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Easy Chicken Stew

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Made with vegetables, chicken, broth, and a touch of cream, this chicken stew is hearty enough to fill you up without leaving you ready for a nap. It’s the kind of comfort food that makes you feel good.

Watch how this simple recipe comes together in the video below:

I remember making this for the first time and sharing it with friends; after the first spoonful, you could feel it’s soothing effects on everyone. Of course, this is one recipe everyone asks for!

Best of all, this recipe is made with simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand. Right now, I’ve really been focusing on using up all the things I have in my pantry & freezer, while making fewer trips to the grocery store.

If you’d like my help doing the same, check out my Pantry Stapes Meal Plan. It’s two full weeks of meals, a comprehensive meal prep guide, your foods list for the 2 weeks (and more). The recipes are made with lots of possible ingredient swaps so you can focus on using up what you have. Check it out!

large soup pot filled with chicken stew

How to Make Chicken Stew

I have a lot of chicken recipes on this wesite and this is, by far, is one of my favorites. The savory, broth is full of tender chicken, potatoes, and veggies – I want a bowl just talking about it! 

It’s safe to say if therapy came in the form of food, it’d be this stew. 

So how do you make it?

1. Heat oil
In a large dutch oven or soup pot heat olive oil over medium-high heat.

2. Add the Chicken
For this recipe, we’re using boneless, skinless chicken thighs. The dark meat gives much more flavor and stays tender, but you can swap it for chicken breasts. Once the chicken pieces are browned, remove them from the pot and set aside in a separate dish.

If you are starting with frozen, follow these instructions to defrost the chicken before you begin.

3. Sauté the Veggies
Heat a little more oil and add the onions, carrots, and celery. Sauté until softened before stirring in the seasonings, potatoes, broth, and chicken pieces.

four step by step process images of making chicken stew

4. Simmer
Bring the stew to a boil before reducing the heat and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and chicken cooked through.

5. Add the peas
Stir in the green peas…

6. Pour in the Cream
Add enough cream or half & half until the stew reaches a soft, golden color, about ½ cup. Simmer for another 10 minutes or until thickened.

7. Soups On!
Time to eat! By now, you should be relaxed and ready with a bowl and spoon in hand. Fill your bowl with chicken stew and enjoy!

Creamy Chicken Stew

By adding the half and half to this recipe, the recipe becomes a creamy chicken stew. In my opinion, it is worth adding because it provides this stew a richer texture.

If you need to make this creamy chicken stew recipe dairy-free, swap the half and half for canned coconut milk in equal quantities. You’re going to love it!

Make next: Turkey Stew

How to Thicken Stew

Chicken soup, while it can be hearty, is not as thick as a stew. The consistency of a stew is meant to be robust and thick. 

It’s what sets it apart from soup, but if your stew is coming out a little thinner than desired, there are two ways you can thicken it up without messing up the flavor. 

Thicken it with flour or cornstarch
In a small bowl, combine corn starch or flour with cold water. Whisk until smooth and stir into the soup/stew. Heat over medium heat while stirring. You’ll see it begin to thicken.

Thicken it by mashing some of the potatoes
This method works when you’re stew has potatoes if not, use the first tip. Using a large spoon or the back of a ladle, mash a few of the potato pieces and stir it into the broth.

The mashed potatoes release its starches and thicken the texture of the stew. 

Chicken Stew Ingredients

It doesn’t take complicated ingredients to make this stew delicious, only the pantry staples and basic vegetables and protein from the fridge. 

  • Chicken
  • Onion
  • Celery 
  • Carrots
  • Potatoes
  • Chicken broth
  • Thyme
  • Rosemary
  • Bay leaves
  • Peas
  • Half & half

This stew is the perfect way to use that extra pound of chicken in your freezer. If you’re reading this and want to make it tonight but don’t have defrosted chicken, I have some short cuts that will have that chicken thawed just in time for dinner. 

two large bowls of chicken stew

Best Vegetables for Stew

Is it even a stew if it doesn’t include carrots, potatoes, and green peas? I don’t think so t that doesn’t mean you can’t add your favorite vegetables, ust be sure to keep those three at the top of your list.

Other great veggies to add to stews are:

  • Celery
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Green beans
  • Mushrooms

Can I Freeze It?

You can freeze this soup, but keep in mind that the cooked potatoes will have a different texture after being frozen and reheated. Soups made with dairy also tend to separate and have a grainy texture after being reheated- if neither of these bothers you, go ahead and freeze the soup as is. You can do this by:

  1. Prepare the recipe as directed and allow the stew to reach room temperature before packing it into airtight containers or freezer bags.
  2. Label each container with the recipe name and date. This way, you’ll know exactly what you’re looking at a month later. 
  3. Once you’re ready to serve it, remove the frozen stew from the freezer and defrost in the fridge overnight. Reheat on the stove-top or in the microwave.

If it does bother you, I suggest packing leftovers into thermos containers for lunches the next day. During the cold months, hot lunches are always welcome, and if you have trouble keeping items like soups and stews hot in a thermos container, I show you how to fix that in this post.

Alternatively, if you want to make this stew and freeze it for later with the best results, prepare it as directed but don’t add the potatoes or cream. Freeze and thaw the soup using the directions above. Once it’s reheating on the stove, add the potatoes and cook until tender. Before serving, stir in the cream, and continue to cook for another 5 minutes.

large bowl of chicken stew

More Ways to Make Chicken Stew

Another beautiful feature of this healthy stew is it can be made in so many different ways. You can swap out vegetables as I showed you above or trade the chicken for turkey in my turkey stew recipe.

You can also prepare the stew itself using different methods based on how much time you have. Try this chicken stew in the Instant Pot or slow cooker.

For more delicious and easy soups check these out:

  • Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
  • Lasagna Soup
  • Instant Pot Minestrone
  • Chicken Pot Pie Soup
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Easy Chicken Stew

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★★★★★

5 from 4 reviews

Made with vegetables, chicken, broth, and a touch of cream, this chicken stew is hearty enough to fill you up without leaving you ready for a nap. It’s the kind of comfort food that makes you feel good.

  • Author: Laura Fuentes
  • Yield: 6 servings
  • Category: Comfort Food

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 3 carrots, cut into ½-inch rounds
  • 3 stalks celery, diced
  • ½ teaspoon thyme
  • ½ teaspoon rosemary
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 5 medium golden potatoes, quartered
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup green peas
  • ½ cup half and half

Instructions

  1. In a large soup pot, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sauté for 2 -3 minutes until the chicken is browned.
  2. Remove the chicken from the pot and set it aside on a plate.
  3. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat and add the onions, carrots, and celery. Cook for 3 minutes or until the veggies are softened and golden brown. Add the seasonings, salt, pepper, potatoes, chicken broth, water, and chicken pieces. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 – 30 minutes, until the potatoes are fork-tender.
  4. Stir in the green peas and half and half, cook for another 10 minutes, or until thickened.
  5. Remove the bay leaves and serve soup.

Equipment

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Chicken. It’s What’s for Dinner

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Measuring Cups

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Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 bowl
  • Calories: 264
  • Sugar: 8.3g
  • Sodium: 1324mg
  • Fat: 9.1g
  • Saturated Fat: 2.6g
  • Trans Fat: 0.1g
  • Carbohydrates: 33.8g
  • Fiber: 6.9g
  • Protein: 13.4g
  • Cholesterol: 42.1mg

Did you make this recipe?

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    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

  1. Bibi

    October 14, 2021 at 3:33 am

    Will try this recipe for easy chicken stew! Thanks!

    Reply
  2. Jane

    September 27, 2021 at 12:15 pm

    I just made this Easy Chicken Stew, as written. It is that…”Easy”. It has simple flavors and delicious too. And my kitchen wasn’t trashed by the time I was done…as happens sometimes. I did thicken the stew with cornstarch slurry to my liking. Will make it again. Thanks Laura.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      October 04, 2021 at 6:07 pm

      Thank you, Jane, for trying this recipe and coming back to share! This chicken strew is a personal favorite of mine.

      Reply
  3. Tara Travit

    February 06, 2021 at 10:32 pm

    Absolutely fantastic!! Turned out great! Definately going in my cookbook. ☺️

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      February 08, 2021 at 2:55 pm

      I’m glad you enjoyed my easy chicken stew recipe, Tara!

      Reply
  4. Andrea

    October 06, 2020 at 3:50 pm

    Made this last week and everybody loved it so much! Made a triple batch this week!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      October 06, 2020 at 4:30 pm

      Happy to hear you loved it!

      Reply
  5. Robin

    April 07, 2020 at 12:20 am

    What do you suggest besides cream to make it creamy? Have to cook allergy free.

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      April 13, 2020 at 8:50 pm

      Coconut milk, cashew milk or nothing and it will be a bit more soupy but wonderful in flavor.

      Reply
  6. Dee

    January 07, 2020 at 7:44 am

    Looks delicious! I want to make this tonight. Is that 1/2 tsp of fresh or dried thyme and rosemary?

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      January 12, 2020 at 8:56 am

      Dried. Fresh would be a bit more, about 1 1/2 teaspoons.

      Reply
      • Pam

        January 05, 2021 at 7:18 pm

        Can you post crock pot version of this if you have it?

        Reply
        • Laura Fuentes

          March 01, 2021 at 12:19 pm

          I definitely will! To make this in the slow cooker, you’d add all the ingredients in the slow cooker for 6-8 hours on low. Low and Slow is the best way to cook with dairy in the slow cooker.

          Reply
  7. Ann Woolstenhulme

    December 21, 2019 at 7:01 pm

    I turned this one into a pressure cooker recipe, and it turned out awesome! The perfect soup for winter!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      December 26, 2019 at 4:03 pm

      Oh yes! I’ve been meaning to share that version! Thank you for sharing you enjoyed this recipe for Chicken Stew.

      Reply
      • Adeline

        November 19, 2020 at 10:59 am

        Hello! Do you have recipe for the instant pot version?

        Reply
        • Laura Fuentes

          December 01, 2020 at 1:35 pm

          Adeline, the reason I have not shared the Instant pot version is because browning the chicken in the pot, adding the other ingredients, bringing it to pressure and then 10 minutes of cooking time on high pressure is the same amount of time as in the traditional pot. However, if you want to use your pressure cooker… that’s how you’d do it. 🙂

          Reply
    • Adeline

      November 19, 2020 at 11:23 am

      Hello. CN I check with you if this recipe is suitable for a 1 year old baby?

      Reply
      • Laura Fuentes

        December 01, 2020 at 1:33 pm

        I cannot advise on what to feed your child. This recipe is suitable for anyone without food restrictions.

        Reply
  8. Sarah

    November 24, 2019 at 3:29 pm

    This looks really good! Maybe I’ll try to use some left over turkey later on this week and see how it turns out. Also, I see a instapot recipe for minestrone. Are you coming out with the stove top version soon? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      November 24, 2019 at 9:13 pm

      Thanks for trying this recipe Sarah! I am sure it will be delicious with turkey too. The stovetop version of the minestrone can be found here. Enjoy!

      Reply

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