Description
This Hearty Slow Cooker Chicken Stew is the perfect comforting meal for cozy weeknight dinners. Featuring tender chicken thighs seared to golden perfection and slow-cooked with a medley of vegetables like carrots, celery, onions, and potatoes, all simmered in a flavorful chicken broth with herbs and spices. The optional flour adds a lovely thickness to the stew, making it rich and satisfying. Easy to prepare and packed with wholesome ingredients, this stew warms you up from the inside out.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 pound Skinless Chicken Thighs (or breasts for a leaner option)
Vegetables
- 3 medium Carrots, diced
- 2 stalks Celery, diced
- 1 medium Onion (yellow or sweet), diced
- 2 cups Potatoes, chopped
- 3 cloves Minced Garlic (or substitute with garlic powder)
Herbs and Spices
- 2 leaves Bay Leaves
- 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
- 1 teaspoon Salt (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon Pepper (adjust to taste)
Liquids and Thickener
- 4 cups Chicken Broth (or vegetable broth)
- 2 tablespoons Flour (optional for thickening)
Instructions
- Sear the Chicken: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken pieces until golden brown on each side, about 4-5 minutes per side. This step enhances the flavor and texture of the chicken before slow cooking.
- Add Ingredients to Slow Cooker: Transfer the seared chicken to your slow cooker. Add the diced carrots, celery, onions, chopped potatoes, minced garlic, and bay leaves.
- Season the Stew: Sprinkle the dried thyme, salt, and pepper evenly over the ingredients in the slow cooker. Stir gently to combine without breaking up the chicken pieces.
- Pour in Broth and Flour: Pour the chicken broth over all the ingredients, ensuring they are well covered. If you prefer a thicker stew, sprinkle in the flour and stir gently to incorporate.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker with the lid. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until the chicken is tender and the vegetables are fully cooked and soft.
- Serve: Once done, ladle the hot stew into bowls. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve warm for a comforting meal.
Notes
- For a leaner stew, substitute chicken thighs with skinless chicken breasts.
- You can substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth for a different flavor profile.
- Adding flour is optional; to keep it gluten-free, skip the flour or substitute with a gluten-free thickener.
- Feel free to add other vegetables like peas or green beans in the last hour of cooking for added variety.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
