🇭🇺 Hungarian Chicken Paprikash with Nokedli – Csirkepaprikás

Hungarian Chicken Paprikash with Nokedli, known as Csirkepaprikás, is one of the most beloved dishes in Hungarian cuisine. Tender chicken is slowly simmered in a rich, flavorful paprika sauce, then served with soft homemade nokedli dumplings.

The combination of sweet Hungarian paprika, onions, creamy sour cream, and tender chicken creates a comforting meal that is perfect for family dinners. The soft dumplings are ideal for soaking up every spoonful of the delicious sauce.

🍗 Ingredients

For the Chicken Paprikash

1 kg chicken thighs or drumsticks
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or lard
2 large onions, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons sweet Hungarian paprika
1 tomato, finely chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
400 ml chicken broth or water
200 g sour cream
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
½ teaspoon black pepper

For the Nokedli Dumplings

250 g all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
100–120 ml water
½ teaspoon salt

Optional for Serving

Fresh parsley
Extra sour cream
Pickled cucumbers or a simple cucumber salad

👩‍🍳 How to Make Hungarian Chicken Paprikash

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken

Pat the chicken dry and season lightly with salt and black pepper.

Heat the oil or lard in a large, heavy pot over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until lightly browned on both sides.

Remove the chicken from the pot and set it aside.

Step 2: Cook the Onions

Add the chopped onions to the same pot.

Cook slowly for about 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and lightly golden. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.

The onions create the flavorful base of the paprika sauce.

Step 3: Add the Hungarian Paprika

Remove the pot from the heat briefly and stir in the sweet Hungarian paprika.

This helps prevent the paprika from burning, which can give it a bitter flavor.

Step 4: Add the Vegetables

Add the chopped tomato and green bell pepper.

Stir everything together, then return the chicken to the pot.

Step 5: Simmer Slowly

Pour in the chicken broth or water.

The liquid should come partway up the chicken rather than completely covering it.

Cover the pot and simmer gently for approximately 35–45 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken pieces, until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.

Turn the chicken occasionally and add a small amount of extra liquid if necessary.

🥛 Step 6: Make the Creamy Paprika Sauce

In a bowl, mix the sour cream with the flour until smooth.

Take a few spoonfuls of the warm cooking liquid and gradually stir them into the sour cream mixture.

This process helps gently warm the sour cream before it goes into the hot pot.

Reduce the heat to low and stir the sour cream mixture into the sauce.

Heat gently for a few minutes until the sauce becomes creamy and slightly thickened. Avoid vigorous boiling.

🥟 How to Make Nokedli

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

In a bowl, combine the flour, eggs, salt, and water.

Mix until you have a soft, sticky dough. The dough should be thicker than pancake batter but soft enough to drop through a dumpling maker or from a spoon.

Step 2: Shape the Dumplings

Using a nokedli maker, spaetzle maker, or spoon, drop small portions of dough into the boiling water.

Work in batches if necessary.

Step 3: Cook

Cook the dumplings until they rise to the surface and are cooked through, usually a few minutes.

Remove them with a slotted spoon and drain well.

🍽️ How to Serve Csirkepaprikás

Place a generous portion of warm nokedli on each plate.

Add tender chicken and spoon plenty of creamy paprika sauce over the top.

Finish with fresh parsley if desired.

For a traditional Hungarian-style meal, serve with:

Pickled cucumbers
Cucumber salad
Extra sour cream
Fresh bread

💡 Tips for the Best Chicken Paprikash

Use Good-Quality Sweet Paprika

Hungarian sweet paprika gives this dish its signature flavor and beautiful color.

Never Burn the Paprika

Add paprika away from very high heat and mix it quickly with the other ingredients.

Choose Chicken Pieces That Stay Tender

Chicken thighs and drumsticks are excellent choices because they remain juicy during slow cooking.

Keep the Sauce Gentle

After adding sour cream, avoid boiling the sauce aggressively.

Make Soft Nokedli

The dough should be soft and slightly sticky. If it is too thick, the dumplings can become heavy.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use chicken breast?

Yes, but chicken breast cooks faster and can become dry if simmered too long. Thighs or drumsticks are often preferred for a richer result.

Can I make Chicken Paprikash ahead of time?

Yes. The chicken and paprika sauce can be prepared ahead and gently reheated. For the best texture, make the nokedli shortly before serving.

What can I serve instead of nokedli?

You can serve Chicken Paprikash with egg noodles, boiled potatoes, rice, or fresh bread.

Can I make it without sour cream?

The dish will still be flavorful, but sour cream is an important part of the classic creamy version.

📌 Recipe at a Glance

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: About 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 4–6
Cuisine: Hungarian
Category: Main Course

🇭🇺 Final Thoughts

Hungarian Chicken Paprikash with Nokedli – Csirkepaprikás is a true comfort-food classic. Tender chicken, a rich paprika sauce, creamy sour cream, and soft homemade dumplings create a meal that is simple, hearty, and full of traditional Hungarian flavor.

Serve it hot, add plenty of sauce over the nokedli, and enjoy a delicious taste of Hungary!

Jó étvágyat! 🇭🇺🍗🥟

📱 Facebook Caption

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🍗 Basic ingredients: Chicken, Hungarian paprika, onions, garlic, tomato, sour cream, flour, eggs & water.

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