
🧾 Ingredients
🍗 For the chicken paprikash:
- 1 whole chicken (cut into pieces) or chicken thighs
- 1 large onion (finely chopped)
- 2 tablespoons oil or lard
- 2 tablespoons sweet Hungarian paprika
- 2 garlic cloves (optional)
- 1 tomato (optional)
- 1 green pepper (optional)
- 200 ml sour cream
- 1 tablespoon flour
- Salt and black pepper
- Water or chicken broth
🥟 For the dumplings (Galuska):
- 250 g flour
- 2 eggs
- 100–120 ml water
- Pinch of salt
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Preparation
🍗 Making the Chicken Paprikash
1. Prepare the onion base
Heat oil or lard in a large pot.
Cook chopped onions until soft and golden.
Remove briefly from heat and stir in Hungarian paprika.
This prevents the paprika from burning.
2. Add chicken
Place chicken pieces into the pot.
Season with salt and pepper.
Add garlic, tomato, and green pepper if using.
Cook for several minutes.
3. Simmer slowly
Add a little water or broth.
Cover and simmer gently for 40–50 minutes until chicken becomes tender.
4. Make the creamy sauce
Mix sour cream with flour.
Add a little hot sauce from the pot to temper it.
Stir mixture back into the chicken.
Simmer for a few more minutes until creamy.
🥟 Making the Dumplings (Galuska)
1. Prepare batter
Mix:
- flour
- eggs
- salt
- water
You should get a thick sticky batter.
2. Cook dumplings
Drop small pieces into boiling salted water using a spoon or grater.
Cook until they float.
Drain well.
🍽️ How to Serve
Serve Csirkepaprikás hot over:
- Galuska
- Noodles or potatoes (optional variations)
Top with:
- Extra sour cream
- Fresh parsley
🔥 Tips for Authentic Flavor
- Use real Hungarian sweet paprika
- Never burn the paprika
- Slow simmering gives richer flavor
- Chicken thighs stay juicier
- Homemade dumplings make the dish authentic
🇭🇺 Hungary’s Ultimate Comfort Food
Csirkepaprikás is one of the most iconic dishes in Hungary. It represents:
- Traditional Hungarian paprika cooking
- Family Sunday lunches
- Countryside comfort food
- Homemade hospitality and warmth
Almost every Hungarian family has their own version.
❤️ Final Thoughts
Hungarian Chicken Paprikash is creamy, rich, and full of comforting paprika flavor. Combined with soft homemade dumplings, it becomes a deeply satisfying meal that has warmed Hungarian homes for generations.
A timeless classic of Hungarian cuisine.Hungarian Chicken Paprikash, known as Csirkepaprikás, is one of the most famous and comforting dishes in Hungarian cuisine. This rich paprika-based chicken stew is traditionally served with soft homemade dumplings called Galuska.
Creamy, flavorful, and deeply satisfying, it is considered a true national comfort food in Hungary.
🇭🇺 Why Chicken Paprikash Is So Famous
Hungarians love Csirkepaprikás because:
- Rich and creamy paprika sauce
- Tender slow-cooked chicken
- Soft homemade dumplings
- Deep homemade flavor
- Perfect comfort food for family meals
It is one of the first dishes many people think of when talking about Hungarian cuisine.
🧾 Ingredients
🍗 For the chicken paprikash:
- 1 whole chicken (cut into pieces) or chicken thighs
- 1 large onion (finely chopped)
- 2 tablespoons oil or lard
- 2 tablespoons sweet Hungarian paprika
- 2 garlic cloves (optional)
- 1 tomato (optional)
- 1 green pepper (optional)
- 200 ml sour cream
- 1 tablespoon flour
- Salt and black pepper
- Water or chicken broth
🥟 For the dumplings (Galuska):
- 250 g flour
- 2 eggs
- 100–120 ml water
- Pinch of salt
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Preparation
🍗 Making the Chicken Paprikash
1. Prepare the onion base
Heat oil or lard in a large pot.
Cook chopped onions until soft and golden.
Remove briefly from heat and stir in Hungarian paprika.
This prevents the paprika from burning.
2. Add chicken
Place chicken pieces into the pot.
Season with salt and pepper.
Add garlic, tomato, and green pepper if using.
Cook for several minutes.
3. Simmer slowly
Add a little water or broth.
Cover and simmer gently for 40–50 minutes until chicken becomes tender.
4. Make the creamy sauce
Mix sour cream with flour.
Add a little hot sauce from the pot to temper it.
Stir mixture back into the chicken.
Simmer for a few more minutes until creamy.
🥟 Making the Dumplings (Galuska)
1. Prepare batter
Mix:
- flour
- eggs
- salt
- water
You should get a thick sticky batter.
2. Cook dumplings
Drop small pieces into boiling salted water using a spoon or grater.
Cook until they float.
Drain well.
🍽️ How to Serve
Serve Csirkepaprikás hot over:
- Galuska
- Noodles or potatoes (optional variations)
Top with:
- Extra sour cream
- Fresh parsley
🔥 Tips for Authentic Flavor
- Use real Hungarian sweet paprika
- Never burn the paprika
- Slow simmering gives richer flavor
- Chicken thighs stay juicier
- Homemade dumplings make the dish authentic
🇭🇺 Hungary’s Ultimate Comfort Food
Csirkepaprikás is one of the most iconic dishes in Hungary. It represents:
- Traditional Hungarian paprika cooking
- Family Sunday lunches
- Countryside comfort food
- Homemade hospitality and warmth
Almost every Hungarian family has their own version.
❤️ Final Thoughts
Hungarian Chicken Paprikash is creamy, rich, and full of comforting paprika flavor. Combined with soft homemade dumplings, it becomes a deeply satisfying meal that has warmed Hungarian homes for generations.
A timeless classic of Hungarian cuisine.









