Print

Creamy Cozy Chicken Paprikash

chicken paprikash - featured image
Print Recipe

A warm and comforting Hungarian chicken dish featuring tender chicken thighs simmered in a creamy, smoky paprika sauce. Perfect for cozy dinners and easy weeknight meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4–5 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on preferred, about 2 lbs / 900 g)
  • 2 tablespoons sweet Hungarian paprika
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 cups (480 ml) chicken broth
  • 1 cup (240 ml) sour cream (full-fat recommended)
  • 2 tablespoons flour (can substitute with gluten-free flour)
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or unsalted butter
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • A handful of fresh parsley, chopped (optional garnish)
  • Pinch of hot paprika or cayenne (optional)
  • Splash of lemon juice (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat dry chicken thighs with paper towels and season skin with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat vegetable oil or butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs skin-side down and cook for 5-7 minutes until golden and crispy. Flip and brown the other side for 4-5 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
  3. Lower heat to medium. Add chopped onion to the same pan and sauté for 6-8 minutes until soft and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
  4. Sprinkle sweet Hungarian paprika over the onions and stir quickly to coat without burning. Then add flour and stir for 1-2 minutes to cook out raw flour taste.
  5. Slowly pour in chicken broth while stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Scrape up browned bits from the pan.
  6. Return chicken thighs to the pan, skin-side up. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for 25-30 minutes until chicken is cooked through (internal temp 165°F / 74°C).
  7. In a small bowl, whisk sour cream with a few tablespoons of hot broth to temper it. Slowly stir tempered sour cream into the sauce and heat gently for 3-5 minutes without boiling until creamy and smooth.
  8. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Add hot paprika or cayenne if desired. Add a splash of lemon juice just before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley.

Notes

To prevent sour cream from curdling, temper it by whisking with hot broth before adding to the sauce. Use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for juiciness and flavor. Avoid burning paprika by adding it after onions soften and stirring quickly. If sauce is too thick, add broth; if too thin, simmer uncovered to thicken. Leftovers taste better the next day. Can be adapted for gluten-free and dairy-free diets.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken paprikash, Hungarian chicken, creamy chicken recipe, paprika chicken, cozy dinner, easy chicken recipe

Find it online: https://cooksybite.com/creamy-cozy-chicken-paprikash-recipe-easy-authentic-hungarian-dinner/