Name: Instant Pot Chicken Stew
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon oil; 1 1/2 pounds chicken thighs (boneless, skinless, cut into 1-inch pieces); 1 small onion (diced); 3 carrots (cut into 1/2-inch rounds); 3 stalks celery (diced); 1/2 teaspoon thyme; 1/2 teaspoon rosemary; 2 leaves bay; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 5 medium golden potatoes (peeled (optional) and quartered); 32 ounces chicken broth ((4 cups)); 1 cup frozen green peas (or canned); 1/2 cup half and half

Recipe

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This hearty Instant Pot chicken stew is ready in 30 minutes and makes an epic weeknight dinner -leftovers are even better the next day!

In each spoonful of this chicken stew, you'll taste perfectly cooked meat, potatoes, and veggies in a light, creamy broth. The best part? The Instant Pot does all the heavy lifting.

Chicken Stew Pressure Cooker

This Instant Pot chicken stew has all the flavors and ingredients you’d expect from the classic Chicken Stew Recipe where you feel like each bowl is a meal for your soul.

Another great reason to make this recipe? Leftovers, if you have any, taste better the next day. Are you hungry yet? I know I am. Let’s make this happen!

Ingredients

Onion, celery, carrots, potatoes (peeled or not), and green peas (canned or frozen) are a MUST for this stew. You’ll also need boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breast, chicken broth or stock, and half & half (or coconut milk). And don’t forget the herbs! You’ll add thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves or swap them for poultry seasoning.

How to Make Chicken Stew in the Instant Pot

In the following steps and the video below you can see how easy it is to make this chicken stew in the Instant Pot:

Sauté
Add a little oil to the pot of the Instant Pot and in sauté mode, cook the chicken for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until it’s mostly cooked through.
Cook
Add all of the remaining ingredients, minus the cream and the peas. Seal the Instant Pot, and close the release valve. Cook on HIGH for 15 minutes.
Release
Once the cycle is finished, allow it to sit for 10 minutes on natural release. Carefully open the pressure valve to release the steam away from you. Remove the lid and stir in the green peas and cream. Place the lid back on and wait 3 minutes for the peas to heat through.

How Long Does it Take to Make Chicken Stew in the Instant Pot?

Below is a breakdown of the amount of time for each cycle:

Sauté: 5 minutes
Manual High: 15 minutes
Natural release (wait): 10 minutes

How to Thicken Chicken Stew

If you noticed your stew is on the watery side you can thicken it up in 1 of 2 ways:

Thicken it with flour or cornstarch
Combine 1 tablespoon corn starch or flour with 1 tablespoon cold water. Whisk until smooth and add the mix to the stew after you add the peas and cream.

Mash some of the potatoes
Once cooked, remove a few potatoes, mash them with a fork or the back of a spoon, and return them to the pot. The released starches will help thicken the broth.

Recipe Variations

These little swaps help you customize this Instant Pot chicken stew with no fuss:

Add more veggies
Other veggies you could use or add-in to this stew are fresh or frozen mushrooms, spinach, kale, or green beans (canned also works)

Swap the protein
No chicken? Swap it out and make it a turkey stew.

Make it dairy-free
Simply use coconut milk instead of half & half.

Change the cooking method
Planning dinner ahead? You can make this chicken stew in the slow cooker.

How to Store Leftovers

Store chicken stew leftovers in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. While you can freeze this stew, the potatoes and dairy will change their texture. If you plan to freeze it, cook the stew without potatoes and dairy, store it frozen, and add these ingredients while reheating.