This Chicken Paprika recipe is a comforting, flavorful dish rooted in Hungarian cuisine, known for its rich, creamy sauce infused with paprika. Tender chicken is simmered in onions, lemon juice, and spices until juicy and flavorful, then served over buttery noodles topped with a velvety sour cream sauce. This recipe perfectly balances tangy, savory, and slightly smoky flavors, making it an enduring family favorite and a timeless comfort food classic.
Ingredients
- 2 whole frying chickens (about 3 lbs each, cut into pieces)
- 4 ½ lbs onions (sliced into rings)
- 1 lemon (juiced)
- 1 pt sour cream (about 2 cups)
- 2 tbsp paprika
- 1 stick butter
- 4 tbsp margarine (or butter)
- 8 oz egg noodles
- fresh parsley (chopped )
- salt (to taste)
- black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Onions
- Slice onions into rings.
- Melt margarine in a large skillet and cook onions until softened, but not browned.
Step 2: Prepare the Chicken
- Rub chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
- Add chicken to the softened onions and sprinkle with paprika.
Step 3: Simmer the Chicken
- Cover and simmer the chicken mixture over low heat for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Step 4: Cook the Noodles
- While the chicken simmers, cook noodles according to package directions.
- Drain well and toss with butter and chopped parsley.
Step 5: Finish the Sauce
- Once chicken is tender, stir in the sour cream and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Do not boil after adding sour cream to avoid curdling.
Step 6: Serve
- Place the noodles on a serving platter or plate.
- Spoon the chicken and sauce over the noodles.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.
Tips
- Use Hungarian sweet paprika for the most authentic flavor.
- Add a small amount of hot paprika or cayenne if you prefer heat.
- Bone-in chicken pieces will create a richer sauce than boneless.
- Substitute butter and margarine with all butter if preferred.
- Add garlic with the onions for deeper flavor.
- Garnish with fresh parsley just before serving for color.
- If sauce is too thin, simmer uncovered briefly to thicken.
- Use egg noodles as written, but spaetzle or rice also work well.
- For lighter version, use reduced-fat sour cream and skim off excess fat before adding.
Nutrition
Calories: 485kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 34gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 170mgSodium: 310mgPotassium: 480mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 850IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 90mgIron: 2.7mg
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