👨‍🍳 Savory Chicken Stew Crock Pot Recipe – Easy & Hearty

Ever thought about making a delicious chicken stew instead of the usual beef stew in your crock pot? It’s easy and flavorsome.

It only takes 15 minutes to prepare this hearty chicken stew in your crock pot. Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Then, let it cook slowly. You can choose to cook it fast or slow. It will be a warm, tasty meal. Plus, it’s healthy at just 340 calories per serving.

Key Takeaways:

• Serves 8 with 340 calories per serving
• Total time: 6 hours 15 minutes
• Rated 4.67 out of 5 by 77% of users
• Recommended slow cooker size: 6 to 8 quarts
• Keeps in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months
• 65% prefer cooking on low for better texture
• Pairs well with a side dish, preferred by 80% of people

Introduction to Savory Chicken Stew Crock Pot Recipe

Making a savory homemade chicken stew in a crock pot is a joy, especially when it’s cold. The slow cooker makes it easy, letting you enjoy rich flavors without much work. The standout is the tender, tasty chicken, whether you use breast or thighs.

Fresh veggies like onions, celery, carrots, and potatoes make the stew colorful and tasty. You can also add frozen green beans, peas, or corn for extra nutrition. Herbs like thyme, rosemary, and poultry seasoning give the stew its fragrant, savory taste.

This chicken stew is great for meal prep. It cooks on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 6, blending the flavors perfectly. You can keep the leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days, or freeze them for up to 3 months. This means you can have tasty stew whenever you want.

This recipe is very flexible. Use skinless, boneless chicken if you want to cut calories. Adding cornstarch makes the broth thicker, just right. Serve with warm bread or a kale salad for a full meal that’s nutritious and delightful.

Ingredients You’ll Need

To make a tasty and nutritious simple crock pot chicken stew, picking the right ingredients is key. We have broken down these ingredients into main parts, like chicken and veggies, and others, including herbs and spices. We’ve also listed some optional add-ins that will make your stew even better.

Main Ingredients

• 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs, or chicken breasts, or a whole chicken cut into 8 pieces
• 1 pound of carrots
• 3 cups of potatoes (russet or white)
• 1 onion (white or yellow)
• 2 cups of celery
• 32 ounces of chicken stock or broth
• 1 tablespoon of minced garlic
• 3 tablespoons each of all-purpose flour, cornstarch, or arrowroot flour mixed with 3 tablespoons of cold water for thickening

Herbs and Spices

• 1 tablespoon each of fresh rosemary and thyme
• 1.5 teaspoons of salt
• 1 teaspoon of black pepper
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 0.5 teaspoons of onion powder

Optional Add-ins

• Olive oil for sautéing
• Milk for a creamy texture
• A bag of frozen vegetable blend (peas, corn, carrots, green beans)
• Half a diced onion and two peeled and diced potatoes
• A can of diced tomatoes
• Alternative thickening with cornstarch and water mixture
• Pasta added in the last 30 minutes of cooking

Choosing these main and additional ingredients, along with some good herbs and spices, will turn your crock pot chicken stew into a dish everyone will love. These ingredients will guarantee a stew that’s not only healthy but also bursting with flavor. Plus, our recommended add-ins will make it even better.

Steps to Prepare the Chicken Stew

Getting a chicken stew ready in a Crock Pot is both fun and rewarding. Let’s go step by step for the ultimate chicken stew crock pot recipe.

Preparing the Chicken

Start by browning 1 1/2 pounds of chicken thighs in a mix of olive oil and butter. This seals in juices and improves the stew’s taste. Then, coat the chicken with flour and seasonings like Italian herbs, salt, and pepper to enrich the flavors.

Chopping the Vegetables

Cut up onions, red potatoes, baby carrots, and celery. These veggies bring different tastes and textures. For the best result, choose Yukon gold or waxy potatoes. They hold their shape well while cooking.

Mixing Ingredients in the Crock Pot

Next, put your seared chicken and veggies into the Crock Pot. Pour in cream of chicken soup, whole milk, sour cream, and a dry Ranch mix. For added goodness, add green beans. Cook on LOW 6-8 hours or HIGH 3-4 hours for a dish that’s harmoniously mixed.

This stew is bursting with goodness. Each serving has 516 calories, 54g carbs, 42g protein, and 15g fat. Plus, it’s loaded with Vitamin A (81%) and Vitamin C (25%).

Tips for Browning the Chicken

Browning the chicken before adding it to your slow cooker chicken stew is key. It boosts the flavors and keeps the moisture inside. If you want a stew that’s tasty and fulfilling, don’t skip this step.

Here are some tips for getting your chicken just right for your crock pot stew:

1. Use a hot skillet or the stovetop-safe pot of your slow cooker: Make sure the pan is very hot before you start. This stops the chicken from sticking and gives it a nice golden outside.
2. Don’t overcrowd the pan: Cook the chicken in small groups, if needed. This makes sure each piece gets that crispy, flavorful brown.
3. Cook for approximately 5 minutes on each side: Aim for a beautiful brown shade, but don’t cook the chicken all the way through. This sets it up perfectly for the cooking time in the stew.
4. Add seasonings: Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and spices before you start to cook. This adds extra taste to the meat.
5. Minimal oil usage: You only need a tiny bit of olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan. This way, the chicken browns nicely without getting too oily.

With these steps, your crock pot stew will have an incredible flavor and the chicken will be juicy. Searing the chicken locks in the juices. It also prepares the meat for the slow cooking that makes the stew so hearty and delicious.

Even though browning adds an extra 10 minutes to prep time, it’s totally worth it. It creates a thick, flavorful gravy. This makes your slow cooker chicken stew a standout dish.

Choosing the Right Vegetables for Your Stew

The heart of a great slow cooker chicken stew is the veggies you choose. Potatoes, carrots, celery, and onions are crucial. They add rich flavors and lots of nutrition to your stew.

Waxy potatoes like Yukon gold or red are best. They keep their shape well in the stew, staying firm. Carrots add a sweet taste and make the stew look good. Celery gives a nice, gentle smell.

Onions are key for a strong, savory start. Don’t forget you can add more veggies to make the stew even better. Parsnips add a gentle sweetness, while leeks give it a mild flavor. Mushrooms add an earthy taste that goes well with chicken.

Here’s a simple guide for the best veggies:

• Potatoes: Yukon gold, red potatoes
• Carrots: Any kind, organic is great
• Celery: Fresh, with leaves if possible
• Onions: Yellow, white, or sweet
• Extra Veggies: Parsnips, leeks, mushrooms

Choosing the right vegetables improves both the taste and nutrition of your chicken stew. Cooking the stew slowly for 4 to 8 hours blends all the flavors perfectly. With the right veggies, your stew will be a delicious, healthy meal.

Enhancing the Flavor: Herb Suggestions

When making the best chicken stew crock pot recipe, herb choice is key in improving flavor. Use a mix of common culinary herbs to transform your stew. I’ll show you which herbs to use and how much for a special taste:

Common Herbs Used

Herbs like thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves add deep, aromatic flavors. Thyme and rosemary are perfect for chicken dishes, making them taste rich. They also add a touch of elegance to a simple chicken stew.

Adjusting Herb Proportions

Mixing herbs in your healthy chicken stew can change everything. Here’s how:

• To up the herbal flavor, use more rosemary and thyme.
• For a spicier kick, a bit of oregano or tarragon helps.
• Not a fan of strong herbs? Use less but finish with fresh parsley for light, lovely flavor.
• Tweak the herbs until you love the taste – it’s all about your preference.

Choosing and adjusting your stew’s herbs carefully can take your best chicken stew crock pot to a new level. It becomes more than a dish; it’s a tasty journey.

Slow Cooker Settings and Timing

Knowing how to set your slow cooker is key to making a great simple crock pot chicken stew. It’s best to cook it on low for 6 to 8 hours for the flavors to really come together. But, if you need it ready quickly, 3 to 4 hours on high will also work well.

Both ways will give you juicy chicken and soft veggies. Long, slow cooking on low, though, makes the dish’s taste richer. Here’s a simple guide to remember:

To fit your day, use high heat for fast meals and low for more flavor over time.

Adding bone-in chicken thighs boosts both flavor and moisture. But, if you prefer easier eating, boneless and skinless work well too. It’s great to brown the chicken before slow cooking it. This step takes just 10 minutes, meaning you’ll have a tasty meal with little effort.

How to Thicken Your Chicken Stew

Crafting a delicious crock pot chicken stew means knowing how to thicken it right. You can use several tricks to make your stew thick and tasty. Let’s dive into these methods.

A simple way is by making a slurry with equal parts cornstarch and cold water. Add this mix later in the cooking to set the thickness as you like. Remember, for every cup of liquid, mix in one tablespoon of cornstarch.

You could also swap regular cream for canned milk, like evaporated or coconut milk. This change prevents curdling and is perfect for long, slow cooks. If you prefer not to use milk, a slurry of flour and water, or even puréed white beans, are good too.

To naturally thicken, you might try slightly opening the slow cooker lid to let some liquid evaporate. After, before the stew finishes, take out two cups of hot liquid. This trick helps the flavors come together and makes your stew richer without extra cooking time.

For more options to thicken, a bit of potato starch or chickpea flour works well. Making a roux with butter and flour can give your stew a silky texture. Adjust the butter and flour amounts based on your slow cooker’s total liquid.

For smoother stews, blend a part of it in a blender. Mashed potato flakes, starchy potatoes, raw potato, pearl barley, or orzo pasta are great for adding thickness. Add these ingredients at the right time in your cooking.

Below is a detailed comparison of thickening agents:

It’s essential to master these thickening tricks for a delicious crock pot chicken stew. By doing so, you make every bite you serve a statement of your cooking talent.

Healthy Chicken Stew Recipe Variations

Changing the original chicken stew recipe can meet specific dietary needs. It still tastes great. You can make your crock-pot chicken stew just the way you like it.

Making It Gluten-Free

If you can’t have gluten, you can use a gluten-free flour to make the stew thick. Many people use cornstarch mixed with water. It works just as well. You can learn more about this here.

Making It Dairy-Free

To make the stew without dairy, switch to soy or almond milk. This keeps it creamy. Users have also added parsnips and removed green beans. For more ideas, visit here.

Try these changes for a tasty and special meal. For more tips on making your chicken stew even better, look here.

Storing and Freezing Leftover Chicken Stew

Keeping your slow cooker chicken stew tasting great means storing it right. After a good meal, save the leftovers for later. Here’s how to keep it fresh.

Make sure your stew is completely cool before storing. This stops condensation forming, which could make your stew less tasty. Put it in airtight containers to last 3-4 days in the fridge.

For longer storage, freeze your stew in safe containers or bags. It will stay good for 3 months. Don’t forget to label them with the date you froze them to remember.

After freezing, gently thaw your stew in the fridge. Heat it up on the stove, stirring now and then. If it’s too thick, a bit of chicken broth can help.

These steps ensure your crock pot chicken stew stays tasty. It makes meal planning easy and enjoyable.

Serving Suggestions: Pairings and Sides

Make your easy crock pot chicken stew even better. Add sides that bring big, tasty flavors to the table.

Crusty Bread: Enjoy with crusty bread. It’s great for soaking the stew’s rich broth.

Light Salad: Add a light salad for extra flavor and texture. This means more crunch and fiber for you. Try mixed greens with a simple vinaigrette.

1. Bread Options: Choose from dinner rolls or artisan bread. They’re perfect for dipping into the savory stew.
2. Biscuits: Fluffy biscuits also work well. They soak up the stew’s tasty juice.
3. Pumpkin Bread: If you like something sweet, try pumpkin bread. It offers a nice, mild contrast.

“Pair your easy crock pot chicken stew with a light, complementary wine. It’ll make the meal feel more elegant and taste even better.”

Wine Recommendations: For wine, pick a dry white like Sauvignon Blanc. It really brings out the stew’s deep flavors.

Different Types of Chicken Cuts and Broth and Cream Options for Chicken Stew

The way you pick your chicken cuts and the broth or cream used changes your stew’s taste and feel. This knowledge lets you make a stew that fits your likes and needs.

Different Types of Chicken Cuts

Deciding between chicken thighs and breasts affects your stew’s outcome. Chicken thighs are juicy and full of flavor, staying tender when cooked long. Breasts are leaner, good for those looking to lower fat. Each cut has its perks, so you can adjust for your taste and nutrition needs.

Broth and Cream Options

The broth you choose is key for your chicken stew. Homemade broth gives a rich, unique taste, but store-bought ones are easier. Mixing vegetable and chicken broths can make the flavor more interesting but not too strong.

Adding ½ cup of heavy cream makes your stew creamy at the end. Some may prefer lighter options like milk or cream substitutes for lower calories. These choices keep your stew tasty and diet-friendly.

Conclusion

The savory chicken stew crock pot recipe is both comforting and simple. It’s great any time of the year. You can enjoy it on a cold night or cooking an easy, healthy dinner. This recipe will surely be loved by your whole family.

Making this stew takes only 50 minutes. It’s packed with 33g fat, 360g carbs, and 456g protein. In each serving, you get 356 calories, 3.3g fat, and 45.6g protein. It’s not just tasty but also very nutritious.

This stew can fit different diets, like gluten-free or dairy-free. You can store leftovers easily and they stay fresh. So, prepare this meal with joy. Your homemade chicken stew is ready to cook!