Chef John’s Hungarian-Style Chicken Paprikash
Chef John’s Hungarian-Style Chicken Paprikash features tender, braised chicken thighs bathed in a velvety paprika-cream sauce layered with onions, garlic, and a hint of smoke. It’s rich yet balanced, with gentle heat and a subtle sweetness from sweet Hungarian paprika—perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner or a casual weekend gathering served over noodles or rice.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook1 hr 25 mins
- Serves8
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John’s Hungarian-Style Chicken Paprikash, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 59 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 14 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 92 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 37
- Heart Health
- 78
- Metabolic
- 32
- Digestive
- 35
- Inflammatory
- 57
- Performance
- 51
- General Wellness
- 1
Generously season the chicken on both sides with salt. Heat olive oil in a heavy, deep-sided pan with a lid over high heat and brown the chicken well, skin-side down, for about 5 minutes; flip and continue searing until the other side is browned, 3 to 4 minutes more. Turn off the heat. Transfer the browned chicken to a plate and reserve until needed; spoon off excess chicken fat if desired.
- 2
Add the onions and a pinch of salt to the same pan and cook over medium heat until golden, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, tomato paste, and flour and cook, stirring, for another 3 to 4 minutes to make a tomato roux. Stir in 1 teaspoon kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, smoked paprika, sweet paprika, and cayenne; cook for 1 minute. Add the chicken broth and bring to a simmer over high heat.
- 3
Reduce the heat to medium-low and return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pan. Baste the tops with the sauce, cover with the lid, and simmer, basting occasionally with the sauce, until the chicken is no longer pink in the centers and is fork-tender, 45 to 60 minutes. Remove the chicken and transfer to a plate.
- 4
Skim some fat from the top of the sauce if desired. Whisk the heavy cream and sour cream into the sauce and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Return the chicken and any juices to the sauce. Simmer, uncovered, basting often, until the chicken is heated through and very tender, about 10 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- Calories 2067.03 kcal High 103%
- Protein 383.04 g Good Source 766%
- Carbohydrate 16.57 g 6%
- Total Fat 51.96 g High 67%
- Saturated Fat 4.77 g High 24%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 1297.7 mg High 433%
- Sodium 3607.71 mg High 157%
- Dietary Fiber 3.77 g Moderate 13%
- Total Sugars 3.01 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 93.88 mg Low Source 7%
- Iron 1.51 mg Low Source 8%
- Potassium 272.34 mg Low Source 6%
- Vitamin A 9.29 mcg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin C 8.53 mg Low Source 9%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Chef John's Hungarian Style Chicken Paprikash is made with 14 ingredients and serves 8. It takes about 1 hr 35 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include All Purpose Flour, Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, and Chicken Broth. Each serving provides about 2067.03 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John’s Hungarian-Style Chicken Paprikash made of?
- The main ingredients are All-Purpose Flour, Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Chicken Broth, Garlic. The full list of 14 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John’s Hungarian-Style Chicken Paprikash?
- About 1 hr 35 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 1 hr 25 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 2067.03 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John’s Hungarian-Style Chicken Paprikash easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 14 ingredients and 4 steps.
- Is Chef John’s Hungarian-Style Chicken Paprikash healthy?
- Chef John’s Hungarian-Style Chicken Paprikash has an easyChef Pro health score of 55/100. Per serving, it provides 2067.03 calories and 383.04 g of protein, or 766% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 3607.71 mg (157% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 4.77 g (24% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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