Creamy Paprika Chicken and Spinach

Creamy Paprika Chicken and Spinach is a hearty, but easy chicken recipe that the whole family will love! It's surprisingly big in flavor because of dry white wine and sauteed garlic.

Love Chicken Breast recipes? Try Asparagus Stuffed Chicken, Slow Cooker Butter Chicken and Creamy Paprika Chicken.

Creamy Paprika Chicken and Spinach is so creamy and buttery, with just a mild tang from the fresh lemon juice. You can make this easy chicken recipe on a busy weeknight right.

This version of paprika flavored creamy sauce is my absolute favorite, I have been making it for a couple of years now. I love that it's a colorful sauce but it's also really filling, and welcoming on a cold day. My creamy sauce for chicken is incredibly simple to make using heavy cream, wine and stock.

★★★★★ REVIEW

Lorie Robertson commented: "This is amazing! It is my go to recipe for company and everyone loves it! But still make it for me and hubby during the week!"

Why I love this recipe

• Minimal clean-up. After I eat dinner, I like to get up and go, so it's super important to now have a big mess to clean up afterward. This easy chicken recipe ticks that box. 
• Easy to customize. I like to use whatever protein type I have in the fridge. For example, use chicken thighs, chicken breasts or turkey tenderloins.
• Pairs with oven baked french fries, garlic butter spaghetti and creamy garlic potatoes.

What you'll need

• Chicken breasts or thighs: They're tender, juicy, and cook quickly in a skillet. I like to use thin chicken breasts. Or, if my chicken is too thick, I usually halve them horizontally.
• Salt and pepper: Basic seasoning, but crucial for flavoring the paprika chicken and bringing the dish to life.
• Smoked or sweet paprika: The star ingredient of this recipe. Make sure to season your chicken very generously.
• Butter: Used for sautéing the chicken until golden brown and in the sauce for a creamy, glossy finish.
• Fresh Garlic Cloves: Trust me, fresh garlic is the second secret ingredient here. Skip the pre-chopped jars and go for the real deal.
• Flour: Thickens the sauce just enough so it clings to the chicken and spinach, without being heavy.
• Dry white wine: A splash of Pinot Grigio brings out the gourmet flavor in creamy paprika chicken. It's perfect for deglazing as well.
• Heavy cream: Makes the sauce lush, silky, and perfectly coats each bite; crucial for that "creamy" factor.
• Chicken broth: Necessary for the sauce texture beyond just cream.
• Lemon juice: Prevents the sauce from tasting too heavy.

How to make Creamy Paprika Chicken and Spinach

1. Season and cook chicken Start by seasoning the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Sear them in butter over medium-high heat until golden on both sides, then set aside.
2. Make creamy sauce: In the same pan, melt butter and sauté minced garlic until fragrant. Stir in flour to create a roux, then gradually add dry white wine, chicken broth, and heavy cream. Allow the sauce to simmer and thicken.
3. Add lemon and spinach: Stir in fresh lemon juice, then fold in the fresh spinach leaves, cooking until just wilted.
4. Return the cooked chicken breasts to the pan, letting them simmer in the sauce for a few minutes until fully cooked and flavors meld perfectly.

Best tricks & tips on making Creamy Paprika Chicken

• Use thin chicken fillets for even, quick cooking and juiciness.
• Generously season the chicken before sautéing-it's the foundation of the dish's flavor.
• Sauté chicken in butter for a beautiful golden crust and richer taste.
• Deglaze the pan after browning the chicken to capture all those extra flavor bits in the final sauce.
• Take your time with flour: Make sure to add flour gradually and whisk well to avoid lumps in the sauce.
• Use a good drinking wine, not "cooking wine" for better flavor.
• Add spinach at the end so it just wilts and keeps its color and nutrients.
• Simmer briefly: Don't boil the sauce; this keeps it smooth and creamy.

Troubleshooting

• If sauce is too thin: Add a little more flour; whisk well and simmer a bit longer.
• If sauce is too thick: Add a splash of wine, broth, or cream to loosen it up.
• Chicken is dry: Reduce cooking time or use chicken thighs for more forgiveness.
• Sauce breaks or curdles: Remove sauce from heat as soon as it thickens and add cream slowly.
• Sauce tastes flat: Add a pinch more salt, lemon juice, or even a little more paprika until flavors "pop".

What kind of wine should I use?

• Dry white wine. When I made paprika chicken, I used Pinot Grigio. It's a pretty good wine. However, any dry white wine that you like can be used. When we talk good wines, I also think about Chardonnay or Riesling. All these are great choices. They will produce an excellent flavor for the chicken sauce.
• Do not use cooking wine. When cooking with wine, you should never use "cooking wine". Cooking wine is loaded with sodium and is not tasty at all. But cooking with a regular drinking wine will always give you a better tasting dish.

What can I substitute for wine?

• Lime Juice: This is an ideal substitute for dry white wine. Use fresh lime or ¼ cup lime juice. This is my favorite substitute.
• Lemon: Because we are already using lemon, adding slightly more would compensate for the loss of flavor from wine.
• Chicken or vegetable stock: Swap white wine for vegetable broth if you are sensitive to alcohol.

What to serve it with

• This recipe goes great with Creamy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon or Brussels Sprouts and Bacon Gratin.
• You can also serve it with either Garlic Parmesan Sweet Potatoes or Spicy Maple Glazed Roasted Sweet Potatoes.
• But if you're looking for a light salad, try mixed greens with EVOO and this Balsamic glaze.

Variations and substitutions

• For a juicier, more flavorful option, choose chicken thighs.
• Omit flour for a gluten-free dish, though the sauce may be slightly thinner.
• Swap spinach with kale or Swiss chard to add different textures and flavors.

Mouthwatering creamy chicken recipes

• Mushroom Lemon Chicken
• Creamy Spinach and Mushroom Chicken
• Chicken and Spinach in Creamy Mushroom Sauce

This recipe was originally published in 2017. It's been updated with new photos and better instructions but is the same great recipe.

More easy chicken recipes

• Chicken Provencal
• Sweet and Salty Chicken
• Jalapeño Peach Skillet Chicken
• Garlic Rosemary Chicken Thighs

If you are a lover of seared and coated chicken recipes, be sure to also try Parmesan Crusted Chicken and Pan-Fried Chicken!