Csirkepaprikás

Csirkepaprikás, or paprikás csirke (Hungarian for chicken paprikash), is a traditional Hungarian dish in which chicken is simmered in a sauce based on onions, paprika, and sour cream. The dish is a staple of Hungarian home cooking and is widely associated with the country’s culinary identity.

Preparation typically begins with onions sautéed in fat until translucent. Sweet paprika is added, sometimes with a small amount of hot paprika, and the chicken pieces are browned. The meat is simmered in stock or water until tender. The sauce may include bell peppers and occasionally tomatoes. Some home cooks thicken it with a touch of flour, though the finishing touch is often sour cream stirred in off the heat to create a creamy, ruby-toned sauce, with tempering to prevent curdling.

Traditionally served with nokedli (Hungarian egg noodles), it is also enjoyed with dumplings, spaetzle, or rice. The dish is commonly presented as part of everyday Hungarian cuisine and is a familiar feature at festive meals.

Regional variants appear throughout Hungary and neighboring regions in the Carpathian Basin, such as Transylvania and parts of Slovakia, with differences in spice levels and ingredients. Central to all variants is paprika, preferably Hungarian sweet paprika, which provides the characteristic color and flavor of csirkepaprikás.