Why We Love This Recipe
This simple, healthy Crockpot Chicken Stew recipe is everything you need in the new year! Hearty and flavorful, without being too heavy, it is very satisfying on a cool evening. It has similar ingredients to Manhattan-style chowder (using chicken instead of oysters) and could also be considered a healthy chicken chowder, without the heavy cream and fat of traditional chowders. But it is so delicious it’s hard to believe that this is a gluten-free, dairy-free, and even nut-free dish! Healthy Chicken Stew Slow Cooker recipe is loaded with chicken, potatoes, and vegetables, and spices to add depth and zesty flavor. A handful of veggies are quickly sautéed with savory chopped bacon, and then all other pantry staple ingredients get added to the crock. It’s perfect to set it and forget it before work and enjoy it as a practically effortless dinner later in the day!
Ingredients Checklist
Bacon – thick-cut, chopped Onion – diced Celery – diced Carrots – diced Garlic – minced Baby red potatoes – chopped into 1-inch cubes Chicken breast – boneless and skinless Canned diced tomatoes – low sodium is best Chicken base – or chicken bullion Spices and seasonings – bay leaf, smoked paprika, dried thyme, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper
How to Make Healthy Chicken Stew in the Crockpot
First, chop all the produce. Set a large skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Add in the bacon. Stir and brown the bacon to release the bacon fat. Once the bacon is reddish-brown, stir in the diced onion, celery, carrots, and garlic. Sauté for 3 to 5 minutes until the onions are soft and silky. Move the sautéed vegetables to a large 6-quart slow cooker. Place the chicken breasts on top of the vegetables. Then add the chopped red potatoes, water, diced tomatoes, chicken base, and all herbs and spices. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and half a teaspoon of cracked black pepper. Cover and set on high for 4 to 5 hours, or on low for 8 to 10 hours. The stew is ready when the chicken is cooked through, and the potatoes are fork-tender. Remove the chicken breast with tongs. Be careful; it’s hot! Use two forks to shred the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Then stir the shredded chicken back into the stew. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.
Recipe Variations
Want to mix things up? Swap veggies or add to the party your choice of frozen corn, frozen okra, thick-chopped parsnips, or chopped sweet potatoes. You can also add a handful of fresh baby spinach at the end of cooking as you are turning the crock pot off. If you are short on time you can skip the skillet pre-cooking. Omit the bacon and add the onion, celery, carrots, and minced garlic right to the slow cooker with other ingredients. It’s easy to make this a healthy vegetarian and vegan-friendly crockpot stew recipe! Leave out the chicken and reduce cook time to 5 hours on low or 3 hours on high. In the last hour of cooking you can add 2 cans of rinsed and drained garbanzo beans or white beans, if you like. Consider adding several generous dashes of hot sauce for slow cooker chicken stew with a spicy kick! Finish the dish with your choice of fresh herbs. We love chopped parsley, chives, or cilantro for a southwestern flair.
Serving Suggestions
This hearty and healthy dish is a perfect main course dinner soup! Ladle into large bowls and serve with a fresh salad on the side. Try one of our fave salads here:
The Ultimate Wedge Salad Crunchy Kale Caesar Salad Lieutenant Dan’s Steakhouse Salad Healthy Rainbow Chopped Salad
If you aren’t counting carbs, a basket of warm crusty bread is always welcome on the table. These Homemade Breadsticks are always a hit! And if you are trying to keep things a bit lighter and low carb, we’ve got you covered, too! You’ll love our Cloud Bread and Low Carb Cauliflower Crackers recipes.
Looking for More Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes? Be Sure to Also Try:
Healthy Crockpot Potato Soup with Chicken Slow Cooker Chicken Wild Rice Soup Shredded Chicken Tacos (Crockpot Taco Meat) Slow Cooker Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup
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