Hungarian Chicken Paprikash (Chicken and Dumplings)

Hungarian Chicken Paprikash, known as Csirkepaprikás, is one of the most beloved dishes in Hungarian cuisine. Tender chicken is slowly cooked with onions and sweet Hungarian paprika, then finished with a creamy sour cream sauce and served with soft homemade nokedli, or Hungarian egg dumplings.

This classic combination is comforting, flavorful, and perfect for a family dinner. The paprika-rich sauce coats every piece of chicken and dumpling, creating the kind of hearty meal that feels like traditional Hungarian home cooking.

What Is Hungarian Chicken Paprikash?

Chicken paprikash is a traditional Hungarian dish centered around a few simple ingredients: chicken, onions, paprika, and sour cream.

The chicken is gently simmered until tender while the onions and paprika create a rich, aromatic sauce. Sour cream gives the sauce its characteristic creamy texture and slightly tangy flavor.

The traditional accompaniment is nokedli, small Hungarian egg dumplings that are perfect for soaking up the delicious sauce.

Ingredients

For the Chicken Paprikash

• 2½–3 lb chicken thighs and drumsticks
• 2 large onions, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or lard
• 2 tablespoons sweet Hungarian paprika
• 1 small tomato, chopped
• 1 small green pepper, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1½ cups chicken broth or water
• ¾ cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

For the Nokedli

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 large eggs
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup water, approximately