Easy Chicken Stew Recipe
There’s nothing quite like chicken soup recipes wether it’s a bowl of chicken noodle soup or chicken stew on a rainy or cold day! Stews are practically the definition of cozy, cold-weather, comfort food. You’ll find hunks of juicy chicken amidst an array of buttery potatoes, carrots, celery, and green beans. Onions, garlic, and a variety of herbs add a rich depth of flavor. I finish the stew with splashes of white wine for extra flavor and heavy cream for some final creamy richness, but they’re both optional. My easy chicken stew recipe is ready in 45 minutes and made in one pot on the stovetop, which makes it great for busy weeknights or lazy weekend afternoons. It makes a big pot so you’ll have planned leftovers to start the week. Served with a hunk of crusty bread or a small salad, this is definitely a meal! No one can say well soup isn’t a meal – because this hearty stew is definitely filling! Make sure to see below because I have some great homemade dinner roll recipes as well as quick salads to toss together if you want to round things out with either of those.
Ingredients for Simple Chicken Stew
There are lots of ingredients in chicken stew but all of them are easy to find, and very basic and common fridge or pantry staples. Beef Stew with Dumplings is rich and savory, and the dumplings on top add the best comfort food finishing touch. Slow Cooker Beef Stew is a cold weather or rainy day favorite and so easy to make. Your Crock-Pot does most of the work! Here’s what you’ll need:
All-purpose flour Salt – If your stew tastes at all flat, boring, or just not quite “right”, it likely needs more salt. You’re flavoring about 9 pounds of food quite literally. It needs salt to bring out the best Pepper Chicken – Boneless skinless chicken thighs are recommended but chicken breasts are fine Olive oil Unsalted butter Yellow onion Carrots Celery Garlic Herbs – Fresh thyme sprigs, rosemary sprigs, sage OR use dried herbs. In general, you want to use about half as much of a dried herb as you would fresh, since dried is theoretically more concentrated. Spices – cumin, paprika Reduced sodium chicken broth – If you want a thicker soup, you can start by only adding 3 cups of broth rather than 4 cups. Or simmer it longer. However, you do run the risk of drying out the chicken more. If you want a thinner and brother consistency, just add more broth Dry white wine – Optional but recommended Red potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes – Any time potatoes are going to simmer such as in a soup, chili, or stew you want to select waxy potatoes. That means red potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes are great choices. This isn’t a recipe for starchy potatoes like a Russet potato, baking potatoes, or sweet potatoes Fresh green beans – Perhaps you can get away with frozen but I would simply not use canned for the mush factor Heavy cream, optional but recommended Fresh parsley, optional but recommended for garnishing
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Chicken Stew
Making chicken stew is simple even if you’ve never made it before! Here’s what you’ll want to do: Shred it and add it at the end when you add the green beans, so it has just enough time to warm through and absorb the stew broth. Important note! If you go this route, start with 3 to 3 1/2 cups of broth rather than 4 cups since you will not be dredging raw chicken in flour. Missing out on some of the flour could cause your stew to not thicken quite as well so start with less broth to begin with. You can always add more later if you need it. Step 1: Coat bite-sized pieces of chicken in flour, salt, and pepper. Step 2: Add the olive oil to a large Dutch oven or soup pot, add the dredged chicken, and brown it on the stovetop. Set the chicken aside, and add the butter, onions, carrots, celery, and garlic, and sauté. Step 3: Spread the veggies to the sides of the Dutch oven and make a well in the middle, sprinkle in flour, allow it to become coated with the butter, and cook for 1 minute. Add the herbs and spices and cook for 1 minute. Step 4: Whisk in the chicken broth and wine, add the potatoes, add the chicken back in, turn the heat to medium or medium-low heat, and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the broth level has reduced. Add the optional but recommended heavy cream, fresh green beans, and simmer gently for about 5 minutes. Step 5: Taste the stew, adjust the flavor to taste with the addition of more salt, garnish with parsley, and serve!
More Easy Chicken Soup Recipes:
Easy 30-Minute Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup — Classic, comforting, and tastes just like grandma made but way easier and faster! This soup is AMAZING and it’ll be your new favorite recipe! In the Freezer: Once completely cool, transfer leftovers to a freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 4 months. Reheat: Warm individual portions in the microwave, or heat a larger batch in a pot over medium heat on the stove.
Storing Single Serve Portions
I always store my leftovers, but especially soups and stews, in individual microwave-safe containers in the fridge. That way when I’m working from home and want some lunch the next day, I just pop one container in the micro. Kid (or spouse) coming home tired and cranky from a long day at at school or sports practice (or work)? They can pop a container into the microwave themselves and it’s less intimidating than dealing with a big ‘ole container and soup ladle. Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Easy 30-Minute CREAMY Chicken Noodle Soup — Why have regular chicken noodle soup when you can have CREAMY instead? Pure comfort food at its finest! Ready in 30 minutes, an instant family favorite, and PERFECT for chilly weather! Easy 30-Minute Homemade White Chicken Chili – Hearty, healthy, loaded with tender chicken, and packed with bold flavor! Fast and easy comfort food that everyone loves! It’ll be on rotation all winter! Chicken Tortilla Soup – Chicken, tomatoes, corn, black beans, avocado, cheese, and addictively crunchy tortilla strips! Fast, easy weeknight meal, and better than from a restaurant! Easy 30-Minute Homemade Chicken Tortellini Soup – An fun spin on classic chicken noodle soup using cheese tortellini! Fast, easy, comfort food that just hits the spot! You’ll make it over and over again! Chicken Pot Pie Soup — All the comfort food feels of pot pie, but in soup form! Rich, hearty, creamy and ready in just 30 minutes! Use canned biscuit dough to save time on busy weeknights when you’re craving a hot homemade meal! Loaded Cheesy Chicken Chowder — Potatoes, chicken, carrots, corn and more! Thick, creamy, rich, and wonderfully cheesy! Fast and easy comfort food that everyone loves!
