Creamy Chicken Stew for the Slow Cooker 🍲🍗

This comforting creamy chicken stew is the epitome of cozy meals! It's perfect for chilly evenings and packed with hearty vegetables, tender chicken, and savory herbs. You can set it in the morning and come home to a warm, delicious dinner. Plus, you can easily tweak the ingredients based on what you have at hand!

Ingredients

For the stew

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 4 medium carrots, sliced
• 3 medium potatoes, diced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream or coconut milk
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the garnish

• Fresh parsley, chopped
• Crusty bread or biscuits for serving

Instructions

• In your slow cooker, combine the chicken, carrots, potatoes, onion, garlic, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Pour in the chicken broth and give everything a good stir.

🥄 For added depth of flavor, consider searing the chicken pieces in a skillet before adding them to the slow cooker. This will give your stew a richer taste!

• Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.

• About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the heavy cream (or coconut milk) and frozen peas. Allow the stew to continue cooking until heated through.

🥣 If you want a thicker stew, you can add a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water) to the mix during the last 30 minutes.

• Once the stew is ready, serve it in bowls and garnish with chopped parsley for a fresh touch. Pair it with crusty bread or warm biscuits to soak up all the creamy goodness!

Variations

• Vegetarian: Substitute the chicken with hearty vegetables like mushrooms, zucchini, and bell peppers, and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
• Spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños to give the stew a kick!
• Herbaceous: Experiment with different herbs like sage or oregano for a unique flavor profile.
• Instant Pot: Use the sauté function to cook the onions and garlic first, then add the remaining ingredients. Pressure cook on high for 10 minutes, and release the pressure when finished.

🌱 Feel free to customize the veggies based on what’s in season or what you enjoy most! This stew is forgiving and deliciously adaptable. Enjoy!