Name: Instant Pot Chicken Paprika Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds chicken thighs ((bone in with skin - about 4 thighs)); 3 tablespoons butter ((or other animal fat)); 2 teaspoons salt ((to season chicken thighs before browning)); 1/2 teaspoon pepper ((to season chicken thighs before browning)); 1 medium onion (chopped); 2 garlic cloves (minced); 3 tablespoons Hungarian paprika; 1 tablespoon flour; 1-15 ounce can diced tomatoes (drained); 1 cup chicken stock (or chicken bone broth), (unsalted); 1 tablespoon fish sauce; 1-2 teaspoons salt (to taste); 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 1/2 cup sour cream; 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

If you're into creamy, juicy, tender chicken packed with ultimate flavor and served over a bed of egg noodles, then you are going to fall hard for this Instant Pot Chicken Paprika recipe.
It takes less than 30 minutes to make, which means it’s totally doable for an easy, comforting weeknight meal—even when it’s already dark at 4:30 pm and motivation is… questionable.

I mean guys, what’s better than curling up in front of the fireplace with a big ol’ bowl of comfort food? Honestly, this is the ONE thing I like about winter.
Creamy bowls of steaming delicious goodness—like this German goulash recipe or even this paprika schnitzel recipe. It’s SO good. Like lick-the-bowl good. That kind of good.

And the best part? The Instant Pot does almost all the work for you.

chicken in orange sauce with parsley on top

If you're into ultimate comfort, you'll probably also love these Instant Pot recipes:

Jump to:

Why This Recipe Works
What Is My Take on Instant Pot Chicken Paprika?
Make It a Meal
Easy Side Dishes
The Ingredients
Step By Step Instructions
Expert Tips
Storing Instructions
Recipe
💬 Comments

Why This Recipe Works

This Instant Pot Chicken Paprika is cozy, rich, and deeply flavorful—and here’s why it works so well:

Using fresh paprika adds the most incredible depth of flavor to the chicken
Sour cream stirred in at the end gives the sauce a creamy, tangy finish
Browning the chicken first builds deep flavor and helps keep the meat tender and juicy
A touch of fish sauce enhances everything and makes the flavors pop (don’t worry—you won’t taste fish!)

Every ingredient has a job here, and together they create magic.

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What Is My Take on Instant Pot Chicken Paprika?

Traditional chicken paprika (or paprikash) is usually simmered low and slow on the stovetop. While that’s delicious, I wanted a version that fits real life—busy schedules, hungry people, and minimal dishes.

This Instant Pot version keeps all the soul of the classic dish but speeds things up without sacrificing flavor. You still get rich paprika flavor, ultra-tender chicken thighs, and that dreamy creamy sauce… just faster and easier.

This is comfort food that works with you, not against you.

Make It a Meal

This dish is absolutely perfect served over:

Egg noodles (classic and highly recommended)
Perfect Instant Pot Basmati Rice
Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
Even crusty Garlic Bread for soaking up every last drop of sauce

Easy Side Dishes

Round out your meal with something simple:

A crisp green salad with Lemon Herb Vinaigrette Dressing
air fryer pierogies
Cheesy Roasted Broccoli
Thai cucumber salad

The Ingredients

The most important ingredient in this recipe is the paprika. It is VERY IMPORTANT to use fresh paprika for the best flavor.

Don't use the 2 year old bottle you have in your pantry - go out and invest in some fresh paprika. It makes a huge difference.

What is Paprika?

Paprika is made from dried peppers and ranges from sweet to savory and mild to spicy. There are many different kinds of paprika. This recipe call for Hungarian paprika, which has an amazing deep flavor, and a little spice. (paid link)

Read this post on the Different Types of Paprika from Bon Appetit for more information.

This easy chicken paprika recipe also calls for fish sauce, which may seem a bit strange for a Hungarian dish, but I promise it adds a delightful umami flavor to the dish. It does not make it taste fishy at all. Just delicious. (paid link)

Is Chicken Paprika Spicy?

This Paprika Chicken recipe can be spicy is you use a hot paprika. Hungarian paprika can be hot or sweet. If you don't enjoy spicy food, I recommend going with the sweet paprika. Either one however, will taste amazing in this recipe.

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1: Heat 1 tablespoon of butter over medium high heat in a skillet and season the chicken generously with salt (2 teaspoons salt) and pepper (½ teaspoon pepper).

Brown the chicken for 3 minutes per side. Remove and set aside. You can do this in the Instant Pot as well for a full one pot meal, but I find the results are much better in a cast iron skillet.

Step 2: Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the Instant Pot on the normal sauté setting. Add the onions and garlic and sauté until soft, about 2-3 minutes.

**I use the 6 quart 9-in-1 Instant Pot.

Step 3: Add the flour and paprika and stir to coat the onions. Continue stirring to keep the paprika from burning and sticking to the pan. Cook for 1 minute.

Step 5: Add the tomatoes, chicken stock, fish sauce, salt and pepper. Stir and bring to a simmer.

Step 6: Add the chicken back to the pot and pressure cook on high for 12 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then use the manual release for any remaining pressure.

Step 7: Stir in the sour cream and the lemon juice and season with additional salt to taste if necessary.

Serve over egg noodles or rice. You can also serve it with bread such as naan, pita or toasted French bread.

Expert Tips

Use fresh paprika. Hungarian paprika is highly recommended for the deepest flavor. Sweet Hungarian paprika keeps the dish mild and rich. Regular paprika works in a pinch, but fresh is best.
Use chicken stock, not broth. Stock has a richer mouthfeel and better flavor. Learn how to make Chicken Bone Broth for even better results.
Add sour cream only at the end. Heating it too much can cause curdling. Stir it in after cooking for a smooth, creamy sauce.
I use a 6-quart 9-in-1 Instant Pot for this recipe. Instructions remain the same for larger sizes.

Instant Pot Chicken Paprika Recipe- ready in 15 minutes

Storing Instructions

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through.

Freezing Instructions

If making this dish ahead of time, follow all instructions but leave out the lemon juice and sour cream. Freeze the chicken and sauce in an airtight container.