Paprika Chicken Skillet loaded with veggies in a non-dairy creamy sauce is a 30-minute weeknight meal that is Whole30, GF, and Low Carb! Can be made spicy!
Whole30 Paprika Chicken
If you haven’t tried paprika chicken before, then you need to save this recipe now! This Whole30 Paprika Chicken skillet recipe is a quick recipe that you can have on the table in just 30 minutes!
Guess what? Even though it’s not listed in the title, this Creamy Paprika Chicken also has turmeric in it, which pairs perfectly with the paprika, and other spices that are blended up into this simple and delicious who30 skillet dinner recipe.
If you love turmeric like I do and are always looking for an excuse to eat more of it, be sure to check out all of my Turmeric recipes!
While I may be somewhat obsessed with turmeric, one of my other all-time favorite spices is paprika. I think it is because of my Bubby who lived with us growing up. She wasn’t the best cook – not even close – and she pretty much put paprika on everything.
Now I understand why though, it’s a spice that can really liven up any dish that needs a little extra something to make it stand out of the crowd.
Ingredients for Paprika Chicken
- Avocado oil
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Paprika
- Kosher salt
- Ground black pepper
- Ground turmeric
- Garlic powder
- Grape or cherry tomatoes
- Yellow onion
- Baby spinach
- Fresh cilantro
- Full-fat canned coconut milk
What is Paprika?
Plain Paprika is made from dried and ground Capsicum peppers, usually mild in flavor and has a bright red color. Paprika is one of the most popular spices in the world and most often used in both Spanish and Hungarian cuisines for its bold flavor and beautiful color.
Spanish Paprika is usually made from Pimenton that is smoke-dried or placed on a grate above a fire. Once dried, the paprika is ground to a powder. Spanish Paprika has three main varieties.
Sweet; made from cherry-shaped peppers only without the seeds and ribs.
Bittersweet; made from long peppers that are a dark red color without the seeds and ribs.
Hot; made from spicy peppers and include the seeds and ribs when ground.
Paprika is the National Spice of Hungary so you know there are some serious options that originate from there. There are eight main varieties that vary in heat and color.
How To Make Paprika Chicken
This recipe couldn’t be easier to make! All you need is a few minutes of prep time and one skillet to make a delicious meal everyone will love.
- Start by peeling and slicing the onion. Next up, chop the spinach and cilantro. (Picture #1)
- In a mixing bowl, combine chicken thighs with paprika, salt, pepper, turmeric, and garlic powder. Toss until well coated. (Picture #2)
- Heat a large 12″ cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add avocado oil and then chicken. (Picture #3)
- Cook chicken, undisturbed and then flip and repeat. Add grape tomatoes and sliced onion. Gently toss to coat with spices, and cook until tomatoes are soft enough to easily burst under the weight of a spatula or wooden spoon. Smash all of the tomatoes so they release their juices. (Pictures #4 and #5)
- Add chopped cilantro and spinach along with coconut milk and mix well (Picture #6). Reduce heat to low and continue cooking until chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened a bit (Picture #7). Serve over rice, cauliflower rice or gluten-free pasta and Enjoy!
Can I Make Paprika Chicken in Advance?
Yes! This recipe stores and reheats very well, so feel free to make enough to save for later and eat throughout the week. It’s a great Sunday meal prep recipe because it only takes 5 minutes to prep, and 30 minutes to cook.
Place any leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also store in the freezer for up to 4 months. Simply let the leftovers thaw on the counter before reheating.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH PAPRIKA CHICKEN?
Great question! This is fantastic with plain rice. If you are following a low-carb diet or in the middle of a Whole30, cauliflower rice is a great option. I also really like this alongside mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower.
Slammed for time? Serve a simple side salad of mixed greens, a pinch of Kosher salt and pepper and your favorite dressing!
More Whole30 Recipes
Strawberry Salad with Balsalmic Dressing
Quick Homemade Pasta Sauce with Sausage
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!
Paprika Chicken Skillet loaded with veggies in a non-dairy creamy sauce is a 30-minute weeknight meal that is Whole30, GF, and Low Carb! Can be made spicy!
- 1 Tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 Tablespoon mild paprika
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 large yellow onion halved and thinly sliced
- 1/4 pound baby spinach finely chopped
- 1 handful fresh cilantro finely chopped
- 2/3 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
In a mixing bowl, combine chicken thighs with paprika, salt, pepper, turmeric, and garlic powder. Toss until well coated.
Peel onion and thinly slice. Finely chop baby spinach and cilantro.
Heat a large 12" cast iron skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add avocado oil and then chicken. Cook chicken 5 to 6 minutes, undisturbed and then flip and repeat.
Add grape tomatoes and sliced onion. Gently toss to coat with spices.
Cook 5 to 7 minutes, until tomatoes, are soft enough to easily burst under the weight of a spatula or wooden spoon. Smash all of the tomatoes so they release their juices.
Add chopped cilantro and spinach along with coconut milk and mix well.
Reduce heat to low and continue cooking an additional 8 to 10 minutes until chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened a bit.
Serve over rice, cauliflower rice or gluten-free pasta and Enjoy!
Did you make this recipe? Tag @EverydayMaven on Instagram with the hashtag #EveryDayMaven and please give a star rating below.
UPDATE NOTES: The Paprika Chicken was originally published in May 2016 and was updated in July 2019 with edited photos, step-by-step recipe instructions and answers to the most commonly asked questions about the recipe.
I made this but left out the onions and added a little onion powder. I also used a diced tomato tomato instead and a bag of spinach rather than fresh. It turned out amazing. My son and I both loved it.
So happy to hear you both loved it Jessica! Thanks 🙂
Yum! Didn’t have spinach so threw in peas and it was terrific.
I bet the peas added a great texture!
I substituted the coconut milk with a container of coconut milk based yogurt and some oat milk. Quite delicious and very easy to prepare. Thank you!
Perfect Stefanie! So happy that substitution worked for you 🙂
My family loved this recipe! They were planning when we could eat it again before we had even cleared the dishes! Happy to have a new dish in the rotation!
That is the best feeling! So happy that this recipe brings your family joy <3
a family favorite, thanks for this one!
I always want to drink up the extra sauce! Glad you all like it too!
This is a go to in our family for an easy tasty comforting meal:)
Love hearing that Kathleen!! Thanks for taking the time to comment 🙂
OMG, the flavors! I must love tumeric, ’cause this has a lot of it and I love this flavor. I can’t get enough of the broth; I want to drink it. I’ve started making double the broth so I can eat it in a bowl with a spoon. 18 g of fat, though, yikes, where does that come from? but then again, only 292 calories. I’m making this tonight for company, can’t WAIT!
Thank you so much Lisa!! I almost ALWAYS make a double batch of this too – the sauce is so freaking good <3
I substituted hot paprika for mild and it was delicious for those who like hot and spicy.
Perfect Patti!! So happy to hear you liked it!
Delicious and so full of flavor!! Next time I am making a double batch for sure
Yay!! Double is the way to go with the sauce – so glad you liked it!
Quite delicious and I was able to fit it in my low carb diet, while fam ate with rice.
Perfect Robin!! So happy to hear it 🙂
This was nutritious and delicious, thanks!
Hi Linda! You are so welcome – glad you loved it <3
love your recipes, this one specially,its easy and taste very good, thanks, keep them coming
Hi Marcy! Thank you so much – I so appreciate that!
This recipe was so easy to make and surprised us by just how much flavor was packed in there! Thanks!!!
Hi Trudy! So glad to hear it – such a good weeknight meal!
I have made this multiple times for myself and my husband and it is SO GOOD. Definitely my favorite recipe right now. Wondering how adding some saffron will do, if I can ever afford saffron! I will try it and report back. Thank you for this recipe, it is one of our staples now. My only problem is that I quadruple it and don’t have a big enough pan! The leftovers are incredible!
Hi Heather!! LOVE 🙂 Saffron sounds yummy – you have to let me know!!
This looks amazing and I want to make it tonight! Our family isn’t keen on tomatoes – does anyone have suggestions for a substitute? We’re good with pretty well any other vegetable!
Can’t wait to try it!
Hey Andrea – I don’t. The tomatoes are a main component of the sauce and the acid really balances out everything.
I made the recipe last night. I was so excited to make it. I was acting like world chef in front of my husband. The aromatics were awesome. The dish was okay the first night but it was the 2nd day when I really fell in love with it. That’s when the flavors really popped!
Keep the recipes coming!
Thanks for the feedback Carolyn! You can find more recipes here https://www.everydaymaven.com/healthy-recipes/
Hello,
Is there anyway to reduce the potassium in this dish for someone who is on a low potassium diet? Sounds delicious……
Hi Rose, I am not sure. I would suggest checking with your Dr. or nutritionist to see which ingredients you should avoid.
Loved it. Even my husband who isn’t keen on chicken keeps asking for it again.
Wow! What great feedback Toria 🙂
This looks and sounds delicious!
It is one of our FAV dishes!
I’ve copied the recipe and plan to make it soon!
Can’t wait to hear what you think!
Hello… want to try this but spouse doesn’t care for cilantro. I realize that a substitution will change the flavor but wondering what you think about flat leaf parsley, or a combination of parsley and snipped chives. thanks!
Hey Brenda, I have used parsley multiple times and it’s amazing!
I just omitted the cilantro and put extra spinach. Delicious!
I do not care for the taste of coconut – I have tried coconut oil & find that it has too much of a coconut taste for me. Would I be able to make this using another type of milk? Almond – Brown Rice or maybe even 2/%???
Hi Bea, some brands of coconut oil have a stronger taste than others. As for the coconut milk, I haven’t tried this with any other milk. You should be able to swap 2% or whole milk but watch it carefully for scorching. Let me know if it works out!
I use the coconut milk/cream found in the Asian section called Thai Kitchen. It is not coconutty at all. Also, for oils, refined coconut oil takes out the coconut flavor, where unrefined has a strong coconut flavor.
I just made this last night and it was quick, easy and quite tasty. I served mine over yellow squash noodles. Thanks for sharing. Native Forest Simple also has no guar gum in it.
So glad you liked it Donna!
I have 6 in my family 2 adults 2 toddlers and 2 preteens . How to adapt recipe for serving 6. The toddlers eat as much as the preteen
I would just double the recipe Christeen. You will wind up with just a serving or two leftover and can use if for lunch!
Will grape seed oil work with this recipe?
Absolutely Ruby!
Amazing flavor my whole family enjoyed. I am happy because they are also getting a great healthy dinner
Thanks so much Teresa! So happy to hear it 🙂
Made this for dinner tonight. I used smoked paprika. I love anything with turmeric. Definitely a keeper. Simply delicious and so easy to make. I was a bit lazy so used extra coconut milk and tossed 1/2 cup of whole wheat couscous right into the pan. It was super yummy.
Same with me Ann – I am obsessed with turmeric!
I made this dish today and used 1 T smoked paprika and 1 T regular paprika. It was delicious and so easy. Thank you so much for posting this.
You’re welcome Atour! So glad you liked it 🙂
I made this last night and it was super easy and DELICIOUS!! Even my picky two year old went to town. I expected it to last us for two meals, but it was so good that we polished it all off at dinner! This will definitely be going into our regular rotation; I can’t wait to have it again! Thanks!!
Hi Rebecca – love it – nothing better than when your kids polish off a healthy meal. Thanks for taking the time to share with me!
OK gotta save this one for when I get home. In Scottsdale, Az. right now but will be coming home to PNW tomorrow. Wife says I don’t know what’s for dinner when you get home….I do now!
This looks delish!
Hope you both love it Tony!!
This looks really good. Can’t wait to try it. Would it work just as well with EVOO instead of avocado oil? Or does the avocado oil add something to the taste? Thanks!
Hey Jackie! Absolutely – I prefer the avocado oil here because it has a higher smoke point for searing the thighs but EVOO will be just fine!
EVOO Turns rancid at a high heat. Avocado oil can take a higher heat.
Holy moley!! This is one of the best things I’ve ever cooked! It was so good!! I made it with smoked paprika and it was awesome!! II know I didn’t need to, but I served it with your roasted broccolini because that sounded so good (it was). My wife and my kids all loved it and can’t wait until we have it again!! Thanks!
Hi Scot! Thank you so much. I am so happy that your whole family loved it – your comment made my night!
What a gorgeous Whole 30 meal. We don’t use turmeric often enough in our house and it’s so healthy.
It really is Kristi! I am such a big fan of turmeric 🙂
Looks delicious! Will have to try!! Have you made this with boneless skinless chicken breasts before?
Hi Melissa – I haven’t. If you do it, I would recommend boneless, skinless tenders and really watch the cook time so they don’t dry out!
I have been getting your posts for awhile but I don’t think I have made any of the recipes yet. Then for Mother’s Day my sons got me a variety of things for the kitchen including a bottle of avocado oil, something I have never used as I always use extra virgin olive oil. I thought I would have to look up some ways to use this new to me item and then you have posted these recent recipes. Now I need to try some of your recipes!
Hi R.A! I can’t wait to hear back – hope you love this dish and the others that you try 🙂
I never got back to tell you how much we enjoy this recipe. I have made it many times and on Father’s Day one of my sons was over and he is going low carb for a month.When he saw this recipe in my book of printed recipes he took my copy.
Thank you so much!!! This is the best – day made <3