour cream with a little hot cooking liquid before adding it to the pot helps create a smoother sauce.

Keep the final heat gentle

Once the sour cream is added, avoid a vigorous boil.

🔄 Easy Variations

Spicy Paprikash

Add a small amount of hot Hungarian paprika for extra heat.

Boneless Chicken

Boneless chicken thighs can be used for a quicker version.

Extra Creamy

Add a little additional sour cream just before serving.

Vegetarian-Inspired

For a meat-free alternative, mushrooms can be cooked with the same paprika and sour cream sauce.

🧊 Storage

Store leftover Chicken Paprikash in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.

Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until thoroughly heated.

The sauce may thicken when chilled; add a small splash of water or stock while reheating if necessary.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chicken Paprikash?

Chicken Paprikash, known as Paprikás Csirke in Hungarian, is a traditional Hungarian chicken dish prepared with onions, paprika, and a creamy sour cream sauce.

What kind of paprika should I use?

Sweet Hungarian paprika is ideal for the classic flavor. Hot paprika can be added if you prefer a spicier dish.

What is traditionally served with Chicken Paprikash?

Nokedli, Hungarian-style dumplings, are one of the most traditional accompaniments.

Can I use chicken breast?

Yes, but chicken thighs are generally more forgiving because they remain tender during longer cooking.

🖨️ Printable Recipe Card

🇭🇺 Chicken Paprikash

Prep: 15 min
Cook: 50 min
Total: 1 hr 5 min
Serves: 4–6

Ingredients

1.2 kg chicken thighs or drumsticks
2 tbsp oil or lard
2 onions
3 garlic cloves
2 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika
1 tomato
1 bell pepper
250 ml chicken stock
200 g sour cream
1 tbsp flour
Salt and black pepper

Instructions

Season the chicken.
Sauté onions until soft.
Add garlic.
Remove from heat and stir in paprika.
Add chicken, tomato, and bell pepper.
Add stock and simmer for 35–40 minutes.
Whisk sour cream with flour and a little cooking liquid.
Stir the mixture gently into the sauce.
Simmer gently until creamy.
Serve with nokedli, noodles, or rice.

🇭🇺 Chicken Paprikash (Paprikás Csirke) – Traditional Hungarian Recipe