Description
Hearty slow cooker chicken stew brings comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen to your dinner table. Tender chicken, robust vegetables, and rich seasonings create a soul-warming meal that connects family and friends around a delicious, nourishing bowl.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into chunks
Vegetables:
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen peas (optional)
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Transform chicken pieces by generously coating them with salt, pepper, and a light dusting of flour, ensuring an even and delicate coverage.
- Transfer the seasoned chicken into the slow cooker, creating a base layer that will infuse the entire dish with rich flavor.
- Strategically arrange diced potatoes, chopped carrots, sliced celery, minced onion, and crushed garlic around and on top of the chicken, creating a colorful and textured landscape.
- Craft a robust liquid foundation by whisking chicken broth with tangy tomato paste, savory Worcestershire sauce, aromatic thyme, fragrant rosemary, and a distinctive bay leaf in a separate mixing bowl.
- Gently cascade the herb-infused broth mixture over the layered ingredients, ensuring every morsel is baptized in the flavorful liquid.
- Secure the slow cooker lid and allow the stew to simmer and meld on low temperature for 6-7 hours, or accelerate the process on high heat for 3-4 hours until chicken becomes fork-tender and vegetables reach a perfect softness.
- During the final 30 minutes of cooking, introduce vibrant green peas, which will add a burst of color and fresh sweetness to the hearty stew.
- Carefully extract the bay leaf, then garnish with freshly chopped parsley to elevate the presentation and provide a bright, herbaceous finish.
Notes
- Flour coating creates a delightful golden crust on chicken, helping to thicken the stew and lock in moisture while providing a subtle crispy texture.
- Choose bone-in chicken thighs for richer, more tender meat that holds up beautifully during slow cooking and delivers deeper flavor profiles.
- Skip flouring chicken for gluten-free version by using cornstarch or almond flour as alternative coating that maintains similar thickening properties.
- Hearty root vegetables like parsnips or turnips can replace carrots, offering unique earthy undertones and boosting nutritional diversity in the stew.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high)
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg