Creamy Chicken Stew

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Creamy Chicken Stew is soulful and savory, silky and smooth, with each spoonful more satisfying than the last! In just an hour, you’ll be serving a luxurious chicken and potato stew that’s cozy and comforting, to warm you from the inside out!

chicken and potato stew recipe


 

A nice stew with warm, fluffy bread is how I get myself through the winter season. Check out or top 22 soups and stews that are easy and delicious.

Add a cup of hot chocolate as an after dinner treat, and I could stay inside all the way through March!

ingredients for chicken stew.

Creamy Chicken Stew

Wholesome vegetables and juicy chicken simmer together in a creamy herbal base until all of those rich, robust flavors merge and blend into the most thick and flavorful chicken and potato stew you can imagine! 

The tender, juicy chicken thighs add tons of flavor to this meal. But, if you prefer something meatless, I recommend making a pot of easy vegetable soup instead!

adding veggies to pot.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

  • Yellow Onion, Carrots and Celery – The bulk vegetables are really customizable here! Yellow onions can be replaced with white or red as well as shallots, green onions, or scallions.

    Mushrooms are a hearty, fantastic addition as well!
  • Boneless Chicken Thighs – Boneless meat is much easier to monitor and ensure that it cooks properly.

    Plus, you don’t have to remove any bones or eat around them! Breast meat is fine as well.
  • Baby Potatoes – Smaller chunks are easier to eat with the additional veggies and meat. If using regular sized potatoes, be sure to dice them small.
  • Heavy Cream – This is the base of all creamy stews and soups. Half and half can be used as a substitute, or even whole milk, but the consistency will be thinner.
  • Red Bell Pepper – Bell peppers add a wonderful sweetness and subtle citrus note. Green and orange bell peppers are fine substitutes, but their flavor is more bitter.
  • Frozen Green Beans – Fresh works, too – just add them a little earlier on, so they can soften properly.
  • Chicken Broth – Broth, stock, or some chicken bouillon, obviously pair with poultry the best. But mushroom or vegetable broth are totally okay to use instead!
adding chicken to stew.

Creamy Chicken Stew Recipe Tips

  1. Prefer a thinner broth?
    If you prefer a broth-forward chicken vegetable stew, the heavy cream can be reduced or omitted entirely, with no significant loss of flavor.  
  2. Creating a creamy stew without using fat.
    You can add more body and thickness to the broth without drowning the whole thing in cream!

    Mix together a slurry, using equal parts cornstarch and cold water, then gradually whisk the mixture into the chicken stew until the consistency is how you like it.
  3. Add the firmest vegetables first. Like I said, you can add all sorts of produce to your stew – just be mindful of when you add them!

    Firm, starchy veggies like turnips and sweet potatoes should be added earlier on to give them time to soften.

    Leafy greens and canned veggies like corn or peas should be added at the end so they don’t get all mushy!
chicken stew in pot.

Storing and Reheating Chicken and Potato Stew

Refrigerate your leftovers in a covered, airtight container for up to 3 days. Alternatively, you can freeze the stew for up to 3 months!

This chicken stew recipe is fantastic to make at the beginning of the season to reheat on those lazy, chilly weeknights. 

To reheat, simply pour it back in a pot and reheat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until everything is warmed through!

I don’t recommend microwaving – the cream and butter have a tendency to separate, leaving you with a strange and, frankly, unappetizing texture. 

Creamy Chicken Stew FAQ

What is creamy stew made of?

Well, cream! Heavy cream, specifically. It’s what gives you that glorious, luxurious thickness and fatty flavor. 

What goes with chicken stew?

Nothing goes with a thick stew like bread! A loaf, some rolls, or a plate of biscuits are a must when I serve creamy chicken stew at home. Otherwise, something fresh like a salad adds a nice brightness to the dinner table. 

Can you put raw chicken in a stew?

Absolutely! In fact, that’s exactly what we do in this creamy chicken stew recipe. 

The only thing you absolutely need to keep in mind is the internal temperature of the meat – that’s what lets you know everything is cooked through nicely and safe to eat. 

The safe internal temperature of chicken is 165°F. Once your digital thermometer hits that number, you’re golden! That’s when you want to add the softest veggies and heavy cream, letting the soup work the rest of its magic on its own. 

bowl of creamy chicken stew.

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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chicken stew in spoon.

chicken and potato stew closeup.

Creamy Chicken Stew

Donna Elick
Creamy Chicken Stew is the definition of cozy! This recipe makes a luscious, thick chicken and potato stew – a hearty, comfort food meal!
5 stars from 1 review
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main, Soup
Cuisine American
Method Stovetop
Servings 6

Equipment

Ingredients
 

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 2 carrots, sliced, about 1 cup
  • 2 stalks celery, diced, about 1 cup
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon minced rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, diced
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 3/4 pound baby potatoes, cut in half
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 cup frozen green beans
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

Instructions
 

  • In a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add diced onions, carrots, and celery, then saute for 3-4 minutes, or until onions are soft.
  • Add the flour, salt, pepper, rosemary, and thyme to the vegetables. Saute for another 1-2 minutes, or until the flour is beginning to brown and is well distributed.
  • Increase the burner to high heat. Add the bay leaf, chicken, broth, potatoes, and bell pepper to the pot and bring to a boil.
    Reduce heat to medium, cover the pot, and simmer stew for 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork tender and the chicken is cooked through.
  • Remove the lid from the pot and add green beans and heavy cream. Simmer, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes longer, to thicken the stew.

Donna’s Notes

Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
 
This makes a delicious, comforting, creamy chicken stew.  You can reduce the cream for a more broth-forward chicken stew.
 
If you would like your chicken stew thicker, whisk together equal parts cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl. Whisk the slurry into the finished stew gradually, until it thickens to desired consistency.
 
You can add any of your favorite vegetables.  Vegetables that are softer and cook more quickly should be added at the end with the green beans.  Leafy greens could also be stirred in at the end, giving them just a couple minutes to wilt.  Firmer vegetables like sweet potatoes or turnips should be added at the beginning with the red potatoes so that they have time to soften.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 339cal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 143mg | Sodium: 1135mg | Sugar: 4g | Fiber: 3g | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 2mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
creamy chicken stew recipe.

Originally Published October 2011, updated and republished October 2022

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11 Comments

  1. Nice job, girlie. Did you freeze the stew with the dumplings? I've never had luck freezing soups and stews with potatoes in them either. Did you slightly under-cook the portions you were planning to freeze?

  2. Chicken and dumplings is our all time family favorite too. YUM! Never thought to add creole seasoning to it, sounds tasty!

  3. I love chicken and dumplings. This sounds really hearty and flavorful. The beans and the creole seasoning are very different adds to this – I like it!

  4. So comforting and welcoming. I love to smell chicken and dumplings on the stove when I walk into my moms house during the winter. She always has this made for us!

  5. This looks so delicious. I have only had chicken and dumplings one time. I should change that, shouldn't I? This looks like a good start and perfect for the chilly weather we have coming our way.

  6. Just found your site tonight. Yum! The DH doesn't like dumplings (heathen), so I'll either skip them entirely or throw in a couple handfuls of country style noodles instead, the kind that hold up to reheating. Or maybe I'll scoop a couple cups into a smaller saucepan and make 1/3 of the dumpling recipe (with semolina flour which I love) to drop in just for me.

  7. I made this last week and had to throw the whole thing out. WAYYY too spicy! Are you sure it's a tablespoon of the seasoning and not a teaspoon?

  8. Tried this today and the actual cooking to consistency, "doneness", and texture is on point. My only qualm is the spices. I would suggest to anyone- halve the cayenne, double the spice blend (So I suppose 2 tbsp), and you might want to add more salt to your liking- I sure did. Will be saving this recipe for the future!

  9. 5 stars
    This is the perfect dinner for a chilly day! My entire family loved it but next time I need to double the recipe! No leftovers for me tomorrow. Perfect and easy to make.

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