This classic Hungarian Chicken Paprikash recipe features tender braised chicken and a tangy sauce spiced with paprika. Serve over egg noodles or the starch of your choice.
Chicken Paprikash Hungarian. Sigh. Isn’t it a thing of beauty?
I think food is more appetizing when it has a vibrant color. Too many foods are in the white-beige-brown category, in my opinion. One way to add more color to your plate is to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Another way is to drench your chicken in a bright orange sauce that was sent straight from Hungarian heaven.
If you’ve never had Chicken Paprikash, you’re in for a real treat! If you like Beef Stroganoff, you’ll like Chicken Paprikash.
The chicken paprikash sauce is really similar in flavor due to the addition of the sour cream. It has just the right amount of tang to offset the robust flavor from the Hungarian paprika.
Which reminds me… make sure you use REAL Hungarian paprika in this Hungarian Paprikash recipe to make the best chicken paprikash sauce, not just any old paprika you have sitting around in your spice cabinet. Look for the kind that is sold in a tin rather than in a bottle.
Making this recipe comes with the bonus of buying yourself an adorable little tin of paprika. I kind of love mine.
I love making this Chicken Paprikash in my Dutch Oven as it is easy and you don’t have to clean up multiple pans.
What to serve with Hungarian Chicken Paprikash, you ask. I served this over a bed of egg noodles, but it’s also lovely served with spaetzle or even plain rice. If you wanted to get really crazy you could even serve it with a salad or some other type of non-meat-or-starch option.
Oh, and this definitely calls for a glass of crisp white wine. Okay, fine, maybe even two glasses.
Enjoy this Hungarian Chicken Paprikash with noodles recipe!
Here’s What You’ll Need:
6-Quart or Larger Dutch Oven (this one’s my favorite!)
Here’s the Recipe!
Hungarian Chicken Paprikash Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 pounds bone-in - skin-on chicken legs and thighs (about 4 chicken quarters)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 medium yellow onions - thinly sliced
- 2 small tomatoes - diced
- 2 tablespoons Hungarian paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 cloves garlic - peeled and minced
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Pat the chicken pieces dry and season liberally with salt and pepper. Heat the butter and vegetable oil in a 6-quart or larger Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Working in batches, add chicken pieces to the pan in a single layer skin side down. Brown for 4 minutes, then turn and cook for another 3 minutes. Remove browned chicken from pan and set aside. Repeat with remaining chicken.
- Add the sliced onion to the pan and cook for 10 minutes, until softened and brown. Add the tomatoes, paprika, cayenne, thyme, and garlic. Cook for 30 seconds.
- Add the broth and wine to the pot and bring the mixture to a boil. Turn the heat down to low and return the chicken to the pan. Spoon sauce over the top of the chicken and cover the pot with a lid. Simmer for 1 hour.
- Remove the chicken from the pot and let the sauce cool, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Stir in the sour cream. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Return the chicken to the pot and serve.
Nutrition

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This looks fantastic! I will have to keep my eye out for Hungarian Paprika. I have smoked paprika and that might be pretty good, actually!
This looks great. My mother-in-law made great chicken Paprikash and Spaetzle as well. Similar recipe but she used chopped up bacon to onions. BTW, to lighten up sauce I use non fat yogurt…it tastes great! I will try your recipe. Thanks
I love subbing yogurt into dishes, too! The bacon sounds fabulous. You can never have too much bacon!
This looks like total comfort food. I don’t think I’ve ever had REAL Hungarian paprika before! I’m already well-acquainted with his cousin, smoked paprika, so I’ll need seek some out!
Smoked paprika is delicious, too! I have a tendency to use too much of it, though. Oops!
My Grandma made the best Paprikash and homemade spaetzle. You have no idea how excited I am to see these recipes on your site! (and try them someday too!)
Awesome, Kelley! Definitely give them a try – you’ll be amazed how easy it is!
Hunagrian heaven sounds like a pretty good place as long as it’s loaded up with tons of this chicken!