Chicken Stew

This creamy homemade Southern-style Chicken Stew is the ultimate comfort food recipe for cold weather. Made from scratch with tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and a rich, flavorful broth, this easy chicken stew recipe is simple enough for weeknights and satisfying enough for Sunday dinner. If you’re looking for the best Southern chicken stew recipe, this classic family favorite has stood the test of time, packed with homemade flavor and comes together with easy, step-by-step instructions.

What’s the Difference Between Chicken Soup and Chicken Stew?

While both are comforting classics, chicken stew is thicker, richer, and much heartier than chicken soup. Chicken soup is typically made with a light, brothy base, while chicken stew is simmered until the ingredients create a rich, creamy gravy-like consistency that coats every bite. Although you can thicken chicken soup to make it more stew-like, this homemade Southern Chicken Stew recipe is perfectly balanced from the start, no guessing or extra adjustments required.

Loaded with tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and a creamy, savory broth, this classic Southern chicken stew delivers incredible flavor and satisfying texture in every spoonful. This hearty chicken stew is the kind of comforting meal that’s perfect for chilly fall and winter evenings, rainy days, Sunday family dinners, or anytime you’re craving a cozy homemade meal. Serve it with warm cornbread, buttery biscuits, or saltine crackers for an authentic Southern comfort food experience.

Ingredients to Make Chicken Stew Recipe

Key ingredients to make simple Chicken Stew: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card and quanitites.)

• Chicken Thighs – Boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1-inch chunks have the best flavor.
• Carrots – Fresh carrots peeled and sliced for texture.
• Celery – Fresh celery adds color and gives a mild earthy flavor to the broth.
• Onion – One sweet onion is my first choice. You could use yellow onion.
• Fresh Garlic – Minced fresh garlic mellows when cooked into a mildly sweet flavor.
• Potatoes – Cubed russet potatoes are starchy and dense making them perfect for stewing.
• Frozen Peas – Peas add color and texture.
• Spices and Seasonings – Seasoned salt, lemon pepper (or black pepper) and dried Herbes de Provence.
• Fats – Unsalted butter and olive oil to cook the chicken and veggies.
• Bay Leaves – Dried or fresh bay leaves.
• Chicken Stock – Low sodium chicken stock or chicken broth forms the base of the stew.
• All Purpose Flour – To thicken the sauce.
• Cream – Heavy cream makes the broth creamy and decadent.
• Herbs – Fresh thyme for garnishing.

How to Make the BEST Chicken Stew Recipe

• Season the Chicken Thighs – Season the chicken thighs on all sides with one teaspoon seasoned salt and 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper.
• Brown Chicken Meat – Over medium-high heat melt butter with olive oil. Add the chicken, brown the chicken on both sides then remove to a platter.
• Prep Veggies – Add the carrots, celery, onion and garlic to the pot. Scrape any brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Cook until the vegetables are beginning to soften and brown.
• Combine – Add the chicken, potatoes, bay leaves, one teaspoon seasoned salt, 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper, herbes de provence or Italian seasoning and bay leaves. Stir in the chicken stock, Bring to a boil, then immediately lower the heat to medium-low.
• Cover and Simmer – Cover with the lid offset and simmer over medium-low heat until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are fork tender.
• Make a Flour Slurry to Thicken – Whisk together flour with the heavy cream, add to the pot. Mix to combine, add the peas. Continue to simmer.
• Serve – Ladle into bowls and serve garnished with fresh thyme or fresh parsley and bread.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Southern Chicken Stew

• Large stock pot or dutch oven.
• Sharp knife and cutting board.
• Teaspoons, tablespoons.
• Measuring cup.
• Whisk.
• Vegetable peeler.

Recipe Tips for Making Chicken Stew

• Chicken Thighs – Chicken thighs have so much flavor and they’re often cheaper to purchase, too. If you choose to use bone-in chicken, it will take longer to cook but the technique of browning it would be the same.
• Use Heavy Cream for the Creamiest Texture – You could adapt this recipe using half and half or whole milk for a lighter option.
• Veggie Blend – I use fresh vegetables in this recipe, but you could certainly adapt using frozen veggies that include corn for a timesaver.
• Herbes de Provence – You can use dried Italian seasoning or fresh herbs like rosemary, oregano and chives.
• Serving Suggestions – You can serve this Chicken Stew with a chopped salad or a simple green salad and a side of garlic bread or parker house rolls.

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

• Chicken Variation – You can adapt this recipe using a whole chicken, bone-in chicken breasts or bone-in chicken thighs. Chicken breasts and chicken thighs with the bone will cook differently, so adjust the cooking time to compensate. Once cooked, remove the carcass, skin and bones and shred or chop the meat adding it back to the pot.
• Green Beans – You can use cut green beans in place of peas.
• Bell Peppers – You may also opt to add red or green bell pepper to the vegetable mix.
• Fresh Mushrooms – You could add one cup of sliced fresh button mushrooms or baby portabella mushrooms. Cook them with the onion and garlic to allow some of the liquid to evaporate then proceed with the recipe.
• Spice – You could add crushed red pepper flakes for added spice.

Storage and Leftovers

• Make-Ahead Tip – I like to prepare this stew on the stovetop then pour it into a slow cooker to keep warm on days we’re all on different schedules.
• Leftovers – Store cooked Chicken Stew in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Reheating – Reheat gently in a skillet or pan over medium heat on the stovetop or individual portions in the microwave.
• Freezer – You can freeze this chicken stew recipe in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat just before serving.

More Easy Chicken Recipes to Make

• Baked Lemon Chicken made in the oven using bone-in chicken thighs.
• Southern Fried Chicken and Waffles made with chicken tenders.
• Treat the family to homemade Crispy Chicken Sandwiches.
• The kiddos will love this recipe for Easy Popcorn Chicken.
• Chicken Fried Chicken and Gravy with a side of mashed potatoes.
• Southern Fried Chicken and Waffles drizzled with maple syrup.
• Easy Oven Fried Chicken Tenders cook in no time flat.
• Decadent Honey Pecan Fried Chicken.
• Fried Chicken Cakes and remoulade sauce is a fan favorite.
• Grilled Sriracha Chicken Kabobs from Kalyn’s Kitchen.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Dutch Oven
• Measuring Set
• Kitchen Utensils
• Knives and Chopping Board