January can be a tough month. The holidays are over. The weather is cold and dreary. You may be catching a little bit of the winter blahs. But don’t worry, I’ve got the perfect recipe to chase away those winter chills: Hearty Chicken Stew.

This comforting dish is packed with flavor and perfect for a cozy night in. It’s also super easy to make, which is a major plus when you’re short on time and energy.

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Stew

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 3-inch pieces
• 2 medium onions, chopped (1 to 2 cups)
• 4 carrots, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
• 4 celery stalks, chopped (1 cup)
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 2 (13 to 15 ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Brown the Chicken: In a skillet or the slow cooker if it has the “brown/saute” feature.
2. Combine all the ingredients with the browned chicken.
3. Cook:
   • Low: 6-8 hours.
   • High: 3-4 hours.

Tips for Slow Cooker Success:

• Don’t overcrowd: Ensure your slow cooker isn’t too full to allow for even cooking. 3/4 full is a good rule of thumb.
• Stir occasionally: Gently stir the stew occasionally during cooking to promote even heat distribution. If you can’t you can’t. But, if you are home or someone else is I suggest stirring it half way through.
• Adjust cooking time: Cooking times can vary depending on your slow cooker model. Always check the chicken for doneness and adjust the cooking time as necessary. Chicken thighs are very forgiving. They can take a lot more cooking time than chicken breasts can. Whenever possible, use chicken thighs.

NOTES:

• Serve your hearty chicken stew with a crusty loaf of bread (or garlic bread) and a side salad. And don’t forget to garnish with fresh parsley or some grated cheese.
• Looking for some extra flavor? Try adding a pinch of red pepper flakes or a tablespoon or two of Dijon mustard to the stew.
• Add any kind of beans that sound good to you. I think Chickpeas are wonderful in this dish!
• Top it with a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt.
• Add cubed potatoes for an even heartier stew. Canned white or Sweet added 1 hour before serving is the easiest.
• This stew is the perfect dish to use up leftovers. Add leftover beans meats, and veggies from the fridge. No one will know unless you tell them and you make room in the fridge.
• This stew is gluten free as long as you choose gluten free broth..
• This could be made Vegetarian/vegan if you use vegetarian broth and tofu.

My Favorite Slow-Cooker. I have 3 of these!:

Hamilton Beach Portable 6 Quart Digital Programmable Slow Cooker Lock, Dishwasher Safe Crock & Lid, Set & Forget, Stainless Steel

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