Description
Chicken Paprikash offers a delightful journey through Hungarian culinary traditions, blending rich paprika-infused flavors with tender chicken. Creamy sauce and warm spices invite you to savor a comforting meal that connects generations of home cooks.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Protein:
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (or 2 pounds chicken pieces)
Aromatics and Spices:
- 2 medium onions, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Liquids and Finishing Ingredients:
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare chicken pieces by patting dry with paper towels, then generously season with salt and black pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering and nearly smoking.
- Carefully place seasoned chicken into the hot skillet, allowing each side to develop a rich, golden-brown crust for approximately 4-6 minutes per side.
- Transfer seared chicken to a clean plate, leaving flavorful drippings in the skillet.
- Reduce heat to medium and add diced onions, cooking until translucent and softened, approximately 5 minutes.
- Introduce minced garlic and cook for an additional 30-45 seconds, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Sprinkle sweet and smoked paprika into the skillet, stirring quickly to coat onions and garlic, releasing their aromatic essence for about 45-60 seconds.
- Pour chicken broth into the skillet, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any caramelized bits from the bottom, creating a rich flavor base.
- Gently return chicken pieces to the skillet, nestling them into the liquid, then cover and simmer on low heat for 25-35 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature.
- Remove skillet from heat and carefully temper sour cream by gradually adding a few spoonfuls of hot sauce to prevent curdling.
- Swirl tempered sour cream into the skillet, creating a creamy, luxurious sauce.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or paprika as needed.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve immediately over egg noodles, steamed rice, or alongside crusty bread.
Notes
- Use high-quality, freshly ground paprika for the most vibrant flavor and authentic taste.
- Temper sour cream carefully to prevent curdling by slowly adding hot sauce while stirring constantly.
- Opt for bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for extra richness and deeper flavor profile.
- Make this dish gluten-free by using cornstarch instead of flour and serving over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 43 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Hungarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 150mg