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Instant Pot Chicken Stew

Featured in Hearty and Delicious Mains.

This wholesome chicken and potato soup delivers pure comfort through tender chicken breast, golden potatoes, and garden fresh vegetables in richly flavored broth. The Instant Pot preparation ensures the chicken remains perfectly moist while the vegetables achieve ideal tenderness. Ready in under an hour, this thoughtfully composed combination offers exceptional nourishment and satisfaction while keeping preparation straightforward and efficient. The result provides healthy comfort food at its finest.
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Updated on Tue, 14 Jan 2025 21:16:19 GMT
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A bowl of chicken stew featuring tender chunks of chicken, carrots, and potatoes in a savory broth, garnished with parsley. Pin it
A bowl of chicken stew featuring tender chunks of chicken, carrots, and potatoes in a savory broth, garnished with parsley. | tastygusto.com

Instant Pot Chicken Stew is a hearty, comforting one-pot meal perfect for cold, dreary days. Packed with tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and flavorful herbs, it's a wholesome dish that's dairy-free and thickener-free. Easy to prepare and perfect for meal prep, it freezes and reheats beautifully, making it a practical yet satisfying dinner choice.

Why This Recipe Warms My Heart

After countless busy evenings this stew has become my go-to comfort meal. I love how the Instant Pot transforms simple ingredients into something so incredibly flavorful and satisfying. The best part is knowing I'm serving my family a wholesome meal without any heavy creams or thickeners just pure natural goodness that tastes even better the next day.

Everything You Need

  • Chicken Breast: Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for tender, juicy results.
  • Mini Potatoes: Substitute with diced yellow potatoes if preferred, keeping them evenly sized.
  • Carrots and Peas: Classic stew vegetables for sweetness and texture.
  • Onion, Celery, and Garlic: Aromatics for depth of flavor.
  • Chicken Broth: High-quality broth or water mixed with Better Than Bouillon for a rich base.
  • Herbs: Fresh rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves for fragrant, earthy flavors.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: Adds savory depth to the stew.
  • White Wine Vinegar: Brightens flavors after cooking.

Let's Make It Together

Start by sautéing your onions and celery in the Instant Pot until they're soft and fragrant then add that aromatic garlic. A splash of broth helps scrape up all those flavorful brown bits from the bottom. Next comes the layering magic fresh herbs chicken broth and Worcestershire sauce create the base followed by your colorful carrots tender chicken breasts potatoes and bright green peas. After just 10 minutes under pressure and a natural release your kitchen will smell amazing. The final touch of shredding the chicken and blending a portion of the stew creates that perfect heartiness without any added thickeners.

Making It Perfect

Through many batches I've learned some helpful tricks. Choose chicken breasts around 8-9 ounces they cook perfectly every time. Cut those carrots and potatoes nice and thick so they don't turn to mush and always let the pressure release naturally for tender pull-apart chicken. I like to wait until the end to adjust the salt since different broths can vary in sodium.

Saving Some For Later

One of my favorite things about this stew is how well it freezes. Let it cool completely then portion it into containers leaving a little space at the top. It'll keep beautifully for three months in the freezer or five days in the fridge. When you're ready to enjoy it again let it thaw overnight and warm it gently adding a splash of broth if needed. The flavors actually develop even more over time making leftovers something to look forward to.

Why You'll Make This Again and Again

This stew has become my reliable friend on busy days. The Instant Pot does all the heavy lifting while creating layers of flavor that taste like they've been simmering all day. I love that I can adapt it based on what vegetables I have on hand and that final touch of white wine vinegar really makes all the flavors sing. Plus knowing I have some stashed in the freezer for hectic nights brings such peace of mind.

A bowl of hearty chicken stew with carrots, potatoes, and green herbs. Pin it
A bowl of hearty chicken stew with carrots, potatoes, and green herbs. | tastygusto.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I use dried herbs instead of fresh?
Yes, you can substitute the fresh rosemary and thyme with 2 teaspoons of poultry seasoning. The dried herbs will still provide great flavor.
→ Why blend some of the vegetables and broth?
Blending about 2 cups of the vegetables and broth helps thicken the stew naturally, creating a richer, more satisfying texture.
→ How long can I store leftovers?
Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The stew can also be frozen for longer storage.
→ Why is deglazing the pot important?
Deglazing helps prevent the 'burn' notice by removing stuck bits from the bottom of the pot. It also incorporates those flavorful browned bits into the stew.
→ What size Instant Pot works for this recipe?
This recipe has been tested in both 6-quart and 8-quart Instant Pot models and works well in either size.

Instant Pot Chicken Stew

A comforting one-pot meal combining tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and herbs in a rich broth, made quickly in the Instant Pot.

Prep Time
20 Minutes
Cook Time
35 Minutes
Total Time
55 Minutes

Category: Main Dishes

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 4 Servings (4 portions)

Dietary: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

Ingredients

01 1 tablespoon olive oil.
02 1 yellow onion, diced.
03 2 stalks celery, diced.
04 4 cloves garlic, minced.
05 2 cups chicken broth.
06 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce.
07 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary.
08 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme.
09 2 bay leaves.
10 1 teaspoon kosher salt.
11 4 carrots, sliced into thick rounds.
12 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts.
13 1.5 lbs baby yellow potatoes.
14 1 cup frozen green peas.
15 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar.
16 Black pepper to taste.

Instructions

Step 01

Heat oil using Sauté function. Cook onion and celery until soft. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Deglaze with small amount of broth.

Step 02

Add remaining broth, sauces, herbs, and salt. Layer carrots, seasoned chicken breasts, potatoes, and peas. Don't stir.

Step 03

Cook on High pressure for 10 minutes. Natural release for 10 minutes, then quick release remaining pressure.

Step 04

Remove chicken and bay leaves. Blend 2 cups of vegetables and broth, return to pot with vinegar and diced chicken. Season to taste.

Notes

  1. Can use poultry seasoning instead of fresh herbs.
  2. Works in 6-qt or 8-qt Instant Pot.
  3. Keeps in fridge up to 4 days.

Tools You'll Need

  • Instant Pot (6qt or 8qt).
  • Immersion blender.
  • Meat thermometer.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 454
  • Total Fat: 9 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 48 g
  • Protein: 45 g