Introducing Instant Pot Chicken Paprikash Stew. If you haven’t tried Paprikash chicken stew before, you’re about to meet your new favorite comfort food!
The flavors in this are warm and homey. This feels like the kind of dish that your aunt or grandma would have made for you when you were growing up. It’s the kind of meal you want to sit down with on a cold winter day.

And it takes almost no time at all for this to cook because it’s an Instant Pot recipe. While Instant Pot doesn’t truly mean “instant” (I know. I was disappointed too!), it’s pretty darn close! You can have dinner on the table in less than 20 minutes.

Trying new recipes is always a gamble, but I think that if you like chicken stew and you like the taste of paprika, you’re going to love this Paprikash chicken stew!

What is chicken paprikash?

As I am not Hungarian, I wondered the same thing myself when I first heard the term! The dish originates in Hungary. Its name (Paprikás Csirke) literally translates into Paprika Chicken. The color of the dish comes from the main spice which is paprika, so the name is perfectly logical once you understand the translation.

Chicken Paprikash Stew Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced or chopped
3 chicken thighs, boneless, skinless
2 red or orange peppers, chopped
2 Tbsp. paprika
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups water or chicken stock
1 Tbsp. tomato paste
2 Tbsp. sour cream*
optional: parsley for garnish
optional: extra sour cream for serving

Assembly instructions:

Place the oil in the Instant Pot and select the Sauté setting.
Add the chopped onion and sauté for 2 minutes, then add the garlic for 1 minute more.
Turn off the sauté setting and add the thighs, peppers, and seasonings. (here’s where that all-important paprika comes in!)
In a medium mixing bowl, stir the tomato paste and sour cream into the broth or water before adding them all to the Instant Pot.
Secure the lid and select the “Soup/Stew” setting for 10 minutes.
Natural release.
Shred the chicken with two forks.

Serve the chicken paprikash stew in bowls with a dollop of sour cream or alongside some mashed potatoes.

*You can substitute greek yogurt for the sour cream if you prefer.

Make-Ahead Instructions:

This meal is freezer-friendly. Transfer the cooked chicken paprikash into a freezer-safe container or large resealable freezer bag. Remove the excess air and seal before freezing. On cooking day, thaw and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

While this dish is freezer friendly, you can find the actual freezer to Instant Pot recipes along with shopping lists and printable labels in our Instant Pot Freezer Meal Plan.

Instant Pot Chicken Paprikash Stew

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Hungarian

Keyword: chicken, paprikash, stew

Servings: 4

Calories: 173 kcal

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 onion chopped
3 cloves garlic minced or chopped
3 chicken thighs boneless, skinless
2 red or orange peppers chopped
2 Tbsp. paprika
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups water or chicken stock
1 Tbsp. tomato paste
2 Tbsp. sour cream*
optional: parsley for garnish
optional: extra sour cream for serving

Instructions

Place the oil in the Instant Pot and select the Sauté setting.
Add the chopped onion and sauté for 2 minutes, then add the garlic for 1 minute more.
Turn off the sauté setting and add the thighs, peppers, and seasonings. (here's where that all-important paprika comes in!)
In a medium mixing bowl, stir the tomato paste and sour cream into the broth or water before adding them all to the Instant Pot.
Secure the lid and select the "Soup/Stew" setting for 10 minutes.
Natural release.
Shred the chicken with two forks.
Serve the chicken paprikash stew in bowls with a dollop of sour cream or alongside some mashed potatoes.

Recipe Notes

*You can substitute greek yogurt for the sour cream if you prefer.

Make-Ahead Instructions: This meal is freezer-friendly. Transfer the cooked chicken paprikash into a freezer-safe container or large resealable freezer bag. Remove the excess air and seal before freezing. On cooking day, thaw and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Our other Instant Pot meals may interest you as well:

Instant Pot Pizza Casserole Instant Pot Pork or Chicken Shawarma Butter Chicken in the Instant Pot