This homemade slow cooker chicken stew is a delicious meal of slow-cooked chicken thighs, red potatoes, celery, onion, carrots, and more!
Hey Cousins! Today, I’m sharing this amazing, comforting homemade slow cooker chicken stew recipe. It’s absolutely perfect any time of year—not just the fall and winter months! This Crockpot chicken stew recipe will stick to your bones, leave you satisfied, and best of all, it’s a slow cooker meal! Actually… best of all is that it’s a budget-friendly slow cooker meal. I know it doesn’t get much better than that!
What’s the Difference Between Stew and Soup?
So, you might be thinking, “Rosie, this looks a lot like chicken soup… what the heck is the difference?!”
And that’s a great question! There are a few slight differences between soup and stew. The main difference is that soups typically have more liquid. Soups can be smooth and creamy, like tomato soup or cheddar broccoli soup, or have bite-sized ingredients cooked in the broth, like hamburger soup or vegetable soup.
On the other hand, stews usually have chunkier ingredients and less broth. They’re hearty, thick, typically slow-cooked, and have just enough liquid to cover and cook the ingredients. Beef stew, Brunswick Stew, and Jambalaya stew are all super hearty, flavorful stew recipes packed with meaty ingredients, tender vegetables, and a thick, flavor-packed broth.
Ingredients for Homemade Slow Cooker Chicken Stew
What ingredients do you need to make a hearty, vegetable-packed chicken stew recipe? These simple ingredients are super budget-friendly, and if you’re a regular in the kitchen, you probably have just about everything you need on hand already. Here’s what you need to make homemade chicken stew.
- Chicken: I use boneless skinless chicken thighs in my recipe. You certainly can use bone-in chicken thighs, boneless skinless chicken breast, or even a whole chicken!
- Chicken broth: I am not married to a brand. Use what’s on sale! If you’re watching your sodium, choose low-sodium broth. Vegetable broth would also work.
- Carrots, celery, and onion: a classic chicken stew vegetable mix! These veggies are hearty and cook to tender perfection, adding flavor, color, and texture to the stew.
- Potatoes: I use red potatoes, but you could use cubed russet potatoes, Yukon golds, baby potatoes, fingerling potatoes–any smaller potatoes that will slow cook in the broth.
- Poultry seasoning: I use my go-to Rosamae Seasonings poultry seasoning. It’s packed with flavorful herbs such as rosemary, marjoram, and thyme. It also has a nice hint of garlic and celery salt!
- Black pepper & seasoning salt: these seasonings enhance the dish’s natural flavors along with the poultry seasoning.
- Garlic: a necessary aromatic that cooks into the broth, giving it so much flavor! You can use fresh minced garlic or jarred garlic, whatever you have on hand.
- All-purpose flour: instead of using a canned cream soup, I use all-purpose flour to thicken the broth of this chicken stew without adding extra salt, dairy, or calories.
How to Make Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Stew
This delicious slow cooker chicken stew recipe is super easy to make and only needs about 10-15 minutes of prep time before the hearty stew slowly cooks for a few hours. I will break this recipe down into three simple steps for y’all. As always, you can find the complete printable ingredients and directions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Step 1: Brown the Chicken
First, we start by heating neutral cooking oil in a larger skillet over medium heat. I use avocado oil in my recipe, but you could use your favorite kind of vegetable oil, like olive oil, canola oil, or whatever you prefer. Then it’s time to brown the seasoned raw chicken in the skillet. You only need to brown the chicken on each side for a few minutes. Don’t worry if it’s not fully cooked; it will finish cooking in the slow cooker!
Step 2: Sauté the Veggies & Make the Broth
Once the chicken thighs are out of the pan, toss in the onions, celery, and garlic and cook until translucent—it should only take about 3-5 minutes. Then you can either remove the cooked veggies from the pan or keep them in the skillet before adding the broth (I remove the onions and garlic, but it is okay to leave them in!).
Then, add the all-purpose flour and stir it for 2-3 minutes before adding the chicken broth. Stir to make sure there are no lumps of flour, and cook the broth for about 5 minutes or until it has thickened slightly. Once the broth is ready, it’s time to move everything to the slow cooker.
Step 3: Put Everything into the Slow Cooker
The final step is to toss the rest of the ingredients into the slow cooker—the chicken thighs (diced up, shredded, or whole), chopped carrots and celery, and potatoes, and pour in the broth. Season with more black pepper, close the lid, and you’re good to go! Pro-tip: if you decide to use russet potatoes, cut them into smaller cubes and don’t add them to the broth until halfway through the cooking time–otherwise, they will fall apart!
This slow cooker chicken stew recipe will cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. It’s a healthy dinner that requires minimal cooking time and feeds a crowd!
Crock Pot Chicken Stew Recipe FAQs, Pro-Tips & Tasty Variations
Want to make this hearty chicken stew recipe even MORE flavorful and delicious? I love slow cooker recipes because they’re super simple, usually pretty budget-friendly, and you can tweak the recipe to your tastes and still end up with delicious results.
How to Thicken Up Chicken Stew Broth
If the broth is a bit too thin for your preference, you can easily thicken it up. Add a bit more all-purpose flour while the broth is cooking in the skillet, or whip up a simple cornstarch slurry. If you want a creamy chicken stew, add some heavy cream, milk, or a dollop of sour cream for extra flavor.
What’s the best kind of chicken to use in a chicken stew recipe?
Since this delicious stew is slow-cooked in a hearty broth, any cut of chicken is perfect! I prefer boneless chicken thighs, but you could also use bone-in chicken thighs with skin. You can also use boneless skinless chicken breasts or a whole chicken (which might call for a larger slow cooker if you’re that ambitious!). Feel free to use shredded rotisserie chicken if you’re in a rush and want to skip the pre-cooking step.
Is it safe to cook raw chicken in a slow cooker?
Yes, cooking raw chicken in a slow cooker is perfectly safe. However, we brown the chicken before adding it to the slow cooker in this recipe, so you don’t even have to worry about it!
What other seasonings can I add to slow cooker chicken stew?
The poultry seasoning in this recipe adds the perfect amount of flavor, but if you want to kick it up a notch, feel free to add your favorite seasonings and spices! Fresh herbs add plenty of flavor—try fresh parsley or fresh rosemary. If you don’t have fresh on hand, dried herbs like bay leaf or an Italian seasoning blend work.
How to Store Leftover Chicken Stew
Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. You can even freeze this chicken stew in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months, and you’ve got yourself a healthy, freezer-friendly, homemade stew for dinner any time.
What to Serve with Slow Cooker Chicken Stew
Chicken stew is usually served with rice, but you could also serve it with pasta, like egg noodles, for a thicker, heartier take on chicken noodle soup. Some other simple side dish options are mashed potatoes, homemade dinner rolls, crusty bread for dipping, or you can serve it alongside roasted vegetables like green beans, asparagus, sweet potatoes, or Brussels sprouts.
Make sure you print out my slow-cooked chicken stew recipe below! Don’t forget to share and follow me on Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest, subscribe to my YouTube channel for more recipes, and pre-order my next upcoming cookbook, A Cousin Rosie Holiday!
Homemade Slow Cooker Chicken Stew
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup avocado oil you can use your favorite vegetable oil
- 4 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 2 tbsp Rosamae Poultry Seasoning or your favorite poultry seasoning
- 2 tsp Rosamae Seasoning Salt or favorite seasoning salt
- 1 tsp coarse black pepper
- 4 large carrots peeled and chopped 1/2 inch thick
- 5 stalks celery chopped 1/2 inch thick
- 1 small diced red onion yellow or white onion can be used as well
- 2 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- 3 large red potatoes cut into 1/4 pieces
- 32 oz chicken broth
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
Instructions
- Pour the oil into a large skillet, then place it over medium heat.1/4 cup avocado oil
- While the oil is heating up season the chicken with the poultry seasoning, black pepper, and seasoning salt.4 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, 2 tbsp Rosamae Poultry Seasoning, 2 tsp Rosamae Seasoning Salt, 1 tsp coarse black pepper
- Once the oil is hot, add in the chicken. Be sure to not overcrowd the pan!
- Brown each side of the chicken, then remove from the pan and place the chicken into the slow cooker.
- Once all of the chicken is out of the pan toss in the onion, celery, and garlic. Cook until translucent, then remove from the pan, and add to the slow cooker.5 stalks celery, 1 small diced red onion, 2 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- Once the vegetables are removed from the pan, sprinkle in the flour and stir in with the oil. Cook for 2-3 minutes.1/4 cup all purpose flour
- Pour in the chicken broth and whisk until everything is well incorporated.32 oz chicken broth
- Turn the heat to medium-high and cook for 5 minutes or until the broth has thickened. Turn off the heat and remove the pan from the burner.
- Next, add the carrots and potatoes to the slow cooker. Season the vegetables with black pepper (and any additional seasonings, like herbs of your choice).4 large carrots, 3 large red potatoes
- Now pour in the thickened broth and place the lid on top of the slow cooker.
- Set the slow cooker on high and let cook for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
- During the last hour or so of cooking, remove the lid and give everything a nice stir. Place the lid back and finish cooking.
- Once done, serve and enjoy!
Kandice Anthony says
New recipe..yay! Can’t wait to try it 🙂
Shar says
Great for winter soups. I’ll add this one to my winter favorites. ❣
Heather says
We’re having cold, rainy weather in SC right now. When it’s cold like this, I like to make a pot of soup. I wanted something different this time though. I made this stew last night, and it is SO GOOD! My husband loved it! I’ll be making it again!
Rosie says
YAYYYY!! Thanks so much for trying my Chicken Stew Recipe Heather! XOXO
Britt says
Single Mom here- I love that your recipes are delicious and quick. I will be making this soup today for my boys.
Thank you a bunch, Queen
Rosie says
Xoxo!
DeSean says
Thank you Rosie! I love this and it was so easy to make. Most importantly, this stew hit the spot for my whole picky family!LOL . I made it Sunday to be done with dinner for Monday so the flavors would enhance even more in twenty-four hours:)&it was worth waiting for .I served this with fresh, hot cornbread. Many blessings to you and you family!
-DeSean(She,Her)
Rosie says
Awesome!! Thanks so much for trying my recipe luv!
Diana says
DEEEEE – LISH!!! We had it with rice. I may try mashed potatoes next time. My family is fat, full, and in bed. I enjoyed making this dish! Thank you soooooo much!
Marvin d Johnson says
Love chicken so am going to make it
Stephanie says
Your RECIPES ARE DELICIOUS! I bought both of your cookbooks and I come here to your website! Chicken Stew was so tasty! Easy and quick to make.
Rosie says
Thanks so much for the support Stephanie! XOXO
Vicky B says
My mom was from Alabama and Florida and she used to in the 50s and early 60s make a bowl of chicken wings that look like they were stewed and rice. Just a very plain dish but it was just so very good but I never knew how she made it so I’ve looked and looked and looked For months, trying to find a recipe that looks sort of like it and yours is the only one. Couldn’t figure out how she cooked it. She didn’t have a slow cooker but she probably cooked it on a pot on the stove. I would imagine. I can’t wait to cook it today. And since I like celery and carrots and onions in any soup your recipe is right up my alley! It looks absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to look through and try some of your other recipes!
Rosie says
I’m so glad that you found my recipe! XOXO
Sunny B says
Delicious. Game changer add bowtie pasta to it once you cut off crockpot. So delicious. My husband requested this in our dinner rotation. Thanks Rosie!
C Rios says
Rich and delicious stew!
Jackson says
Rosie has the best recipes out there. The chicken stew in the slow cooker is the bomb. I was sold on Rosies recipes after trying the fried cabbage. Thanks Rosie.
Gloria says
Good morning, going to make this dish tomorrow. After you brown the chicken do you cut up in bite size pieces or add to the crockpot whole. Thanks
Rosie says
You can do either. The chicken will fall apart/shred at the end of cooking.
Virginia A Burns says
Sounds delicious. One thing is when you say I can use my own seasoning in addition to yours may mess up the taste. I just want to use what you tell me because I will admit I cannot season.
Rosie says
Hi Virginia! I added links to the seasonings used within the post. I use my brand Rosamae Seasonings.