Slow Cooker Chicken Stew

Slow Cooker Chicken Stew is the perfect dish for a cozy and comforting meal. With tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and a rich, savory broth, this stew is both delicious and satisfying.

The slow cooker takes care of all the work, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully over hours of gentle cooking. Whether you’re preparing it for a family dinner or meal prepping for the week, this stew is sure to please with its warmth and flavor.

Ingredients

• Chicken Breasts: These will cook right on top of the vegetables, becoming wonderfully tender as the stew simmers. You’ll season them generously and then chop them into bite-sized pieces towards the end to stir back into the pot.
• Onion, Celery, Carrots, & Russet Potatoes: These are the stars of our hearty vegetable blend! Make sure they’re chopped and added right into the slow cooker first to form the base of the stew.
• Garlic: Minced garlic adds that essential savory depth to the stew – you’ll add this along with the salt and pepper for maximum flavor.
• Bay Leaves, Fresh Thyme, & Fresh Rosemary: These aromatic heroes infuse the stew with incredible flavor as it cooks low and slow. You’ll add them as sprigs or leaves at the start and remember to remove them before serving.
• Salt & Pepper: Your essential seasonings! You’ll use these to generously season both the chicken and the vegetables right in the slow cooker.
• Chicken Broth: This is the flavorful liquid base for our rich broth! Make sure to pour enough over everything to ensure the chicken and vegetables are well submerged.
• Cornstarch & Water: If you prefer a lovely, thicker stew, you’ll mix these two together to create a smooth slurry and stir it in towards the end of cooking to help thicken everything up.
• Fresh Parsley: Perfect for a vibrant garnish right before serving, adding a lovely burst of color and a touch of fresh, bright flavor that cuts through the richness.

Instructions

Layer the Foundation: Start by adding all your chopped hearty vegetables – the onion, celery, carrots, and potatoes – right into the bottom of your slow cooker.

Add Chicken, Aromatics & Seasoning: Place the chicken breasts directly on top of the vegetables, arranging them in an even layer. Now, generously season both the chicken and the vegetables with salt and pepper. Add your minced garlic for that extra boost of flavor, and nestle in your bay leaves, fresh thyme, and fresh rosemary sprigs among the ingredients.

Pour in the Broth: Carefully pour the chicken broth over everything in the slow cooker, making sure that all the chicken and vegetables are well submerged in the liquid.

Slow Cook to Tender: Cover your slow cooker with its lid and set it to cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours. If you’re in a bit more of a hurry, you can set it to HIGH for 3 to 4 hours. This gentle cooking allows all those wonderful flavors to meld together beautifully and ensures the chicken becomes perfectly tender.

Chop the Chicken: About 30 minutes before the total cooking time is scheduled to end, carefully remove the cooked chicken breasts from the slow cooker and place them on a cutting board to cool slightly. Once they’re cool enough to handle, chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces.

Remove Aromatics: Before adding the chicken back, reach into the slow cooker and make sure to remove and discard the bay leaves, thyme sprigs, and rosemary sprig. They’ve done their job infusing flavor!

Thicken and Finish: Return the chopped chicken to the slow cooker. If you prefer a thicker stew, grab a small bowl and mix together the cornstarch and water to create a smooth slurry. Stir this cornstarch slurry into the slow cooker. Continue cooking the stew on HIGH for an additional 30 minutes, or until the stew has thickened to your desired consistency.

Serve & Garnish: Ladle the warm, comforting stew into bowls. Garnish each bowl generously with fresh parsley for a pop of vibrant color and that fresh, herbaceous finish. Serve warm and enjoy the delicious taste of this comforting chicken stew with your loved ones!

Recipe Tips

Layer the Veggies First: Starting by layering the chopped vegetables at the bottom of the slow cooker before adding the chicken helps everything cook evenly and ensures the vegetables get nice and tender.

Don’t Skimp on Seasoning: Generously seasoning both the chicken and vegetables with salt and pepper is key for a flavorful stew. Adding the minced garlic at this stage helps infuse that savory goodness throughout the dish.

Ensure Good Liquid Coverage: When you pour in the chicken broth, make sure there’s enough liquid to well submerge the chicken and vegetables. This is crucial for slow-cooked tenderness and for developing that rich broth.

Handle Chicken & Herbs Towards the End: For the best texture, remove the chicken about 30 minutes before the end, chop it, and return it after you’ve removed the bay leaves and herb sprigs. They’ve infused their flavor by then!

Control the Thickness: If you like a thicker stew, mixing cornstarch with cold water into a slurry and stirring it in during the last 30 minutes is an easy way to achieve your desired consistency while cooking on high.

Garnish for Freshness: A sprinkle of fresh parsley right before serving isn’t just for looks! It adds a lovely burst of fresh flavor that perfectly complements the hearty, savory stew.

Conclusion

Slow Cooker Chicken Stew is a comforting and flavorful dish that’s perfect for any dinner occasion. With its tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and rich broth, this stew offers a satisfying experience with every bite.

Easy to prepare and full of deliciousness, it’s a dish that’s sure to please the whole family. Enjoy the warmth and flavor of this delightful recipe! Happy cooking!