Paprikahendl has been a family favourite in our house for years. It is one of those comforting dishes that feels simple, hearty and full of flavour at the same time. Tender chicken, sweet peppers and a creamy paprika sauce make it perfect for a cosy dinner with Spätzle, rice or potatoes. For my children I prefer to serve it with Pasta.
This recipe is also very special to me, because Paprikahendl was the dish that started my “cook from fresh” journey. Before that, I relied much more on convenience food packages, but this recipe showed me that homemade meals do not need to be complicated to taste comforting and satisfying.
Ingredients
For Chicken and Sauce
- 500 g chicken breast
- 4 bell peppers (or 1 bag frozen peppers)
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 2 tbsp paprika purée
- 1 vegetable stock cube or Knorr stock pot
- Water
- 250 ml cream (I use Oatly – for the lactose-free)
- Paprika powder
- Garlic, Salt, Pepper
UK Sourcing Tips
Paprika purée can often be found during Lidl’s Central and Middle European weeks and adds a deeper paprika flavour to the sauce.
Frozen peppers work perfectly for busy weeknight cooking and make this recipe even quicker to prepare.
Prep: 15-20 min
Cook: 20 min
Serves: 5 people
Method
Prepare the Base
- Cut the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large pot or deep frying pan, cook the chicken until lightly browned.
- Add the peppers and cook until softened.
Make the Sauce
- Stir in the tomato purée and paprika purée.
- Add the vegetable stock cube or stock pot and enough water to create a sauce.
- Season generously with paprika, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Let everything simmer gently for around 15–20 minutes so the flavours can develop.
Finish the Paprikahendl
- Stir in the cream and mix well until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
Serve warm with Spätzle, Rice, Potatoes or Pasta – I recommend Fussili.
Paprikahendl may not be fancy food, but sometimes the recipes that stay with us most are the ones that quietly teach us how comforting homemade cooking can be.
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