You have to try this Hungarian Chicken Paprikash with Dumplings! I'm half Hungarian, and worked hard to develop the best paprikash recipe! Enjoy this tender chicken simmered in a paprika-infused sauce finished with sour cream.
Chicken Paprikash with Dumplings holds a special place in my heart, because it reminds me of my Hungarian grandparents, as well as Nonna.
Grandpa and Grandma were Hungarian immigrants who owned Gold Cross Pharmacy on Woodhill Road in Cleveland. (Grandpa was a pharmacist, and Grandma ran the Post Office there. Dad was a "soda jerk" making ice cream floats.)
After Grandma died, Grandpa would come to our house for Sunday dinners. Mom often prepared dishes such as Chicken Paprikash (paprikás), Beef Stroganoff, and Swiss Steak for him.
Nonna would be there too, helping Mom to cook.
And, since dumplings are similar to pasta, Nonna was all over them. She'd get so excited about the "trrahm-poh-leens," as she pronounced them. We still call them that in her memory!
Over the years, I did some experimenting to come up with my version of Hungarian Chicken Paprikash with Dumplings. It's a family favorite, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Chicken paprikash ingredients
Chicken: Bone-in chicken provides the best flavor for paprikash and is traditional. I use a combination of drumsticks and thighs, but you can use all thighs, for example.
We're skinning them for a less greasy dish and to let the seasonings and flour cling to the meat.
Onions: Use yellow onions for bold flavor. But, feel free to substitute red onions for sweeter flavor or white onions for a milder taste.
Paprika: There's a generous amount of paprika in this recipe, so it's important to go with one you'll enjoy. I recommend using sweet Hungarian paprika (affiliate link).
In general, Hungarian paprika has more of a spicy kick than regular paprika. Beware, if you use hot Hungarian paprika, you'll get a spicy hot dish.
Sour Cream: Using full-fat sour cream will produce a smooth paprikash sauce. You can substitute low-fat sour cream for a lighter gravy, but it doesn't blend in as well.
Stock: Using chicken stock instead of broth provides deeper flavor. I use stock in any recipe that calls for broth.
Dumpling ingredients
Just like pasta, Hungarian dumplings (nokedli) include flour, eggs, water and salt. Sometimes, milk is used instead of water, but I prefer the texture that comes from using water.
How to make Hungarian chicken paprikash
See the card at the end of this post for the full recipe, but here's an overview.
Flour the chicken
- Remove the skin from the chicken by pulling it off with a paper towel.
- Dredge each piece of chicken in seasoned flour.
- When all of the chicken is floured, you're ready to start cooking.
Cook the chicken
- Heat oil in a deep 12-inch skillet (affiliate link) and add sliced onions.
- When the onions are tender, add the chicken to brown the first side.
- Flip the chicken to brown the other side. Then, pour in the paprika-infused stock. Cover and simmer on low until the meat is tender.
- Add dollops of sour cream to the pan and gently stir them into the sauce. Thicken the paprikash gravy with corn starch.
How to make dumplings from scratch
Traditional Hungarian dumplings are small because the batter is pushed through the holes of a grater or colander (like German spaetzle).
But we've always made medium-sized drop dumplings for Hungarian Chicken Paprikash. We prefer a more substantial, firm dumpling.
- Beat the eggs in a bowl and add the remaining ingredients.
- Stir just until all of the flour is incorporated into the batter.
- Use one teaspoon to scoop some batter and another teaspoon to scrape it into a pot of boiling water. Cook the dumplings in batches for 3-5 minutes, removing them 1-2 minutes after they float.
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked dumplings to a serving pan.
Recipe tips
- Flouring the chicken first helps thicken the sauce.
- Adding paprika to the dusting flour as well as the stock for the gravy ensures both the chicken and sauce are flavorful.
- Simmering the thighs and drumsticks longer than the minimum 25 minutes will produce more tender meat. If you use chicken breasts, though, they will be ready sooner.
What to serve with it
If you don't feel like making dumplings, you can serve Hungarian Chicken Paprikash over egg noodles, or even mashed potatoes.
For side dishes, consider something that doesn't require cooking on the stove. Go with Roasted Butternut Squash Cubes, The Best Italian Green Salad or Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges.
Frequently asked questions
This Hungarian Chicken Paprikash recipe makes enough for at least eight people, so it's great for leftovers. Feel free to make half of the recipe.
I often make half of the chicken but the full amount of paprikash gravy and dumplings, since my family eats huge portions of them.
Store leftover dumplings in the refrigerator and use them by the end of the next day. (They will start to turn grey after that.)
If you wish, you can cook half of the dumplings and save the rest of the batter in the refrigerator to cook fresh dumplings the next day.
More chicken recipes to love
- Braised Chicken in Red Wine Sauce (Coq au Vin)
- Chicken Sorrentino with Eggplant
- Italian Chicken Cutlets
- One-Pan Roasted Chicken Thighs and Vegetables
Enjoy!
If you try this Hungarian Chicken Paprikash recipe, be sure to leave a comment and a rating!
Chicken Paprikash with Dumplings
Video
Ingredients
Chicken Paprikash (You can halve the recipe if needed.)
- 3 small or 2 medium yellow onions (peeled & thinly sliced)
- 8 chicken thighs (skinned)
- 7 chicken drumsticks (skinned)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅓ teaspoon Hungarian paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (plus extra if needed to brown meat)
Paprikash Gravy
- 1 ½ cups chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon Hungarian paprika
- 8 ounces sour cream (can use low fat, but the gravy won't be as smooth)
- 1 teaspoon corn starch
- salt and pepper to taste
Dumplings
- 6 eggs (beaten)
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup water
- 2 teaspoons salt
- water for boiling the dumplings
- 1 teaspoon salt for boiling the dumplings
Instructions
- Peel and thinly slice onions. Set aside. In a dinner plate, combine flour with the garlic powder, ⅓ teaspoon paprika and ⅛ teaspoon each of salt and pepper.
- Skin chicken (use a paper towel to grasp the skin and pull it off.) Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Set up an assembly line from left to right with the chicken, the seasoned flour, and a 9x13 pan. Using a fork, dredge each piece of chicken in the flour on both sides and place the floured chicken in the pan.
- In a deep skillet (at least12 inches wide), heat the olive oil on medium high. Add the onions and cook them for six minutes or until they are soft, stirring occasionally.
- Add the chicken to the skillet with the onions and brown the meat on both sides, for a total of 7-10 minutes. (You can do this in batches if needed or use a second skillet to brown some of the chicken in a bit of olive oil.)
- While the chicken is browning, whisk 1 tablespoon paprika into 1 ½ cups of chicken stock. Place all of the browned chicken in the large skillet with the onions, and pour the seasoned chicken stock over it. Lower the heat to medium and cover the pan. Simmer for at least 25 minutes, or up to 40 minutes. The meat will be more tender the longer it cooks. (Check on it once during that time, to spoon some gravy over the chicken.)
- While the chicken is simmering, prepare the dumplings. Fill a pasta pot just over halfway with hot water. Add a teaspoon of salt to the water, cover the pot, and heat it on high. In a medium mixing bowl, beat the eggs with a fork or whisk. Using a large spoon, stir in the flour, water, and 2 teaspoons of salt until well combined. (A whisk won't work well for that.)
- Place the bowl with batter near the stove, along with two regular teaspoons, a large slotted spoon, a clean 9x13 pan and a roll of foil.
- When the water is boiling, uncover the pot. Scoop a teaspoon of batter, and use the other teaspoon to scrape it off over the pot, so that the batter drops into the boiling water. Continue adding teaspoons of batter to the pot in a single layer, trying not to let the dumplings touch each other. (You will need to do this in batches.)
- Cook the dumplings for 3-5 minutes, depending on how firm you want them.The dumplings will float when they are almost cooked. (After the dumplings float, I usually wait a couple of minutes and then cut one open to taste it. Make sure it is cooked through. If it is too firm for your liking, cook it some more. You also can cut any large dumplings in half to finish cooking.)
- Use a slotted spoon (or strainer) to remove the cooked dumplings, letting any excess water drain back into the pot. Place the drained dumplings in your clean 9x13 pan and loosely cover them with foil to keep them warm. Keep your water boiling and continue cooking and draining the dumplings in batches until all of the batter is gone.
- When you are done cooking the dumplings, the chicken should be ready. Cut into a piece of chicken to make sure it is not pink inside. If the chicken is cooked, turn off the heat and add dollops of sour cream around the skillet, stirring carefully after each addition.
- To thicken the gravy, add a few tablespoons of the gravy to the corn starch in a cup and whisk together. Add the corn starch mixture to the skillet and carefully stir it in. You can taste the chicken and gravy to see if additional salt and pepper are needed, or just provide extra at the table.
- To serve, place a portion of dumplings in the center of each plate and top with the chicken and gravy. Add salt and/or black pepper if needed.
- Store leftover dumplings tightly covered in the refrigerator and use them by the end of the next day. (They will start to turn grey after that.) If you wish, you can just cook half of the dumplings and save the rest of the batter in the refrigerator to cook fresh dumplings the next day. Store any leftover chicken and gravy in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Notes
- This recipe makes a lot of chicken, which is great for leftovers. You can halve the recipe, if needed. Sometimes, I reduce the chicken part of the recipe by half, but make the full amount of gravy and dumplings, since my family eats lots of them!
- If you are making the amount of chicken called for in the recipe, you may want to use a second skillet to brown the chicken in oil.
- Paprika: There's a generous amount of paprika in this recipe, so it's important to go with one you'll enjoy. I recommend using sweet Hungarian paprika (affiliate link). In general, Hungarian paprika has more of a spicy kick than regular paprika. Beware, if you use hot Hungarian paprika, you'll get a spicy hot dish.
Nutrition
(Recipe Source: Cooking with Mamma C. Originally published on October 2, 2014 and updated now with additional photos and information.)
John s says
I am 100% Hungarian and in my house our chicken paprikash was started with bacon and onions. No peppers or tomatoes. Then the chicken browned. Chicken stock at a low simmer for hour and half with bacon and onions and alot of paprika. Then once all cooked and chicken falling off the bone . Remove the chicken and mix with milk and flour for your gravy. Add all ingredients back together bring to a boil turn off heat and slowly add sour cream. Can't have heat on or sour cream breaks down.
Flour eggs and water combined for dumplings and spooned dropped in boiling water cook till all dumplings rise to top. Now that's how you make chicken paprikash
Mamma C says
Hi John - That sounds good!
M. Smith says
Perfect. That is how my Mom taught me too!
Marisue says
I make this dish every year for my mother's birthday, and throughout the year as well. this is almost the identical recipe I use, but I use boneless chicken breasts or thighs. It is delicious!
Mamma C says
Hi Marisue - I'm glad to hear that! Thanks for your comment.
Jackie says
Love your recipes. My Dad was Hungarian, grew up eating all of these recipes. My Mom was English, so she had to learn how to make all these. Made the dumplings for my granddaughter, she still asks for those white fluffy things I made. Have a question about kolaches, made dough, rolled it out, but when I put filling in & tried to fold corners over, dough fell apart??? Any tips. Thank you!
Mamma C says
Hi Jackie - I'm so glad you love my recipes, and that your granddaughter enjoyed the dumplings! I've never made kolache, so I can't advise you there. Sorry!
TammyRenea @SanPasqualsKitchen says
I loved reading the story of your grandparents. What wonderful memories you must have! This recipe looks amazing. A must try!!
Mamma C says
Aw, thanks, Tammy! I do have wonderful memories. I hope you love this recipe!
Jan Rumore says
Being half Hungarian also, I'm making it for dinner tonight. Not as good as my gramma Julianna Szechy or my mom's Tillie Evans. But my son adores it. I have made the crepes with cottage cheese filling. It's time consuming, but love the looks on their faces. I haven't mastered or even try to master cabbage rolls. But have also done the stuffed peppers in the slow cooker. Wonderful.
Mamma C says
Jan, I'd love to learn how to make more Hungarian dishes. Cabbage rolls have been on my list for ages! If you're willing to share, please feel free to send any recipes/details my way! 🙂
Jay Matthews says
I made this using boneless skinless thighs, family loved it!
Mamma C says
I'm so glad your family loved this, Jay! Thank you for letting me know. Have a great weekend!
Katherine says
I just made this tonight and it turned out wonderfully! So glad I found this recipe! I just visited Hungary this summer and had some authentic Paprika Chicken from my great aunt who lives there and this was just as delicious!! I will be making this recipe again and again!!
Mamma C says
Katherine, I'm so happy to hear that! I really appreciate you taking the time to let me know. I've never been to Hungary but recently watched a Rick Steves episode on PBS and was wowed by Budapest. It's on my bucket list!
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Love that you call these guys trampolines...so cute! And this looks like the most delicious autumn comfort food!
Mamma C says
Thanks, Denise! We don't take ourselves too seriously around here. 🙂
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
Chicken paprikash is my husband's favorite meal. I'm still competing with his Mama's recipe so I'm going to try this one. It looks PERFECT!
Mamma C says
Oh, Pamela, you'll have to let me know how this compares with your mother-in-law's recipe! I'm sure hers is really good too.
Joann says
Oh yeah...this is one I'll be trying very soon...looks and sounds amazing...perfect at the weather gets colder. Hopefully, one of these October weekends....can't wait!
Mamma C says
I hope you guys like this one, Joann!