2.9 KiB
2.9 KiB
Ultimate Chicken Paprikash
Serves 4 | Rich, creamy, and deeply flavorful
Ingredients
For the Chicken Paprikash
- 6-8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (or drumsticks)
- 2 tbsp lard, duck fat, or butter (or olive oil)
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 1 bell pepper (red or green), diced
- 3 tbsp Hungarian sweet paprika (essential!)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- ¾ cup full-fat sour cream
- 1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar (to brighten)
Carb Options (choose one)
- Nokedli (Hungarian Dumplings) – Traditional pairing
- Buttered Egg Noodles – Easy weeknight option
- Crusty Bread – For soaking up sauce
- Mashed Potatoes – Comfort food upgrade
- Rice – Simple and neutral
- Spätzle – German-style dumplings
Instructions
1. Sear the Chicken
- Pat thighs dry and season with salt.
- Heat fat in a skillet over medium-high. Sear thighs skin-side down 3-4 mins until golden. Flip and sear 2 mins. Transfer to a plate.
2. Sauté Onions & Bloom Paprika
- In the same skillet, cook onions and bell pepper over medium heat 5 mins until soft.
- Off heat, stir in paprika and garlic (30 sec to bloom).
- Deglaze with ½ cup broth, scraping up browned bits.
3. Slow Cook
- Transfer onions and chicken to slow cooker. Add remaining broth, tomato paste, bay leaf, and pepper.
- Cook on LOW 5-6 hrs or HIGH 3-4 hrs until tender.
4. Finish the Sauce
- Remove chicken and bay leaf. Skim excess fat.
- Stir sour cream and lemon juice into the sauce. Adjust salt.
- Return chicken to sauce.
Carb Options: Prep Guides
1. Nokedli (Hungarian Dumplings)
- Mix 2 cups flour, 2 eggs, ½ tsp salt, and ½ cup water into a thick batter.
- Press through a nokedli maker (or colander) into boiling water. Cook 2-3 mins until they float.
- Toss with butter.
2. Buttered Egg Noodles
- Boil 8 oz egg noodles until al dente. Drain and toss with 2 tbsp butter and parsley.
3. Crusty Bread
- Serve with rye bread or a baguette to mop up sauce.
4. Mashed Potatoes
- Boil 2 lbs potatoes until tender. Mash with ½ cup warm milk, 3 tbsp butter, and salt.
5. Rice
- Cook 1 cup white rice with 2 cups water (or broth) until fluffy.
6. Spätzle
- Make or buy pre-made spätzle. Pan-fry in butter until lightly crispy.
Serving
- Ladle chicken and sauce over your chosen carb.
- Garnish with extra paprika and fresh parsley.
Pro Tip: Leftovers taste even better the next day!
Would you like a spicier version with hot paprika? 😊