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Slow Cooker Chicken Stew

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This hearty slow cooker chicken stew is a comforting, family-friendly dinner packed with tender chicken, chunky potatoes, sweet carrots, and a savory broth. Perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep, it’s naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, and the slow cooker does all the work for you.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into large chunks
  • 4 medium Yukon gold or red potatoes, diced (about 1.5 lbs)
  • 3 large carrots, sliced into thick rounds (about 1 cup)
  • 2 ribs celery, sliced
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
  • Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste (about 1.5 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper)
  • Optional: 1 cup sliced mushrooms
  • Optional: 1/2 cup corn
  • Optional: Swap in sweet potatoes for half the regular potatoes

Instructions

  1. Cut chicken into large chunks (about 2-inch pieces) and pat dry.
  2. Dice potatoes, slice carrots, cut celery, dice onion, and mince garlic.
  3. Optional: Sear chicken in 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes per side for extra flavor.
  4. Layer potatoes, carrots, celery, and onion at the bottom of the slow cooker. Place chicken on top.
  5. Sprinkle minced garlic, tomato paste, salt, and pepper over the ingredients.
  6. Add bay leaf and thyme. Pour chicken broth evenly over everything.
  7. Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours, until chicken is fork-tender and vegetables are cooked through.
  8. About 20 minutes before serving, stir in frozen peas. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Remove bay leaf and thyme stems.
  9. Optional: For a thicker stew, mash some potatoes against the side of the pot and stir, or whisk 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water and stir in, cooking for another 10 minutes on HIGH.
  10. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley. Enjoy with crusty bread or biscuits.

Notes

For extra flavor, sear the chicken before adding to the slow cooker. Layer root vegetables at the bottom and chicken on top for even cooking. If stew is too thin, mash some potatoes or add a cornstarch slurry. Customize with seasonal veggies or add-ins like mushrooms, corn, or sweet potatoes. Leftovers taste even better the next day and freeze well.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker chicken stew, crockpot chicken stew, hearty chicken stew, easy chicken stew, gluten-free chicken stew, dairy-free chicken stew, family dinner, meal prep, comfort food

Find it online: https://tempotaste.com/slow-cooker-chicken-stew-recipe-best-hearty-crockpot-dinner/