Creamy Paprika Chicken (2024)

Our Creamy Paprika Chicken recipe is a hearty yet effortless dinner that you can whip up in just half an hour. While it might sound like a weekend-only endeavor, it’s surprisingly weeknight-friendly.

This dish pairs beautifully with your choice of pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice and delivers deep flavors without complicated steps. It’s a nod to the kind of meals our grandparents made but adapted to fit into our busy lives. We’re using quality whole ingredients and a couple of shortcuts to make your cooking experience as stress-free as possible.

Here is Why This Paprika Chicken Recipe Works

• Quick and Easy, Yet Elegant: This paprika chicken effortlessly marries simplicity with sophistication. You get the flavors of a meal that tastes like it took hours to create, but in reality, it’s on the table in under 30 minutes.
• One skillet meal:Everything is cooked in one pan, so cleanup is a breeze!
• Customizable: Whether you’re a garlic lover or want to opt for a non-alcoholic version, this recipe is easily adaptable.
• Depth of Flavor: Smoked paprika has a complex flavor profile that’s a blend of sweetness, smokiness, and mild heat. It has a great flavor if it is fresh.

Ingredients for Creamy Paprika Chicken

Here is a list of the ingredients you will need for this recipe. Scroll down to theprintable recipe cardfor all the details.

• Meat: Chicken breasts
• Seasonings and spices: Smoked paprika, salt, and pepper, Italian seasoning.
• Pantry: Flour, chicken broth, oil.
• Other: White wine
• Fridge: Butter, cream, Parmesan cheese
• Produce: Lemon, garlic, parsley

Make sure your paprika is fresh. If it sits in the pantry too long, it will lose its flavor.

How to Make Skillet Chicken with Creamy Paprika Sauce

Here is a brief overview to get an idea of what to expect with the recipe. Scroll down to theprintable recipe cardfor all the details.

1. Season Chicken: Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the chicken breasts.
2. Sear Chicken: Sear the chicken briefly on both sides. Set aside.
3. Prepare Sauce Base: In the same skillet, melt the butter, sauté the garlic, and deglaze the pan with white wine and lemon juice. Add the chicken broth and cream. Let it bubble gently.
4. Thicken Sauce: Mix the remaining flour, Parmesan, and seasonings. Whisk into the sauce until creamy.
5. Finish Cooking Chicken: Submerge chicken in the sauce and simmer until the paprika chicken is fully cooked.

Coat the chicken in the seasoning blend.

Brown the chicken then set aside. They don’t need to be completely cooked at this point.

Deglaze the pan.

Stir in the cream, Parmesan, and the rest of the seasoning blend. Whisk until smooth and creamy.

See Also

Pork Rub - Ultimate Dry Rub For Chicken & PorkOven Roasted Beer Brats with Peppers and Onions - Her Mise En PlaceCatalina Dressing - Homemade HooplahSweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, & Lentil Soup - Trudy Stone

Add the chicken and simmer until cooked through,

Easy and Delicious Variations

• Dairy-Free Version: Substitute the heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk and use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan cheese. The coconut milk will give it a creamy consistency without the cream.
  
• Spicy Kick:Add 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes to the creamy sauce along with the smoked paprika for some heat. You can also stir in a couple of teaspoons of hot sauce or chipotle in adobo sauce for an extra kick.
  
• Veggie-Loaded: Add spinach, zucchini, or mushrooms along with the garlic. Sauté until tender before finishing with the sauce.

Pro Tips for Skillet Paprika Chicken

• Use a cast iron skillet or stainless steel pan for the best browning.
• Simmer uncovered until the creamy sauce thickens to desired consistency.
• While the recipe uses dried Italian seasoning, you can swap it for fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, and oregano if you have them on hand.
• Serve with your favorite sides such as mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, and toast.
• To make sure your chicken gets cooked just right, try using a meat thermometer. Shoot for an internal temperature of 165°F.
• If you don’t have a meat thermometer cut into the chicken to check that it’s no longer pink, and that the juices run clear.
• Make sure the paprika is fresh. Fresh paprika has this amazing, well-rounded flavor that can really make your dishes pop. The smokiness, sweetness, and mild heat are all at their finest when the paprika is fresh.

What to Serve with Chicken in Paprika Cream Sauce

To make this a complete dinner, serve it with buttered noodles or wild blend rice. There is plenty of creamy sauce for the rice to soak up. Add a side salad like our arugula apple salad and some grilled vegetables. Roasted asparagus with curry or sauteed zucchini would be delicious alongside this chicken. If you want a comfort food type of dinner, serve it with ricotta mashed potatoes and cheesy broccoli casserole.

To make it lighter, you can serve the chicken with a quinoa pilaf or roasted cauliflower steaks.

For dessert, try homemade chocolate marshmallow ice cream or mini lemon cupcakes.

Storage and Reheating

• In the fridge: Place leftovers in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to three days.
  
• In the freezer: You can freeze this chicken dish for up to three months if stored in a heavy-duty freezer bag. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
  
• To reheat: Reheat the chicken in a skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently until hot. You can also zap it in the microwave if you stop and stir it frequently.Don’t get it too hot or the creamy sauce will curdle.

More Chicken Recipes

• Slow cooker chicken paprikash
• Buffalo chicken pizza
• Asparagus and cheese stuffed chicken
• Garlic butter chicken pasta
• One pot chicken orzo

Frequently Asked Questions

This skillet Paprika Chicken recipe brings together the comforting flavors of a creamy smoked paprika sauce and tender chicken in one unforgettable dish. This recipe is proof that you can have a delicious home-cooked meal without the hassle of spending hours in the kitchen.

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• Cast iron skillet
• Tongs

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