Description

This classic chicken stew recipe is a warm, hearty comfort food perfect for chilly days. It features tender bone-in, skinless chicken pieces simmered with fresh vegetables like carrots, celery, onions, and potatoes in a savory broth infused with garlic and herbs. Simple to prepare, nutritionally balanced, and adaptable to various tastes, this one-pot meal delivers rich flavors and satisfying textures that will nourish and warm you from the inside out.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

1.5 to 2 lbs bone-in, skinless chicken thighs or breasts

Vegetables

3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
3 medium potatoes, peeled or unpeeled, cut into chunks

Aromatics and Herbs

3 cloves garlic, minced
2–3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves

Liquids & Fats

4 cups chicken broth
2 tbsp olive oil or butter

Seasonings

Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Prep the Ingredients: Wash and chop all vegetables into evenly sized pieces for consistent cooking. Pat the chicken dry and season lightly with salt and pepper.
Sauté Aromatics and Chicken: Heat olive oil or butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery and cook until softened and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Push vegetables to the side and brown chicken pieces on both sides until golden.
Add Liquid and Herbs: Pour in chicken broth to cover the ingredients. Add minced garlic, thyme sprigs, and bay leaves. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low to simmer.
Simmer Until Tender: Cover the pot and cook on low heat for 40-50 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender.
Final Season and Serve: Remove bay leaves and thyme stems. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Serve steaming hot, optionally garnished with fresh parsley or chopped green onions.

Notes

Use bone-in chicken for more flavor in the broth.
Slow simmering develops deeper flavors and tenderizes the meat.
Brown the chicken well to add caramelized depth to the stew.
Add fresh herbs at the end to keep their aroma bright.
Thicken stew naturally by mashing some cooked potato pieces into the broth.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1.5 cups)
Calories: 350 kcal
Sugar: 5 g
Sodium: 700 mg
Fat: 12 g
Saturated Fat: 3 g
Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 25 g
Fiber: 4 g
Protein: 35 g
Cholesterol: 85 mg

Keywords: chicken stew, comfort food, one-pot meal, hearty stew, easy chicken recipe, healthy chicken stew