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Home » Recipes » Recipes with Paprika

Spicy Smoked Paprika Sauce for Chicken

Published: Nov 4, 2020 · Modified: Jan 1, 2023 by Nicole B.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
12 minutes

This creamy paprika sauce has a good spice kick and a nice smokiness from smoked hot paprika powder. It’s great with grilled, baked or roasted chicken.

For more quick but delicious gourmet sauces, also check out this oregano sauce, this rosemary cream sauce and this chipotle cream sauce!

Paprika sauce in a bowl with cilantro.
Spicy, smoky and creamy, this quick and easy paprika sauce is perfect on chicken.
Jump to:
  • Why make this recipe?
  • Ingredients needed:
  • Ingredient notes:
  • How to make the sauce:
  • Recipe notes, tips & questions:
  • Frequently asked questions about paprika:
  • More delicious spicy sauce recipes:
  • Full Printable Recipe
  • Comments

Why make this recipe?

There is nothing better than a delicious sauce to take dinner from garden-variety to gourmet. And a delicious sauce that takes only a few minutes to make? Even better.

This 12-minute spicy smoked paprika cream sauce has great smokiness from smoked hot paprika and a nice tang from tomato paste and sour cream. I finished it with chopped cilantro for freshness. Serve it with chicken, rice and corn for a stellar meal.

Ingredients needed:

Paprika sauce ingredients on a table.
You need cilantro, onion, smoked paprika, chicken broth, tomato paste, sour cream, heavy cream and unsalted butter for this recipe.

Ingredient notes:

  • Be sure to use smoked Spanish HOT paprika and not smoked Spanish sweet paprika for this recipe.
  • As always, I recommend to get the spice from a dedicated spice shop. Freshness and quality of the smoked paprika are definitely important for the flavor of this sauce.
  • You need 1 ½ tablespoons tomato paste for this recipe and a standard can contains about 10 tablespoons. For ideas as to what to make with the rest, check out these delicious recipes with tomato paste.

How to make the sauce:

See full ingredients & instructions in the recipe card below!

Smoked paprika sauce preparation in four steps.

Step 1. Saute minced onion in butter.

Step 2. Stir in smoked hot paprika powder.

Step 3. Pour in chicken broth and cook for a few minutes until reduced by about half.

Step 4. Take off the heat and stir in tomato paste, then heavy cream, sour cream and cilantro. Turn the heat back on and heat the sauce through.

Recipe notes, tips & questions:

  • Can I double or half the recipe? Yes, easily. The recipe card below is set to 4 servings but you can make less or more depending on how much you need.
  • How can I use the sauce? You have several great meal options for this sauce:
    • The sauce is great on grilled, roasted or baked chicken breast with rice. If you’d like to add a vegetable, I recommend to steam frozen corn, it’s great with the spice and the cilantro.
    • The sauce is also great on potato gnocchi. Top them with grated Parmesan cheese for a delicious meal.
  • How should I store leftovers? If you have any sauce left over, transfer it into an airtight container and store in the fridge. Reheat on the stovetop over gentle heat, stirring continuously.

Frequently asked questions about paprika:

What is smoked paprika?

Smoked paprika is a spice powder made from pimiento peppers that have been dried over an oak fire and then finely ground. The spice level of smoked paprika can range from mild and sweet to hot. Hot (also sometimes labeled “picante”) is what you want for this sauce.

Is smoked paprika spicy?

You can buy smoked paprika that is spicy and smoked paprika that is not spicy. Be sure to check the label on the bottle for information. Spicy smoked paprika is sometimes labeled “picante”.

Is Spanish paprika the same as smoked paprika?

Although not all Spanish paprika is smoked, the Spanish paprika varieties that are available in U.S. stores are usually smoked paprika.

Are paprika and pimenton the same?

Pimenton is another name for Spanish smoked paprika.

Can paprika go bad?

Paprika can’t actually go bad, but, like other spices, it will eventually start to lose its aroma and flavor.

More delicious spicy sauce recipes:

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    Smoked Paprika Aioli
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    Spicy Burger Sauce
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    Cook Time5 Minutes

See all sauce recipes →

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating or comment! Thank you!

Full Printable Recipe

Paprika sauce in a bowl with cilantro.

Spicy Smoked Paprika Sauce for Chicken

The Spice Train
Make a gourmet smoked paprika sauce in minutes with only 8 common ingredients!
This recipe makes about 1 cup of sauce.
4.67 from 9 votes
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Cook Time 12 mins
Total Time 12 mins
Course Sauces
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories (estimated) 111 kcal

Equipment:

  • measuring cups and spoons
  • knife and cutting board
  • small saucepan
  • wooden spoon
  • whisk

Ingredients:
  

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ½ cup minced onion (about ⅔ of a small onion)
  • 2 teaspoons smoked Spanish hot paprika*
  • ¾ cup chicken broth
  • 1 ½ tablespoons tomato paste
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons full-fat sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro (you need about 24 four-inch sprigs or an equivalent amount for that)

Instructions:
 

  • Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Add the onion and saute until starting to soften (about 2 minutes).
  • Stir in paprika and and cook until fragrant (a few seconds).
  • Add the chicken broth, bring to a boil and boil uncovered until reduced by about half (3-4 minutes).
  • Take off the heat and whisk or stir in the tomato paste.
  • Stir in heavy cream, sour cream and cilantro.
  • Turn the heat back on and heat the sauce through, stirring continuously.

Notes:

*Be sure to use smoked Spanish hot paprika and not smoked Spanish sweet paprika for this recipe.

Nutrition Information (Estimated):

Calories: 111kcalCarbohydrates: 3.7gProtein: 1.9gFat: 10.2gSaturated Fat: 6.3gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 157mgPotassium: 164mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1.6gCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition values provided on this website are generated from a nutrition database and are estimates only. The accuracy of the nutrition information for any recipe on this website is not guaranteed. Nutrition values can vary quite a lot depending on which brands are used.

Keywords: paprika cream sauce, paprika sauce, paprika sauce for chicken

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Steffani K.

    June 08, 2021 at 7:26 am

    I love this sauce! I think I ended up making it with a sweet smoked paprika, which was still lovely, though I like the little love tap the hot paprika gives this recipe. How/where do I find the hot paprika? King Soopers had regular paprika and smoked paprika, but neither indicated they were Spanish or sweet/hot…

    Thanks for another fantastic recipe! I love this site.

    Reply
    • Nicole B.

      June 08, 2021 at 8:13 am

      Thank you, Steffani! I’m so glad you liked the sauce. I get paprika from The Savory Spice Shop. They have smoked Spanish hot (and a number of other varieties as well) and I have always found the quality of their products to be excellent.

      Reply
      • Sue Greenwood

        October 13, 2022 at 11:42 am

        I made this sauce this evening to have with pork schnitzel it was delicious I had to add some cayenne pepper as I ran out of hot so I added smoked and hot paprika and cayenne pepper su h a lovely sauce. I’ve made a bulk amount so I can freeze it for later. Lovely 😍 thanks for the recipe. I will recommend it to all my family and friends.

        Reply
        • Nicole B.

          October 13, 2022 at 12:40 pm

          That is wonderful to hear, Sue! I’m so glad you liked the sauce! And thank you so much for spreading the word, I really appreciate that! :)

          Reply

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