This Paprika Chicken recipe is a weeknight dinner winner.
Tender and juicy chicken smothered in a rich and creamy paprika sauce served over tender egg noodles! Every bite is loaded with sweet, peppery, and zesty flavors.
About
This all-in-one chicken dish is a great recipe if you are looking for an easy but flavorful midweek dinner idea.
If you are looking for easy chicken recipes, this dish is for you. It's an easy-to-make dinner with limited ingredients the whole family will love.
Everyone will love it, especially as it comes with a boldly flavored creamy sauce seasoned with sweet Hungarian paprika, Dijon mustard, and fresh dill. This minimal-effort sauce is what takes this recipe to the next level.
This Chicken Paprika recipe is somewhat similar to the popular Hungarian dish called Chicken Paprikash or Paprikás Csirke, as the locals call it. They have almost the same ingredients; however, Chicken Paprikash is traditionally cooked with tomatoes and sour cream. Also, while this recipe uses chicken breast, classic Paprikash usually uses bone-in chicken thighs.
Types of Paprika
Paprika powder is the main ingredient in this recipe. And the star of the show.
Aside from giving any dish an appealing, vibrant color, paprika provides an amazing flavor that varies depending on the type you use. They can range from sweet, mildly spicy, pungent to very hot.
Regular or Plain Paprika - these are the mildly flavored ones commonly found in grocery stores and supermarkets. They are great for everyday cooking to add color and a bit of flavor.
Hungarian Paprika - Hungarians take their paprika seriously, and it is known to be their prized spice used for many of their national dishes.
While I opted to use the sweet variety for this recipe, several Hungarian Paprika variations are out there to choose from.
You Might Also Like: Hungarian Goulash
Spanish paprika, on the other hand, is basically smoked paprika. As a result, they have that distinct woodsy, bold flavor that regular and Hungarian varieties do not have.
Why This Chicken Stroganoff Recipe
QUICK - Some dishes take forever, but not this one. In just 30 minutes, you can have a tasty meal on the table. It’s perfect for those busy evenings when you want something homemade and delicious without spending hours in the kitchen.
MAKE IT YOUR OWN - While this recipe suggests egg noodles, you could try it with rice, mashed potatoes, or even some steamed veggies. Each option gives a different twist to the meal, making it feel new every time you make it.
TIME - The best thing about this recipe is that it's ready in just about 30 minutes. With little effort, you have an easy, homemade chicken dinner on the table. It is an ideal dish to make when you want good, home-cooked comfort food without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.
INGREDIENTS - The only special ingredient you might not have in your fridge is fresh dill. And you can find it all year long in the produce section of your grocery store. If, for some reason, they don't have dill, try subbing with fresh parsley—all of the other ingredients you probably already have in your fridge and pantry.
Ingredients
Please check the recipe card below for a detailed, printable ingredient list.
CHICKEN BREAST - this type of chicken is fleshy, low in fat, and high in protein. You can also use turkey breast as a substitute to keep it healthy.
SMOKED SWEET PAPRIKA - nothing beats authentic Hungarian Paprika when it comes to the depth of great flavors. However, in a pinch, you may still use regular paprika. It's not quite the same. But at the same time, your crowd will love it either way unless you have professional recipe testers.
EGG NOODLES - you can use any store-bought variety or try making homemade Spätzle instead.
CREAM - Heavy cream makes the sauce velvety and super creamy!
CHICKEN BROTH - boosts flavor without much effort. If you don't have chicken broth, you can also use vegetable broth instead.
DIJON MUSTARD - Its tangy and sharp taste cuts through all the creaminess and brightens the sauce!
DILL - its citrusy and fresh tones work beautifully with the sweet paprika. You'll definitely want to use fresh dill for this recipe.
BUTTER – Be sure to use unsalted butter. You've heard me say this before, but always use unsalted butter for all cooking and baking. Butter helps to reduce the acidity in the sauce and gives the sauce this creamy texture we love so much.
Variations and Additions
- Alternative Side Dish ideas: Instead of egg noodles, serve the Paprika Chicken with rice, mashed potatoes, or any other pasta you have on hand.
- If you like your extra juicy chicken, you can use boneless chicken thighs for this recipe.
- If you like extra heat, season the sauce with black pepper. For even more heat, add a dash of cayenne pepper.
- To me, this recipe is all about the subtle balance between the paprika, mustard, and dill flavors. While I add onion for a bit of sweetness, I don't use garlic. But if you love garlic, you could easily add a teaspoon of garlic powder to the sauce.
How To Make Paprika Chicken
Please check the printable recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
- Cook noodles according to package instructions.
- Next, get the chicken ready and coat it in paprika and flour.
- Sauté chicken in butter and olive oil, then set aside.
- In the same skillet, sauté onions, then stir in the sauce ingredients and chicken. Simmer and serve over noodles.
Recipe Success Tips
SAUCE CONSISTENCY - If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can add a cornstarch slurry.
FRESH HERBS - Enhance the dish with other fresh herbs like parsley or chives.
SKILLET CHOICE - A heavy-bottomed skillet ensures even cooking and prevents burning.
Leftovers
STORE - Place the leftover chicken in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
FREEZE - Allow the dish to cool, then freeze in freezer-safe bags or containers for up to 2 months.
REHEAT - Warm it up in a skillet on low heat, adding a splash of broth if the sauce thickens too much.
If You Like Paprika Chicken, Try These Recipe!
Chicken Parmesan - easy, super cheese chicken casserole
Shrimp Carbonara - add this carbonara to your meal plan
Baked Feta Cheese - there’s a reason this recipe has gone viral
Chicken Schnitzel - spin on a German classic
Beef Stroganoff - get cozy with a bowl of stroganoff
Ground Beef Goulash - perfect for busy weeknights
Chicken Alfredo - you can easily make this restaurant classic at home
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Paprika Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter unsalted, divided
- 1 teaspoon olive oil extra virgin
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon dill fresh, minced
- 1 pound chicken breasts butterflied, pounded
- 16 ounces egg noodles
Instructions
- Cook egg noodles according to package instructions.
- Slice chicken breast in half. Season with salt and pepper.
- On a shallow plate combine flour and 1 tablespoon of sweet paprika powder. Mix well. Dredge chicken in flour paprika mixture, shake off any excess.
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add a bit of olive oil. Add chicken and saute chicken for 2-3 minutes on each side.
- Remove chicken from the skillet and place on a serving dish.
- Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute until tender. About 8 minutes.
- Add remaining sweet paprika and stir for 1 minute. Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream and bring to a quick boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in mustard and dill. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Slice chicken into ¼ inch strips and return chicken to the skillet. Simmer for 2 minutes in the sauce. Serve over egg noodles.