Description
This Slow Cooker Chicken Stew is a hearty and comforting dish featuring tender chicken thighs, fresh vegetables, and aromatic herbs slow-cooked to perfection. Perfect for a cozy meal, this stew delivers rich flavors with minimal effort, thanks to the slow cooker method, resulting in a creamy and satisfying one-pot meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
Herbs & Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
Liquids & Thickeners
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1/4 cup heavy cream (optional)
Instructions
- Brown the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook until they are browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Once browned, transfer the chicken to the slow cooker.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: In the same skillet, add chopped onions and minced garlic, sautéing for 2-3 minutes until the onions become soft and translucent. Stir in the flour constantly for 1 minute to create a roux.
- Deglaze the Pan: Pour in the chicken broth to deglaze the pan, making sure to scrape up all the browned bits on the bottom. This adds rich flavor to the stew.
- Combine in Slow Cooker: Pour the onion, garlic, and broth mixture over the browned chicken in the slow cooker.
- Add Vegetables and Seasonings: Add carrots, potatoes, frozen peas, celery, dried thyme, dried rosemary, and bay leaf to the slow cooker. Stir gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Cook the Stew: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours. Cook until the vegetables are tender and the chicken is fully cooked through.
- Add Cream (Optional): If desired, stir in the heavy cream during the last 15 minutes of cooking. This will give the stew a luscious, creamy texture.
- Season and Serve: Before serving, season the stew with salt and pepper to taste. Remove the bay leaf from the stew. Serve hot and enjoy a comforting meal.
Notes
- For a thicker stew, you can increase the amount of flour or reduce some of the cooking liquid.
- The heavy cream is optional and can be omitted for a lighter stew.
- Using chicken thighs helps keep the meat juicy and tender during slow cooking.
- You can substitute frozen peas with fresh peas if available.
- Adjust herbs and seasoning as per your preference.
