This hearty one-pot chicken stew practically cooks itself! It’s made all in one-pot with tender chunks of chicken and savory veggies. Enjoy it with crusty bread for an ultimate cold-weather meal!

chicken stew recipe

Best Chicken Stew

This chicken stew is a readers’ favorite around here. It gets five-star reviews for its rustic, hearty, and delicious taste.

It’s a delicious meal made in one pot, with simple ingredients such as tender chicken and veggies –all simmered in the best-seasoned broth. All you need is some crusty garlic bread and you have yourself a perfect comfort meal.

Few Recipes Notes & Tips

  • For best results use boneless, skinless, chicken thighs. They have extra flavor after searing and also simmer into tender little morsels. Make sure to cut the thighs into 2-inch chunks so they do not overcook. 
  • I do not recommend chicken breast in this recipe. It won’t be as tender and flavorful as the thighs. Plus chicken breast is easy to overcook.
  • Many of you have asked if this recipe can be made in a crockpot. Recently I tested this recipe in a crockpot and the result was just not the same. Chicken stew is all about building flavor and texture by searing the meat, then the vegetables and aromatics, which is impossible to do in a crockpot. Therefore, I do not recommend making this stew in a crockpot.
Ingredients for chicken stew recipe

Ingredients for Chicken Stew Recipe

The reason why this chicken stew is a favorite around here is that it’s made with simple, pantry ingredients.  Here’s what you’ll need for the stew:

Chicken thighs: For best flavor use boneless, skinless thighs. I do not recommend chicken breast or rotisserie chicken.

Avocado oil: You’ll need high-smoke oil, such as avocado oil or something similar for searing chicken thighs and vegetables. 

Vegetables: Carrots, sweet onion, and baby potatoes. Cut your vegetables into larger chunks so they do not overcook. Carrots should be sliced 1/2-inch thick. Slice the onion into 12 wedges. Baby white potatoes or Yukon golds are the best potatoes for the stew. Baby potatoes should be quartered and Yukon golds cut into about 1 3/4-inch chunks.

Garlic:  Use fresh garlic. Avoid jarred or anything pre-chopped.

Chicken broth or stock: Either one is fine to use. Use good-quality stock, whether homemade or store-bought. Bone broth is even better if you don’t mind spending a little more.

All-purpose flour: This will thicken the stew. 

Bay leaf: Feel free to use dried or fresh bay leaves. Dried bay leaves are easier to find at most supermarkets in the spice aisle.  A lot of times you can find fresh bay leaves in the produce section near fresh herbs.

Fresh parsley: Not a fan of parsley? Try fresh dill instead.

How to Make Stew Chicken Stew

  • Step 1: Over high heat, cook chicken until brown on all sides. Transfer to a plate.
  • Step 2: Add carrots and onions. Cook until the onions begin to soften. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Deglaze the dutch oven with some of the chicken stock.
  • Step 3: Make a slurry by whisking flour with 1/2 cup broth in a small bowl. Add to the dutch oven. Stir in chicken, remaining broth, and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 25 minutes over medium-low heat.
  • Step 4: Add potatoes and cook until potatoes are tender. Stir in parsley and discard bay leaf before serving.

Step by step images showing how to make stew chicken recipe

How to Make Stew Thicker?

This chicken stew recipe is not overly thick as some stew recipes out there but you can easily change that. Here are a few ways to make the stew thicker:

Create a thicker slurry. A slurry is a combination of flour and broth which is mixed together and used to thicken the stew. Feel free to add an extra tablespoon of flour to the broth to create a thicker slurry. For a gluten-free option, use arrowroot powder.

Simmer with the lid off. Make sure to simmer the stew with the lid off for the last 18-20 minutes of cooking. That way the liquid is reduced as more water evaporates, resulting in a thicker stew.

chicken stew

Video: How to Make Chicken Stew

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simple chicken stew recipe

One-Pot Chicken Stew

★★★★★ 4.8 from 133 reviews
  • Author: Katya
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 mins
  • Yield: 4-6 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: One-Pot
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

This hearty one-pot chicken stew practically cooks itself! It’s made all in one-pot with tender chunks of chicken and savory veggies. Enjoy it with crusty bread for an ultimate cold weather meal!

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 1/2 lbs. chicken thighs, boneless, skinless, cut into 2-inch chunks
  • 2 Tbsp. avocado oil, divided
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced diagonally into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 medium sweet onion, cut into 12 wedges
  • 6 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 5 cups chicken broth or stock, divided
  • 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
  • 1 dried bay leaf
  • 12 oz. baby white potatoes, scrubbed and quartered
  • 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Pat dry the chicken with a few sheets of paper towel and season thoroughly with salt and pepper, to taste. 
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a heavy-bottom dutch oven or a soup pot over high heat. When oil is hot, add chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until brown on all sides, about 5-6 minutes total. The goal here is to simply brown the chicken on the outside and extract some of its flavor. Make sure to use high heat, otherwise, the chicken will steam out and not brown. Transfer to a plate.
  3. Reduce heat to a medium and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Add carrots and onions. Cook, stirring often until onions begin to soften and tips turn golden, about 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds or until fragrant, while stirring nonstop. Add 1/2 cup chicken broth while stirring and scraping to loosen browned bits from the bottom of the dutch oven.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together flour and 1/2 cup broth; add to the dutch oven. Stir in chicken and remaining 4 cups of chicken broth. Add bay leaf and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring back to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 25 minutes, partially covered.
  5. Add potatoes and cook uncovered until potatoes are tender, about 18-20 minutes. If needed, increase the heat so the stew is at a gentle simmer. Also taste the broth for salt and pepper and add more if needed. Stir in parsley and discard bay leaf before serving.

Notes

  • Leftovers: Leftover chicken stew will last in the refrigerator for about 3 days. I do not recommend freezing as it will change the texture of the potatoes and the consistency of the broth.
  • Substitutions & Tips: Please see posts for all substitutions and recipe tips.
  • A few of my favorites for making this recipe are these cutting boards and a heavy-duty dutch oven .
  • Recipe originally published on 10/11/2016.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 486
  • Sugar: 12.1 g
  • Sodium: 679.7 mg
  • Fat: 14.6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 42.6 g
  • Protein: 44.9 g
  • Cholesterol: 168.8 mg

Keywords: one pot meal, winter, easy, comfort food

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