Dinner · Handed Down · 15 min prep · about 45 min total

Grandma’s Hungarian Chicken Paprikash

Prep Piece of Cake → Chef Mode
Family Pass → Seconds, please

My take

This one comes from my mother’s mom. She made it regularly, and it stuck. A cozy, old-fashioned braise with smoky paprika, sweet onions, and a sour cream sauce that turns simple chicken legs and thighs into something everyone goes back for. Ladle it generously over white rice so nothing goes to waste.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lbs chicken legs and thighs
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 3 tablespoons paprika
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup water, plus more to cover the chicken
  • 1 bouillon cube
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • Cooked white rice, for serving

Steps

  1. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Salt and pepper the chicken, then brown it in the hot oil on all sides. Remove to a plate.
  2. Add the onions and paprika to the pot and cook until the onions are soft, about 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the flour and mix until the onions are thoroughly coated.
  3. Add 1 cup water and the bouillon cube, stirring until the cube has fully dissolved.
  4. Return the chicken to the pot and add more water to just cover it. Bring to a simmer and cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 13 to 15 minutes, or 165°F on a meat thermometer. Remove the chicken and set aside.
  5. Lower the heat to medium-low and stir in the sour cream, blending it into the onion mixture. Return the chicken to the sauce and warm through. Serve over white rice.

Cook’s notes

  • Paprika matters: A good sweet paprika gives you that classic color and flavor. If yours smells flat, replace it.
  • Don’t boil the sour cream: Keep the heat medium-low when you stir it in so the sauce stays smooth.
  • Rice is non-negotiable: The sauce wants a bed to land on. White rice is how Grandma served it.

What I use

A solid Dutch oven is the right pot for this braise: browns the chicken, softens the onions, and holds the sour cream sauce without drama. This one’s highly rated and won’t break the bank.

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