Hungarian cuisine uses native ingredients in delicious ways. Here are the best-loved Hungarian recipes that would make any nagyanya (grandma) proud!
20 Classic Hungarian Recipes You Need to Try
Updated on May 01, 2023
1/20
Hungarian Goulash
Total Time
7 hours 20 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Talk about your heirloom recipes! My grandmother made this Hungarian goulash recipe for my mother when she was a child, and then Mom made it for us to enjoy. Paprika and caraway add wonderful flavor, and sour cream gives it a creamy richness. It’s simply scrumptious! —Marcia Doyle, Pompano, Florida
Nutrition Facts:
2/3 cup goulash with 1 cup noodles: 388 calories, 13g fat (4g saturated fat), 78mg cholesterol, 285mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 7g fiber), 31g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 fat.
2/20
Hungarian Chicken Paprikash
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Some recipes for chicken paprikash include vegetables like bell peppers and celery, but not my Grandmother Alta’s. Hers was a simple combination of chicken, onions, garlic, paprika and sour cream. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 422 calories, 26g fat (8g saturated fat), 127mg cholesterol, 596mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 40g protein.
3/20
New World Stuffed Cabbage
Total Time
2 hours 45 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
European immigrants brought their favorite stuffed cabbage recipes to the New World in the late 19th century. Here's my take on tradition. —Katherine Stefanovich, Desert Hot Springs, California
Nutrition Facts:
2 cabbage rolls: 352 calories, 13g fat (4g saturated fat), 90mg cholesterol, 1508mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 9g fiber), 24g protein.
4/20
Nut Rolls
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
4 loaves (12 pieces each)
From the Recipe Creator:
It isn't officially the holidays until I've made this treasured nut roll recipe from my husband's grandmother. The apple-walnut filling is moist, subtly sweet and flavorful. —Donna Bardocz, Howell, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 222 calories, 12g fat (5g saturated fat), 36mg cholesterol, 87mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
5/20
Cucumber Salad with Sour Cream
Total Time
15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
It’s been a tradition at our house to serve this dish with the other Hungarian specialties my mom learned to make from the women at church. It’s especially good during the summer when the cucumbers are fresh-picked from the garden. —Pamela Eaton, Monclova, Ohio
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 62 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 5mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat.
6/20
Strawberry Soup
Total Time
15 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Laden with strawberries, this chilled soup is certain to become a new hot-weather favorite. —Verna Bollin, Powell, Tennessee
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 192 calories, 1g fat (1g saturated fat), 4mg cholesterol, 55mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (37g sugars, 3g fiber), 5g protein.
7/20
Apple Strudel
Total Time
1 hour 45 min
Servings
2 strudels (8 pieces each)
From the Recipe Creator:
This gorgeous strudel has just what you crave this time of year: thin layers of flaky crust and lots of juicy apples. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
Nutrition Facts:
1 slice: 285 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 24mg cholesterol, 61mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (20g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.
8/20
Hungarian Short Ribs
Total Time
2 hours 30 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a special meal in our house—as soon as I get ribs, I know which dish my family will ask me to make. My husband and I have three children, so I've learned to be a versatile cook! —Joanne ShewChuk, St. Benedict, Saskatchewan
Nutrition Facts:
1 each: 261 calories, 14g fat (5g saturated fat), 55mg cholesterol, 735mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 1g fiber), 20g protein.
9/20
Hungarian-Style Green Beans
Total Time
25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A vacation to Hungary inspired this flavorful side of green beans with paprika and mushrooms. Being a vegetarian, I welcome these tasty ideas. —Sherry Johnston, Green Cove Springs, Florida
10/20
Kolacky Cookies
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
As a child, I always looked forward to eating these goodies at Christmastime. Now I make them for my own family. —Sharon Kurtz, Emmaus, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 129 calories, 9g fat (4g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 49mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.
11/20
Beef Paprikash with Fire-Roasted Tomatoes
Total Time
2 hours
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Beef paprikash, a Hungarian dish, makes a marvelous Sunday dinner. We prefer it with kluski egg noodles, or try mashed potatoes. —Gloria Bradley, Naperville, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup stew with 3/4 cup cooked noodles: 534 calories, 21g fat (8g saturated fat), 133mg cholesterol, 953mg sodium, 51g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 4g fiber), 33g protein.
12/20
Horseradish Deviled Eggs
Total Time
15 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
People say "Wow!" when they taste these flavorful, tangy horseradish deviled eggs. The bold combination of ground mustard, dill and horseradish is so appealing. The plate is always emptied when I serve these eggs. —Ruth Roth, Linville, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts:
2 stuffed egg halves: 146 calories, 13g fat (3g saturated fat), 215mg cholesterol, 169mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 6g protein.
13/20
14/20
Grandma Schwartz’s Rouladen
Total Time
6 hours 35 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This was one of my Grandma Schwartz's recipes. Grandpa Schwartz was a German butcher and this was one of his (and our) favorite meals. It's an extra-special beef entree when served with mashed potatoes made with butter and sour cream. —Lynda Sharai, Summer Lake, Oregon
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 288 calories, 11g fat (3g saturated fat), 74mg cholesterol, 1030mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 3g fiber), 28g protein.
15/20
Pickled Sweet Peppers
Total Time
50 min
Servings
5 pints
From the Recipe Creator:
I love to can my homegrown produce. I call this recipe Summer in a Jar. The peppers have a nice combination of tart and spicy flavors. —Edna Clemens, West Branch, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
1 ounce: 13 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 15mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 0 protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Free food.
16/20
Rum Balls
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I make these rum balls for special occasions with my wonderful family and friends. The treats are so easy to make and pack a festive punch. — Diane Duschanek, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Nutrition Facts:
1 ball: 125 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 2mg cholesterol, 43mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
17/20
Butternut Goulash
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
8 servings (2-1/2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
We make this treasured family goulash recipe using squash from our own backyard. The chili powder and cayenne really warm you up! —Allison Wilmarth, Forest City, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/4 cups: 196 calories, 8g fat (4g saturated fat), 44mg cholesterol, 450mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 5g fiber), 14g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 1 starch, 1 fat.
18/20
Walnut-Filled Pillows
Total Time
40 min
Servings
28 cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These tender cookie pillows, filled with a delicious walnut mixture, are my husband's favorite. He says it wouldn't be Christmas without them. —Nancy Kostrej, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts:
1 each: 84 calories, 6g fat (3g saturated fat), 20mg cholesterol, 45mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
19/20
Cookie Crust Deep-Dish Apple Pie
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
One of my favorite make-and-take desserts, this deep-dish pie is based on an old Hungarian recipe that's popular in this part of Ohio. The easy cookie crust is the best part. —Diane Shipley, Mentor, Ohio
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 357 calories, 17g fat (10g saturated fat), 74mg cholesterol, 196mg sodium, 49g carbohydrate (26g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.
20/20
Cabbage Rolls
Total Time
1 hour 55 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
It was an abundance of dill in my garden that led me to try this. My family liked the taste so much that, from then on, I made my old-fashioned cabbage rolls recipe with dill. This is how to make easy cabbage rolls. – Florence Krantz, Bismarck, North Dakota
Nutrition Facts:
2 cabbage rolls: 260 calories, 10g fat (4g saturated fat), 50mg cholesterol, 694mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 3g fiber), 18g protein.
