Juicy chicken thighs simmer with mushrooms, sweet bell peppers, and onions in a rich tomato-paprika sauce. This Easy Chicken Goulash is a delicious one-pan dinner that’s ready in just 30 minutes. It’s cozy, hearty, and perfect for busy weeknights.
Traditionally, goulash is made with beef and requires a longer cooking time. By opting for chicken, you can enjoy that classic flavor while significantly reducing the cooking time.
Easy Chicken Goulash
This stew, made with chicken for a quicker cook time, is incredibly flavorful and easy to prepare in one pot. It’s hearty and comforting, ideal for those hectic weeknights. While goulash is typically made with beef or pork, using chicken results in a healthier dish that cooks faster. This chicken goulash recipe is packed with flavor and is simple to whip up for a satisfying weeknight meal.
Sometimes, you just crave a comforting stew for dinner. For you, it might be that perfect dish that warms you up and fills you up after a long day.
If you enjoy rich, sauce-based meals, be sure to try my Creamy Chicken Thighs next.
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Goulash
- Ready in 30 minutes, all in one pan – perfect for weeknights.
- Tender chicken thighs paired with mushrooms and peppers.
- Classic paprika flavor that’s lighter than traditional beef goulash.
- Versatile sides: serve it with rice, noodles, mashed potatoes, or bread.
Ingredients & Key Notes
I prefer using boneless chicken thighs for this Chicken Goulash with Mushrooms and Peppers, but chicken breast works well too.
Seasoning for the chicken thighs includes oil, salt, black pepper, chili, coriander, and paprika.
Use vegetable or olive oil for seasoning and frying.
Bell peppers — I enjoy a mix of red and green, but any color will do.
Mushrooms — chopped.
Onion — peeled and finely chopped.
Garlic — freshly chopped or minced garlic is best for this recipe.
Passata — for a smooth sauce; you can use chopped tomatoes if you prefer a chunkier texture.
Love One-Pan, Flavorful Meals? Try more reader favorites: Best Pork Blanquette • Creamy Chicken Thighs • Easy Beef Bourguignon
These comforting recipes are perfect for cozy evenings and easy weeknight dinners!
So, how can you make goulash in less time?
I decided to create a chicken version of goulash. Before I attempted it myself, I realized I had never actually seen a chicken goulash recipe, but I felt confident it would turn out well. After all, combining chicken with peppers, mushrooms, paprika, and tomato sauce seemed like a great idea to me.
I swapped out the stewing beef for chicken thighs and cut the cooking time by more than half.
What did I end up with? All the rich flavors of a classic beef goulash, but in less than half the time!
What is Goulash?
Goulash is a traditional Hungarian stew typically made with beef, onions, paprika, and tomatoes. This Chicken Goulash captures all those signature flavors and turns them into a lighter, quicker dish — ideal for those busy weeknights.
Easy Chicken Goulash Recipe
INSTRUCTIONS
Place chicken thighs in a bowl and Season the chicken thighs with oil, salt, black pepper, chili, coriander, and paprika.
Chop mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions.
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add seasoned chicken and sear, stirring occasionally, 6–7 minutes total until lightly browned. Use a good nonstick or cast-iron pan so the chicken won’t stick.
Mince garlic cloves, add onions, and fry everything together for 5 minutes or until it gets nice and fragrant.
Add the chopped bell peppers to the pot and sauté for 6 minutes. Add mushrooms; cook 9 minutes.
Pour in tomato passata and 3/4 tsp salt, simmer 6–8 minutes until slightly thickened. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Chicken Thighs in Tomato Sauce — Ready to Serve
Serve the goulash with buttered noodles, rice, or mashed or boiled potatoes, plus sour cream and parsley.
Easy Chicken Goulash Recipe
Juicy chicken thighs cooked with mushrooms and sweet bell peppers in a rich tomato sauce — so easy, hearty, and full of flavor! Perfect with rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes.
4
servings10
minutes30
minutes300
kcal40
minutesIngredients
2 lb. (800 gr.) Chicken Thighs
- For seasoning the chicken thighs (bowl)
4 tbsp. Oil
1/3 tsp. Salt
1/3 tsp. Black pepper
1/3 tsp. Chili
1/2 tsp. Coriander
1 tsp. Paprika
- For cooking
1 lb. (400 gr.) Mushrooms
2 Bell Peppers
2 Onion
4 Garlic Cloves
1 cup (200 gr.) Tomato Passata
3/4 tsp. Salt
1 oz. Parsley
Directions
- Season chicken thighs with Oil, Salt, Black Pepper, Chili, Coriander, Paprika.
- Add to the skillet oil and brown chicken thighs on both sides, about 7 minutes per side.
- Mince garlic cloves, add onions, and fry everything together for 5 minutes or until it gets nice and fragrant.
- Add the chopped bell peppers to the pot and saute them for 6 minutes. Next, add the mushrooms and continue to cook for another 9 minutes.
- Add tomato passata, salt and cook for 6 min
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve!
Recipe Video
Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 300kcal
Store: Leftover Chicken Thighs with Mushrooms and Peppers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days
Freeze: Allow to cool, then spoon into a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge before reheating in the microwave.
Love chicken? Try these recipes!
This Chicken Goulash is the kind of meal you’ll come back to again and again — it’s hearty, flavorful, and so easy to make. Perfect for busy nights when you need something cozy and satisfying on the table fast.
FAQ
- Can I use chicken breast? Definitely! Just remember to shorten the sear time to keep it juicy.
- Thinking of making it a bit spicier? Just add some extra chili or a sprinkle of cayenne!
- What about sides? You can’t go wrong with rice, buttered noodles, creamy mashed potatoes, or some crusty bread.
Serving & Storage
Serving:
This Chicken Goulash is best served warm, right out of the pan. Pair it with buttered noodles, fluffy rice, creamy mashed potatoes, or a slice of crusty bread to soak up that delicious tomato-paprika sauce. For an extra special touch, add a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt on top and sprinkle with fresh parsley — it really elevates the dish, making it creamy and perfectly balanced.
Refrigerate:
To keep your leftovers nice and fresh, store them in a sealed container, and they should last for about 3 days.
Freeze: If you want to save your goulash for later, let it cool down, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container and stick it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheat:When you’re ready to dig in again, just take it out and let it thaw in the fridge overnight. To reheat, warm it up gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
If the sauce looks a little thick, don’t worry—just add a splash of water or stock to get it back to the right consistency.
Tip:
Like many stews, this dish really shines the next day as the flavors blend together beautifully — making it an ideal choice for meal prep or those next-day lunches.
Final Thoughts
This Easy Chicken Goulash is everything you need for a weeknight dinner — it’s rich, hearty, and all cooked in just one pan. With tender chicken, colorful peppers, earthy mushrooms, and a comforting paprika-tomato sauce, it’s a meal that’s as cozy as it is delicious..
No matter if you enjoy it with rice, noodles, or a slice of crusty bread, this dish is the ultimate comfort food that everyone loves — super easy to make, a joy to eat, and even better the next day.
If you enjoyed this one-pan chicken recipe, don’t forget to give it a rating below ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and save it on Pinterest so you can recreate it whenever you’re craving something warm and comforting!
PLEASE—Before I could write the recipe, my phone rang! I NEED the onion , potato, bacon, cream, parsley, garlic, mozzarella recipe that shied up on my Google feed. Could someone please help me? Just tell me where I can find it! And please—I’m 80 years old; I really don’t have time to be bombed by thugs who like to make people’s lives miserable! And I am not a “Karen,” as difficult females are now known!