Juicy, golden chicken thighs simmered in a rich garlic paprika cream sauce and served with crispy fries — a comforting, restaurant-style dinner the whole family will love.
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- ½ tsp chili flakes (optional)
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
For serving:
- 800 g frozen French fries
- Oil for frying (if deep frying)
Instructions
1. Season the chicken
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Pat chicken dry and season generously with salt, pepper, sweet paprika, and smoked paprika.
2. Sear the chicken
Heat olive oil and butter in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat.
Place chicken skin-side down and sear for 5–6 minutes until golden and crispy.
Flip and cook another 3–4 minutes, then transfer to a plate.
3. Build the flavor base
In the same pan, sauté onion for 3–4 minutes until soft.
Add garlic and chili flakes; cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minute to deepen the flavor.
4. Make the creamy sauce
Pour in chicken broth, scraping up browned bits from the pan.
Simmer 2–3 minutes, then stir in heavy cream.
Let simmer gently until slightly thickened.
5. Bake the chicken
Return chicken to the skillet, skin-side up.
Transfer to the oven and bake 20–25 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C) and the sauce becomes rich and creamy.
6. Prepare the fries
Cook fries according to package instructions:
- Oven: 400°F (200°C) for 18–22 minutes
- Deep fry: 350°F (175°C) for 4–5 minutes
7. Serve
Spoon the creamy paprika sauce over the chicken and sprinkle with fresh parsley. Serve hot with crispy fries.
Tips & Variations
✔ Use half-and-half for a lighter sauce.
✔ Add mushrooms or spinach for extra flavor.
✔ Broil for the last 2–3 minutes for ultra-crispy skin.
✔ Boneless thighs work well — reduce baking time by 5 minutes.
⏱ Prep Time: 15 minutes
⏱ Cook Time: 30 minutes
⏱ Total Time: 45 minutes
🍽 Servings: 4
🔥 Calories: ~620 per serving
