Good afternoon, my friends! It’s a lovely, cool Saturday afternoon here in Rabat, just past 1:50 PM, and my slow cooker is already working its magic, filling my home with the most incredible, savory aroma. There’s nothing quite like knowing a warm, hearty dinner is waiting for you, especially when it’s this amazing Slow Cooker Chicken Stew Recipe. Imagine tender chunks of chicken, soft potatoes, sweet carrots, and peas swimming in a rich, flavorful broth infused with herbs. This recipe is the perfect balance of soul-warming comfort, wholesome nutrition, and absolute ease, making it ideal for busy weekdays or relaxed Saturday evening meals.
Serving Versatility
This hearty chicken vegetable stew is wonderfully versatile! Serve it in a big bowl on its own, ladle it over fluffy mashed potatoes or creamy polenta, spoon it over cooked egg noodles or rice, or simply enjoy it with a side of crusty bread for dipping. It’s a complete meal that adapts beautifully.
Full Recipe: My Go-To Hearty Chicken Stew
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: 6-8 hours on low
- Total time: 6 hours 20 minutes
- Servings: 6
- Calories: Approximately 380 calories per serving
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional, for searing)
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 lb small Yukon Gold or red potatoes, quartered
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth (one of the best meals that use chicken broth!)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ cup frozen peas
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water (optional, for thickening)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- (Optional Searing Step) Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Sear the chicken pieces until lightly browned on all sides. You don’t need to cook them through. Transfer chicken to the slow cooker. This adds extra flavor!
- Place the chopped onion, carrots, celery, and quartered potatoes in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. Add the minced garlic.
- Add the chicken pieces (seared or raw) on top of the vegetables.
- Pour in the chicken broth. Sprinkle with dried thyme, dried rosemary, and add the bay leaf. Season gently with salt and pepper (you can adjust more later).
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is tender and the vegetables are soft. This is the essence of a great stew recipe crockpot style!
- Remove the bay leaf. Stir in the frozen peas during the last 15 minutes of cooking.
- (Optional Thickening Step) If you prefer a thicker stew, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl to create a slurry. Stir the slurry into the slow cooker and let it cook for another 10-15 minutes, or until the stew has thickened slightly.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
- Ladle the hot stew into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick preparation: Just 20 minutes of chopping and your slow cooker does the rest! Perfect for low cooker chicken recipes.
- Budget-friendly ingredients: Uses simple, wholesome vegetables and affordable chicken thighs.
- Big, cozy flavor: Slow cooking melds the flavors beautifully into a rich, savory, and deeply comforting stew.
- Nutritional value: Packed with lean protein and plenty of healthy vegetables.
- Customizability: Easily add other vegetables like parsnips or mushrooms, or swap the herbs to your preference.
Cultural or Cooking Technique Note
This recipe harnesses the magic of slow cooking, a technique perfect for transforming humble ingredients into a rich and flavorful meal. Cooking the chicken and vegetables gently over many hours in flavorful broth allows the chicken (especially thighs) to become incredibly tender and the vegetables to soften beautifully while absorbing all the savory notes. It’s a method beloved for its convenience and its ability to create deep, melded flavors, making it ideal for hearty dinner recipes crock pot style, similar to many traditional chicken casserole recipes slow cooker methods.
Serving Suggestions
- Over Mashed Potatoes: Serve the hearty stew ladled over a generous scoop of creamy mashed potatoes for ultimate comfort.
- With Crusty Bread: Essential for soaking up every last bit of that delicious, savory broth!
- Alongside Egg Noodles: Spoon the stew over wide, cooked egg noodles for a classic pairing.
- Simple & Wholesome: Enjoy a big bowl just as it is, perhaps with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on top.
Pro Tips for Success
- Chicken Thighs for Tenderness: While you can use chicken breast, thighs have a bit more fat and stay much more tender and flavorful during the long cooking time.
- Uniform Veggie Size: Cut your potatoes, carrots, and celery into roughly the same size pieces to ensure they cook evenly.
- Optional Searing: Searing the chicken before adding it to the slow cooker adds a layer of deep, caramelized flavor, but the stew is still delicious without this step if you’re short on time.
- Thicken to Your Liking: The cornstarch slurry is optional. If you like a thinner broth, skip it! You can also mash some of the potatoes against the side of the pot to thicken it naturally.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftover chicken stew in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. This stew also freezes beautifully! Let it cool completely, then transfer it to freezer safe containers or bags and freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight (if frozen). Gently warm the stew on the stovetop over medium low heat or in the microwave until heated through.
Closing Paragraph
I am so excited for you to try this incredibly comforting and easy Slow Cooker Chicken Stew Recipe! It’s the perfect meal to come home to on a chilly day, and it makes the whole house smell amazing. It’s a simple, wholesome chicken recipe slow cooker style that I know your family will love. Please give it a try, and don’t forget to come back and leave a rating and a comment below!
🎀 Final Thoughts
This stew is like a warm hug from the inside out. There’s something so satisfying about prepping it in the morning and knowing that a delicious, homemade meal is waiting for you later. It’s simple, nourishing, and tastes like pure comfort. I hope it brings lots of warmth to your table.