Creamy Chicken Recipe

Restaurant-Quality at Home: Creamy Chicken Recipe
Creamy chicken is a main dish that stands out with its simplicity and incredible flavor. With its rich sauce, this dish will leave a lasting impression and can even be the star of your dinner parties. It’s easy to make, and the ingredients are readily available to everyone. But what truly sets this recipe apart is the velvety texture that the cream adds. Let’s take a closer look at this delicious dish and learn its key tips.
Inspired by Hungarian Cuisine
For this recipe, I took inspiration from Csirke Paprikás, a dish from Hungarian cuisine that I absolutely love. Through this dish, I discovered how paprika and cream can create an extraordinary flavor combination. In this creamy chicken recipe, I aimed to achieve a similar taste with fewer ingredients for a more practical version—and it turned out just as delicious.
Cream: The Star Ingredient
The cream used in this recipe typically has a 35% fat content and is derived from dairy, serving as a thickening agent in various dishes and soups. If you prefer a lighter alternative, you can opt for low-fat cream, but keep in mind that the fat content enhances both the texture and taste of the dish. If cream isn’t an option, you can use milk instead. However, milk lacks the thickness of cream, so there’s no need to add extra water. This slight modification results in a lighter dish, but you may have to sacrifice some of the richness that cream provides.
Why Use Chicken Fillets?
This recipe calls for chicken breast fillets, which are boneless and skinless, allowing for quicker cooking. This is a major advantage, especially for those who want to save time. Additionally, filleted chicken absorbs the creamy sauce more effectively, ensuring a balanced flavor in every bite. If you opt for diced chicken breast instead, you may need to extend the cooking time slightly.
Bay Leaves: An Aromatic Touch
Bay leaves play a crucial role in enhancing the dish’s aromatic profile. However, after cooking, it’s important to remove them and blend the sauce to achieve a smooth consistency. If you forget to remove the bay leaves, they may get blended into the sauce, leaving a bitter aftertaste.
Tip: Elevate the Presentation
Sprinkling chopped parsley over the creamy chicken adds a delightful finishing touch both visually and in flavor. Serve it alongside steamed rice or a fresh salad, such as an arugula and beet salad, to complete the meal. For dinner parties, you can complement the creamy chicken with additional side dishes or appetizers.
Beyond the Recipe…
This recipe serves as a great base that you can customize to your taste. For example, you can add sliced mushrooms to create a creamy mushroom chicken variation or marinate the chicken beforehand to enhance its depth of flavor. If you prefer a hint of smokiness, substitute sweet paprika with smoked paprika.
Creamy chicken is a dish that can transform an ordinary day into something special. I’m sure it will bring joy to both your kitchen and your table.
Enjoy the recipe...
Creamy Chicken Recipe with Video
Ingredients
- 800 g chicken breast fillets,
- 1 onion,
- 1 teaspoon red pepper paste (sweet or spicy, depending on preference),
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika,
- 200 ml cream,
- 1 teaspoon butter,
- 3 tablespoons olive oil,
- 3 bay leaves,
- Chopped parsley,
- Salt.
Preparation
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan, sear the chicken fillets on both sides until golden, then set aside,
- Wipe the pan clean, melt the butter, and sauté the chopped onion until softened,
- Add the red pepper paste and sauté for another minute,
- Stir in the paprika,
- Pour in the cream and mix well,
- Add the bay leaves, cover, and let it simmer for about 10 minutes,
- Remove the bay leaves and blend the sauce until smooth,
- Season with salt and mix well,
- Add ½ cup of water and stir,
- Return the chicken to the pan, cover, and cook for another 20 minutes,
- Remove from heat and generously sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.
Enjoy!