Chicken Stew Recipe
This hearty one-pot chicken stew recipe practically cooks itself! It’s made all in one-pot with tender chunks of chicken and savory veggies.
Love comforting recipes? Try our Creamy Chicken Stew or Crustless Chicken Pot Pie.
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Deliciously Simple Chicken Stew!
Let me share a little secret with you – this chicken stew recipe holds a special place in my heart. It was one of the very first dishes I shared almost a decade ago and since it has been rated as one of the most popular recipes on my website.
Over the years, it’s become my pride and joy recipe. I’ve made countless tweaks and adjustments to make this the best chicken stew recipe. I’ve made it at home so many times that it’s practically second nature to me.
But what makes it truly special is its simplicity. Just one pot, a handful of humble ingredients – tender chicken, hearty veggies – all simmered together in the most flavorful broth you can imagine. It’s the kind of meal that warms your soul with every spoonful.
Reader Rosalyn commented: “My 3rd time making this! My husband loves homemade beef stew or any hearty soup. This is perfect!”
Video: How to Make Chicken Stew
Chicken Stew Ingredients
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 chicken stock 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.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Chicken Stew
- Over high heat, cook chicken until brown on all sides. Transfer to a plate.
- 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.
- 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. Add potatoes and cook until potatoes are tender.
- Stir in parsley and discard bay leaf before serving.
Chicken Stew Recipe Tips
- Use chicken thighs. 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.
- Avoid using chicken breast. 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.
- Crockpot feedback. 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.
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 Recipe FAQs
Basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and tarragon are some of the most common herbs to pair with chicken.
Feel free to experiment with different mix-ins to make chicken stew richer. For example, you can add soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce for an umami taste. Or, include honey or brown sugar for sweetness, lemon zest or vinegar for a bright taste, or chili powder, smoked paprika, or red pepper flakes for a touch of heat.
Yes, overcooking chicken stew will cause the chicken to become tough and dry. Allow it to simmer just long enough for the ingredients to soften and cook through. Then, remove the stew from the heat.
Avoid raw meat, and sear it for flavor before adding it to stew. Also, choose fattier cuts of meat and not lean protein for better texture and more flavor. Skip delicate veggies like zucchini and greens as they’re prone to overcooking. Finally, avoid using cornstarch to thicken stew. This will turn it into more of a gravy. Instead, coat the meat in flour or cornstarch before adding it to the pot.
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If you try Chicken Stew Recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how you like the recipe in the comments below.
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Stewed Chicken Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 mins
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
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!
With over 3 million page views and counting, and 5-star reviews since published in 2016, this chicken stew recipe is one of the most popular recipes on my website.
Ingredients
- 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
- Pat dry the chicken with a few sheets of paper towel and season thoroughly with salt and pepper, to taste.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Using the crockpot: 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.
- A few of my favorites for making this recipe are these cutting boards and a heavy-duty dutch oven .
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
Recipe originally published on 10/11/2016.
This recipe makes the best stew. If you follow this recipe, the vegetables will be perfectly cooked. I am very happy with this recipe.
I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you!
I watched your video on YouTube and you added several things to your chicken like paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, etc. Why is this not in your recipe here?
Hi! The only video I have of this recipe is the one on my site right above this recipe. I don’t have one on youtube.
simple, easy, tasty. adjusts well to personal tastes. I used three heaping tbsps flour bc I like a somewhat thick stew. crimini mushrooms are perfect addition too, adding a deep umami easily. thanks for this quick, delicious stew recipe❤️
Was much appreciated. Added extra flour and liquid
I made this recipe with the thighs but they became to chewy, I have dentures. I cooked up a chicken breast and added it towards the end. I also added Brussel sprouts, we love, love love them!! Thanks for the recipe!
brilliant flavoursome warming stew! I would ordinarily make it just as is but I have hubby who won’t eat cooked carrots however it’s mostly a texture thing so I actually grated the carrots for this recipe and I’m glad to say it still worked out beautifully. The grated carrots actually gave the whole stew a nice texture.
This stew was such a hit when I served it for a Soup Supper with friends. I made it again later in the week doubling the recipe to freeze some. Delicious!
We love this! Can we make it in the crockpot? It gets hard to do all the steps with a little toddler around.
Hi! Thank you. I don’t have crockpot instructions for this recipe but if you do a quick google search for crockpot chicken stew you’ll at least get an idea of how to make this in a crockpot.
I never post replies-but this recipe was Delicious. I love it and highly recommend!! seems like people always say that they added something…well, i did too, i added paprika, oregano and dried corriander. The broth i used was Trader Joe’s low sodium-it is fantastic broth.
That’s so great! It’s definitely a great recipe to build on with your favorite spices.
want to try this out. do I cut up the chicken before or after I sear it?
Hi, you’ll want to cut up the chicken thighs into 2 inch pieces before searing.
yum yum yum! I’ve made this several times now and it is so easy and hearty for this cold weather! I keep out the potatoes (I don’t like potatoes) and add in zuccinnis, and it is perfect! Healthy yet still full of flavour
It was truly delicious I added sprouts & mushrooms thank you for-sharing your recipe
We made it for meal prep this week. Can it last at lest 4days? I know you said 3 just checking.
I think it’ll be okay 4 days. I would just make sure it’s refrigerated in airtight container.
Can i use thighs with bone in??
You definitely can if you don’t mind the bones but I think they’ll add more flavor!
Loved it! Followed the recipe as is but doubled the garlic cause we love garlic. It turned out great!
I have cooked this many, many times over the past couple of years. The flavours are magnificent and it’s pretty healthy. I usually cook about 1 1/2 times the quantity of this recipe so we have leftovers. It’s much better the following day.
My tips:
I brown the chicken longer than 5-6mins. I stop when there’s enough brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. This adds hugely to the flavours of the stew.
I don’t add more oil to cook the onion and carrot, as there’s enough oil and fat left over from the chicken.
At the end I add broccoli and loads of frozen peas and cook until they’re just tender. I also add chunks of zucchini right near the end. This turns the stew into a kind of spring soup/stew and is absolutely delicious.
Been making this one for 2 years now and the family loves it every time. What I love most about this recipe is how flexible it can be regarding the ingredients. I sometimes use turkey instead of chicken. We like our stew with a bit more veg so I throw a couple of parsnips in with the carrots and onion later adding some green beans and a small can of corn. Sometimes I also add a pinch or two of oregano, some cumin, fennel seed, some sweet paprika and a dash of tabasco. Great recipe!
Delicious . Made it for the first time. Definitely a hit
Hi, this doesn’t have to get posted, but I was looking at the nutrition ratings-
Calories=486; that can’t be per serve, or the total; is there a dot missing is the number?
I have made this before, & it’s nice; It’s getting cooler here (Australia) so about to make this again
Hi Paul: That’s the calories per serving. Serving is about 1/6 of the recipe. Hope that helps!
I made this for my 88-year-old dad who raved about it for weeks. He’s been a bit hard to please after my mom died, so his praise meant everything!
That’s so sweet of you! That makes me so happy to hear. Thank you!