Here’s a classic Hungarian Chicken Paprikash (Csirkepaprikás) 🇭🇺🍗—rich, comforting, and full of paprika flavor, just like it’s made in Hungarian kitchens.
🇭🇺 Chicken Paprikash (Csirkepaprikás)
⏱ Time
- Prep: 15 minutes
- Cook: 45–50 minutes
- Serves: 4–6
Ingredients
- 2½–3 lb (1.2–1.4 kg) chicken pieces (bone-in thighs & drumsticks preferred)
- 2 tbsp lard or oil (traditional: lard)
- 2 large onions, finely chopped
- 2–3 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika (never smoked)
- 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 green Hungarian wax pepper or bell pepper, sliced (optional but traditional)
- 1 tomato, chopped (or ½ cup canned diced tomatoes)
- 1 cup chicken broth or water
- ¾–1 cup sour cream
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
Instructions
1️⃣ Make the paprika base
- Heat lard/oil in a heavy pot over medium heat
- Add onions and cook slowly until soft and lightly golden (10–15 min)
- Remove pot from heat and stir in paprika (prevents bitterness)
2️⃣ Add chicken
- Return pot to heat
- Add chicken pieces, salt, pepper
- Toss to coat chicken in paprika-onion mixture
3️⃣ Simmer
- Add peppers, tomato, and broth
- Cover and simmer gently 35–40 minutes, until chicken is tender
4️⃣ Finish with sour cream
- Mix sour cream with flour until smooth
- Temper with a little hot sauce from the pot
- Stir back into paprikash and simmer 5 minutes
- Do not boil after adding sour cream
🌟 Tips for Authentic Paprikash
✔ Use real Hungarian sweet paprika
✔ Bone-in chicken gives best flavor
✔ Always take the pot off heat before adding paprika
✔ Sauce should be silky, not thick like gravy
🍽 How to Serve
- Traditional: nokedli (Hungarian dumplings)
- Also great with: egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or rice
- Serve with Hungarian cucumber salad on the side
🔄 Variations
- No flour: Use only sour cream for lighter sauce
- Creamier: Add more sour cream at the end
- Spicier: Add a pinch of hot paprika
If you want, I can also share:
- An authentic nokedli recipe
- A slow-cooker version
- A modern lighter paprikash
- Or a one-pot weeknight version
Just tell me 😊
