Description
Alton Brown’s paprika chicken delivers a rich, Hungarian-inspired feast that blends smoky spices with tender meat. Crispy skin and deep flavor make this dish a comforting classic you’ll want to savor again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cubed in ½-inch pieces
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp poultry seasoning
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Spice Preparation: In a mixing bowl, blend paprika, poultry seasoning, salt, and black pepper to create a dynamic seasoning mix.
- Chicken Coating: Thoroughly massage the spice blend into chicken cubes, ensuring complete and even coverage of each piece.
- Skillet Heating: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the surface develops a subtle shimmer and appears translucent.
- Searing Process: Carefully place seasoned chicken pieces in a single layer, allowing them to sear undisturbed for 4-5 minutes to develop a rich golden-brown crust and lock in moisture.
- Browning and Cooking: Rotate chicken cubes using tongs to achieve uniform browning, continuing to cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius).
- Finishing Touch: Remove skillet from heat and drizzle fresh lemon juice over the chicken to introduce a bright, zesty flavor dimension.
- Serving: Immediately transfer the perfectly cooked chicken to a serving platter, presenting a dish that combines robust spices with tender, juicy meat.
Notes
- Spice Blend Secrets: Mix spices thoroughly to ensure each chicken piece gets an equal, flavorful coating that maximizes taste in every bite.
- Perfect Searing Technique: Use a hot skillet and avoid overcrowding to achieve golden-brown exteriors that lock in juicy chicken moisture.
- Temperature Precision: Always check internal chicken temperature reaches 165°F to guarantee safe and perfectly cooked meat without dryness.
- Citrus Finishing Touch: Squeeze fresh lemon juice right after cooking to brighten flavors and add a zesty, fresh dimension to the paprika-seasoned chicken.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 270
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 43 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg