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This hearty Chicken Stew Recipe is the ultimate comfort food! Loaded with tender chicken and fresh veggies in a thick, rich, and creamy broth, just like Grandma used to make. Packed with flavor and perfect for a chilly night.
Hello and welcome to your favorite new way to cozy up on a cold night!
This hearty chicken stew recipe is, I hate to say this, like a warm hug in a bowl. I actually don’t love hugs though, and I love this chicken stew, so that’s a really weird comparison for me.
But, gosh, the rich, hearty broth, the chunks of tender chicken, the little perfect pops of potato, the fresh veggies that you’ve lovingly diced up into nutritious little flavor bombs that your family is going to gobble up…everything about this recipe just makes me feel happy and safe and loved. Even when I’m the one doing the cooking.
We’re generally more soup people than stew people, making my cheeseburger soup and homemade tomato soup on the regular. But lately I’ve been on a stew kick and Grandma’s chicken stew has been on repeat.
Basically it’s just all the fall vibes in a big bowl. Can’t beat this one.
Ingredient Notes:
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Chicken Thighs – I’m normally a white meat kind of person, but when it comes to soups and stews, I do love chicken thighs! Breasts will work just fine here if that’s what you’ve got.
Veggies – I’m loading this hearty stew with fresh veggies including chopped carrots and celery, diced onion, garlic cloves, and waxy potatoes! We’ll also toss in some frozen peas.
Stew Base – We’ll use a combo of chicken broth and cream, with a bit of flour to make for a rich, hearty broth.
Herbs & Seasoning – Salt and pepper for seasoning the chicken, along with some dried oregano, thyme, and rosemary with paprika, basil, and bay leaves.
What We Love About This Recipe:
- Soul-Soothing Comfort: Our Chicken Stew is the epitome of comfort food, like a warm hug on a chilly evening. Cozy up and enjoy!
- Hearty & Wholesome: This hearty stew is loaded with succulent chunks of chicken, tender vegetables, and a broth that’s brimming with flavor. It’s a complete meal in a bowl.
- Melt-in-Your-Mouth Chicken: The chicken in our stew is so tender, it practically melts in your mouth.
- Vibrant Veggie Medley: Carrots, potatoes, celery, and more come together in each nourishing bite.
- One-Pot Wonder: Say goodbye to a kitchen full of dirty dishes. Our Chicken Stew is a one-pot wonder, making cleanup a breeze.
- Customizable: Make it your own by adding your favorite herbs, spices, or even a splash of wine for an extra layer of complexity.
- Healthy Indulgence: Packed with lean protein and a medley of vegetables, our Chicken Stew is a wholesome indulgence that’s as good for your body as it is for your taste buds.
- Family Gathering Favorite: Whether it’s a cozy family dinner or a gathering of friends, this stew is a crowd-pleaser that brings people together around the table.
- Meal Prep Marvel: Whip up a big batch and enjoy leftovers that taste even better the next day. It’s a meal prep hero that keeps on giving.
Tips & Tricks: for our Chicken Stew Recipe:
Chicken Thighs: Brown the chicken thighs in the dutch oven to really get the flavor going. Caramelizing the outside of the chicken adds a layer of flavor to both the chicken and the broth. When you add in the broth you’ll scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot (called fond) and it makes for a richer, heartier flavor.
My Favorite Dutch Oven!
This gorgeous Dutch oven is perfect for making soup, pot roast, and more. It goes from stove to oven as needed and looks pretty enough to leave out on your stovetop as decoration.
Veggies: Chop these all into similar sizes for the best soup eating experience. We’ll saute them for a bit, sprinkle on flour, and then cook a bit more. This will help thicken up the stew.
Helpful Tip!
Don’t burn the flour…
When adding the flour to the veggies be careful not to burn the flour. It will brown up the bottom of the pan, which is fine, just don’t let it burn! You can add a splash of water or broth if you need to.
Simmer: Once you’ve added the broth and seasonings, you’ll simmer this with the lid on the pot just slightly askew. This will let the steam vent out a bit and help the veggies cook fairly quickly. Just 15 minutes or so!
Finish: Add in the cup of frozen peas along with the heavy cream last. Let it heat through and then season with more salt and pepper to taste. Serve this chicken stew while it’s good and hot!
Serving Suggestions:
This stew is best served with some fresh crusty bread, like my jalapeno cheddar bread or our tasty beer bread. My air fryer garlic bread or quick dinner rolls would also pair well with this hearty chicken stew!
Our sweet cornbread is always a hit, or go the lighter route and serve this with our ramen noodle salad or a green salad topped with our honey mustard dressing.
FAQ’s:
If stored in an airtight container in the fridge this chicken stew should last for 4-5 days. Divide into meal prep containers and reheat in the microwave for an easy lunch.
Yes, you can freeze this chicken stew. Transfer it to a freezer safe container or ziplock bag after it has cooled. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat it on the stove or in the microwave.
Yep! Feel free to add whatever veggies you want to this stew. Frozen corn is an easy addition. Green beans, cauliflower, and bell peppers are also good choices!
MORE SOUP AND STEW RECIPES!
- Slow Cooker Beef Stew
- Pasta Fagioli Soup
- Keto Beef Stew
- Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup
- Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup
- White Bean and Ham Soup
Chicken Stew
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cracked pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 medium onion diced
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 5 tablespoons flour
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 pound waxy potatoes chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- ½ teaspoon basil
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a dutch oven or large saucepan over medium high heat.
- While the oil heats, season the chicken with the salt and pepper. Add seasoned chicken thighs to the dutch oven and brown on each side for about 3 minutes each. Remove chicken to a cutting board and roughly chop into bite sized pieces.
- Melt the butter in the dutch oven and add the carrots, celery, and onion. Sauté until soft, about 5 minutes, while scraping up any browned bits off the bottom of the pot. If necessary, you can add a splash of water to help with scraping up the flavorful brown bits.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
- Add the flour to the vegetables and continue to cook, stirring often, for two minutes. The flour will coat all the ingredients and it will be very thick.
- Add in the chicken broth, potatoes, tomato paste, oregano, thyme, basil, paprika, rosemary, and bay leaves. Return the chopped chicken to the pot along with any juices on the cutting board.
- Cover the pot with a lid and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and keep the lid askew. Simmer for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are soft.
- Add in the peas and cream. Heat through and then taste and adjust with more salt and pepper, if needed.
- Remove bay leaves and serve.
Leanne says
My family loved this stew. Not only was the meal great, but I love that it was all cooked in one pot! Hallelujah! Definitely will be making again.
Karly Campbell says
I’m so happy to hear that, Leanne! Thank you for the review!
Lori Chaplin says
The stew was so delicious – packed with tons of flavor and comfort. Thank you. for sharing. This is a keeper for sure.
Karly Campbell says
So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks, Lori!
MarshaT says
Great recipe. I happened to have some roasted tomato padte in the fridge leftover from a prrvious kitchen experiment; wow, nice addition!
Thanks!
Karly Campbell says
Oh gosh, now you’ve inspired me to try making some homemade tomato paste with roasted tomatoes from my garden. Sounds delicious!
Shannon says
Made this last night and it was delicious!
Karly Campbell says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the review!
Tina says
Can I add something to thicken it like cornstarch?
Karly Campbell says
It already thickens up some because of the flour added. If you’d like it thicker, you could make a cornstarch slurry and stir that in during the last 15 minutes of cooking.