How to make the best healthy SLOW COOKER CHICKEN STEW with vegetables

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Have I told you how much I love slow cookers? They do most of the job without supervising, and you only need to keep an eye on them if you need to add something at a given moment. This time, I’m going to show you how to cook a delicious and super-tender slow cooker chicken stew with peas.

Slow cooker chicken stew

This is a super-easy recipe, basically leaving the chicken and peas to cook for a few hours on low setting. There is very little prep time and you can leave it cooking while you work, only to come home to a delicious dish. Slow cooker chicken stew is one of those amazing recipes that doesn’t involve any advanced cooking skill, so even beginners can try it without fear.

You’ll also love these slow cooker recipes:

• Simple slow cooker meatballs
• Creamy Tuscan style pork chops in the slow cooker
• Slow cooker orange chicken
• Easy slow cooker Asian meatballs
• Easy sausage jambalaya

Can I put raw chicken in the slow cooker?

There is no exact answer, as this is up to your taste. The chicken will cook thoroughly from raw and it’s even better to be slow cooked. Many like to sear or brown it a little first, to add some flavor and lock in the moisture. Keep in mind that the chicken releases a lot of liquid while cooking.

Is it better to cook the chicken on low or on high in the slow cooker?

Chicken should always be cooked on low, especially boneless, skinless breasts. Only cook them on high if you like dry, overcooked, tough meat. Also, don’t cook it for too long, as it will become very dry.

Is it OK to cook peas in a slow cooker?

Hard root vegetables are great for the slow cooker, as long cooking will turn them tender. On the other hand, delicate ones like asparagus, courgette and peas will become mushy when cooked for too long. It also depends on the firmness of the peas. If yours are quite soft right out of the can, only add them near the end of the cooking time. Mine were super crisp and I added them to the slow cooker right from the beginning and they turned out well, not mushy at all.

How long should I cook the peas in the slow cooker?

Soft peas don’t take long to cook. Only add them in the crockpot when you have about 30 minutes left until cooking is done.

Are slow cookers safe for cooking and for killing bacteria?

Yes! They are hot enough to kill bacteria while cooking, especially as they combine the low direct heat with the steam created in the tightly-covered environment. USDA FSIS advises that their studies show chicken can be safely cooked in the slow cooker.

Is it safe to leave the slow cooker on low overnight?

These machines are made to cook for a long time, so yes, it’s safe to leave them on for many hours while sleeping or working, if you have a timer incorporated in your slow cooker. Just make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

This slow cooker chicken stew with vegetables is a very simple, yet versatile recipe. Feel free to add other vegetables to make a more complete meal: carrots, mushrooms, potatoes, peppers, spring onions, leeks, whatever you like. Just try until you find your own combination.

For this slow cooker chicken vegetable stew you can use the chicken parts whole, or cut into smaller pieces, depending on your liking. If you like it more, you can cook the chicken parts whole, pull the meat off the bones and add it back to the sauce to make it more like a stew.

Serve this healthy slow cooker chicken stew with a fresh salad, rice, mashed potatoes or pasta. Chicken goes well with so many side dishes, it’s hard to fail on this one. We love serving this recipe with these homemade pickled cucumbers or these pickled green tomatoes.

What ingredients do you need for this slow cooker chicken stew?

• Chicken – I used chicken thighs but to make your recipe even healthier you can opt for chicken breast.
• Peas – to make cooking this dish easier, I used canned peas that were quite crisp so I can add them to the slow cooker the same time as the chicken.
• Onions – finely chopped
• Red bell pepper – this vegetable adds color to the dish, making it more appealing and also some sweetness. I was afraid the peppers will turn mushy if cooked the same amount of time as the chicken but they turned out pretty good.
• Carrots – diced or sliced
• Tomato paste – you can use tomato juice if you skip adding water or add half the amount.
• Bay leaves – dry. You can replace these with fresh chopped dill or parsley, added towards the end of the cooking time.
• Salt and pepper to taste – these can be added when the recipe is fully cooked.

How do you make this chicken stew?

1. Chop onions and dice bell peppers and carrots and add to the slow cooker
2. Cut the meat into 1″ pieces and add to the pot.
3. Wash and drain the peas and add to the pot.
4. Add tomato paste, bay leaves, salt and pepper and about 2 cups water.
5. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours or high for 3 hours. Add a little more water if needed, mid cooking. For the recipe to turn into a stew, it needs enough water in the slow cooker. But remember chicken and vegetables will also leave some liquid in the pot. So it’s best to add more water mid cooking than add a lot in the beginning.

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I’m really curious of your slow cooker chicken stew so please tell me below, in the comments section, if you like this recipe and what do you like to add to it.

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Slow cooker chicken stew

Have I told you how much I love slow cookers? This time, I’m going to show you how to cook a delicious and super-tender slow cooker chicken stew with peas.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time5 hours hrs

Total Time5 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: healthy slow cooker chicken stew, slow cooker chicken stew, slow cooker chicken stew with vegetables

Servings: 8 people

Author: Petro Neagu

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going into sleep mode

Ingredients

• 1 lbs Chicken thighs
• 2 x 29 oz Canned peas
• 1 Onion large, finely chopped
• 2 Red bell pepper diced
• 2 Carrots medium, diced or sliced
• 3 tbsp Tomato paste
• 2 Bay leaves large, dry
• Salt and pepper to taste

Equipment

• cutting board
• kitchen knife
• slow cooker
• silicone spatula

Instructions

• Cut the meat into 1" pieces and add to the pot.
  
• Wash and drain the peas and add to the pot.
  
• Chop onions and dice bell peppers and carrots then add to the slow cooker
  
• Add tomato paste, bay leaves, salt and pepper and about 2 cups water. Mix gently.
  
• Cover and cook on low for 5 hours or high for 3 hours. Add a little more water if needed, mid cooking.
  

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