This Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Stew is a Weight Watchers friendly, quick, and easy slow cooker meal that's a breeze to throw together and is totally hands-off!
If you've been following along with me for a while you'll know how much I adore the slow cooker. An appliance that I can simply walk away from and it does my cooking for me - what's not to love about that? It's definitely my favorite small appliance! It's only 8 WW points. This crock pot chicken stew recipe is the best comfort food and perfect for chilly nights, but great any time of year!
🍒Reader Review
"As a health care worker, my days are so busy so I tried this as a time saver. It turned out perfect and my family loved it, great recipe!" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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But honestly, it's not easy to find good slow cooker recipes that don't taste like the same stewy slop or require a ton of precooking. I don't mind browning meat, but so many recipes I've come across require way too much precooking.
The entire point is that the slow cooker cooks for you, right? If you feel the same you'll love my other slow cooker creations: Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas, Ukrainian Slow Cooker Casserole, and my Slow Cooker Pulled Pork on a Bun.
And if you love stew recipes, my Slow Cooker Whiskey Beef Stew is another delicious slow cooker stew recipe you'll definitely want to make. I created it after interviewing contestants at a Chuckwagon Beef Stew cook-off and gathering all their tips and advice for THE BEST old-fashioned beef stew ever!
🥘 Ingredient Notes
This chicken stew is not only easy to make, it's a healthy chicken stew that you will feel good about feeding your family. It's full of hearty, healthy vegetables like carrots, celery, potatoes, and onions, and pantry staples like dried herbs, chicken stock, and cream of chicken soup!
For this healthy slow cooker chicken stew recipe, you'll need these simple ingredients:
- Chicken breasts. Use boneless and skinless. You can chop them up raw or brown them first.
- Carrots.I slice carrots into thin uniform circles and this is the best way to cut them for stew!
- Potatoes. Yukon gold potatoes, russet potatoes, baby potatoes, or red potatoes work well. I use whatever I have on hand, but I usually have red potatoes because they are my favorite.
- Onion and Celery. Onion and celery add aroma, flavor, and texture to this slow cooker chicken stew.
- Rosemary & Thyme. Rosemary has a peppery woody taste and thyme has an earthy lemony taste. Both add to the richness of this stew.
- Sage.Sage has a pronounced herbal flavor that is earthy, slightly peppery taste.
- Oregano. Oregano adds a spicy and pungent flavor.
- Chicken broth or chicken stock
- Canned condensed cream of chicken soup. Using cream of chicken soup adds flavor and creaminess to the stew without adding heavy cream. * I use low-fat
- Bay leaves. Bay Leaves add a subtle flavor layer and depth to this stew.
- Flour and Cooking oil . Blend together to make roux, which serves as a thickener. You can use cornstarch and cold water instead.
*see recipe card for quantities
Top tip
I use thawed frozen chicken breast for this easy slow cooker chicken stew because frozen chicken is easier to store, lasts longer, and is more economical. You won't have to run to the store to buy a thing!
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Chicken - you can use fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts, frozen chicken breasts, or skinless boneless chicken thighs
- Add-ins - you could also add green beans
- Oil - you can use vegetable oil, olive oil, or canola oil
- Herbs- you can use fresh herbs (thyme, oregano, sage, and fresh rosemary), but you'll need double the amount. You could also use fresh parsley.
- Roux - you can use corn starch and cold water (and make a cornstarch slurry) instead of flour and oil to thicken the stew
- Potatoes - you can use any potatoes such as Yukon gold
🔪How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Stew
- Step 1: You can chop the chicken up and add it to the slow cooker without pre-cooking it. However, be aware that it will result in a thinner gravy base and you will need to add more roux or cornstarch and water. OR: Spray a large skillet with non-stick cooking spray. On the stove top, over medium to high heat, brown chicken on both sides (do NOT cook through). Set aside. Dice when cooled. Browning the meat before adding it to the slow cooker not only locks in the flavor, it prevents the meat from clumping together as it cooks. Plus, it only takes a few minutes and just tastes so much better
- Step 2: Spray a 6 qt slow cooker/crock-pot with non-stick cooking spray, add diced chicken, chopped onions, carrots, potatoes, celery, bay leaf and herbs.
- Step 3: Stir together.
- Step 4: Pour in chicken broth, then add cream of chicken soup.
- Step 5: Cover and cook for 7 -8 hours on low. It will be ready when a fork can easily go through the carrots
- Step 6: After 7 hours, in a small bowl, mix the flour and oil into a paste. *Alternatively, you can use cornstarch mixed with cold water
- Step 7: Stir into the stew. Allow it to continue to cook for 30 minutes, or until desired thickness is reached. *If the stew is not as thick as you would like, add more roux (keep adding the same ratio of flour and oil until you achieve the desired thickness) Add salt and pepper to taste, if desired.
- Step 8: Discard bay leaves and sprinkle with dried parsley flakes before serving.
🥗 What to serve with Chicken Stew
This delicious slow cooker chicken stew is perfect with The Best Baking Powder Biscuits But if you're looking for something lighter, it also goes well with:
I created this chicken stew during the pandemic because it was healthy, easy and I had all the ingredients on hand (going to the grocery store was an ordeal, if you recall?). So, if you're looking for ww crockpot meals, you'll love this one!
So, this Creamy Chicken Stew is the perfect dinner because it essentially cooks itself while I'm working. I brown the chicken while I'm chopping the veggies, then throw everything in the slow cooker before I start work.
👪 Serving Size
This healthy chicken stew recipe makes 6 servings (about 11/2 cups each). However, you can half, double or triple the recipe by clicking on the serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust.
🔢WW Points
This Weight Watchers Chicken Stew is 8 WW points.
🌡️Storing
You can make this crockpot chicken stew in advance and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Or you can store leftover chicken stew for up to 3 days after you make it. Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or on low heat in a saucepan on the stovetop.
I don't recommend freezing this crock pot chicken stew, as freezing potatoes makes them soft and grainy.
❔ Recipe FAQ's
You don't have to brown the meat before cooking, but it does lock in flavor and add depth to the finished dish. And you will end up with a thinner broth/gravy.
Yes, you can cook this on high for 3.5- 4 hours. However, the low setting allows more time for the flavors to meld.
Making chicken stew in the slow cooker is not only easy, but it's amazing how creamy this chicken stew is, given it gets its creaminess from a simple can of cream chicken soup and the long, slow cooking process. To me, that's just another reason to love the slow cooker!
So if you're looking for an easy, healthy dinner that basically cooks itself, then give this Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Stew a try! It's great for a busy weeknight. When I created this recipe, my goal was to make it as simple as possible, using as many pantry staples as I could. And I can honestly say that when I tested it, I was amazed at how delicious it was for its pure simplicity.
And if you're looking for another delicious WW friendly slow cooker comfort food, try my Weight Watchers Beef Stroganoff.
Enjoy!
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📋 Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Stew Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 chicken breasts, diced * about 1 ½ pounds, frozen or fresh
- 3 carrots, diced or bag of carrot chips
- 1 medium onion
- 2 stalks chopped celery
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried sage
- 4 large potatoes, peeled and diced
- 2 teaspoon oregano
- 4.5 cups chicken broth or chicken stock
- 10 oz - can of condensed cream of chicken soup * I use low-fat
- 2 bay leaves
- salt and pepper to taste
Roux (thickener)
- 2 tablespoon flour
- 2 tablespoon cooking oil
Garnish
- dried parsley flaked
Instructions
- Spray a large skillet with non-stick cooking spray. On the stove top, over medium to high heat, brown chicken on both sides (do NOT cook through). Set aside. Dice when cooled.*You can use raw chicken instead (without browning)
- Spray a 6 qt slow cooker/crock-pot with non-stick cooking spray, add diced chicken, chopped onions, carrots, potatoes, celery, bay leaf and herbs and stir together.
- Pour in chicken stock, then add cream of chicken soup.
- Cover and cook for 7 -8 hours on low.
Roux (thickener)
- After 7 hours, in a small bowl, mix the flour and oil into a paste and stir into the stew. Allow it to continue to cook for 15- 30 minutes, or until desired thickness is reached. If the stew is not as thick as you would like, add more roux (keep adding the same ratio of flour and oil until you achieve desired thickness)
- Add salt and pepper to taste, if desired.Discard bay leaves.
Garnish
- Sprinkle with dried parsley flakes before serving.
Maryalice Hones
Looks Lovely I will should get my crock pot right out of the cupboard
Terri Gilson
You should! It's really the best small appliance!
NANCY @Instanomss
i love a easy stew recipe! Easy peasy!
Terri Gilson
I agree, Nancy- so easy!
Kelly Neil
Oh nice! I'm always looking for great slow cooker recipes to make for my family. Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Terri Gilson
You're welcome - enjoy!
Cynthia @ Cynful Kitchen
Will have to make this when I buy more chicken breasts! Summer might be a lot of slow cooker meals as it might be too hot to use the stove.
Terri Gilson
I agree, Cynthia - no A/C in my house so I do a lot of slow cooker stuff in the summer!
Sharon
You hooked me in with the easy stew, then hit me with those biscuits!! haha They are BOTH going on the meal plan for sure.
Terri Gilson
YES! They are sooo good together, Sharon!
Sabrina
As a health care worker, my days are so busy so I tried this as a time saver. It turned out perfect and my family loved it, great recipe!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Sabrina - I'm so glad you loved it!
Terri Gilson
I'm so glad you loved it, Sabrina!