Hearty chicken and vegetable stew

Here’s a warm and comforting recipe for a hearty chicken and vegetable stew. I’ll make it detailed so it’s easy to follow and packed with flavor.

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Ingredients (serves 4–6)

For the stew:

• 1.5 lbs (about 700g) chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 carrots, sliced into rounds
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 2 medium potatoes, diced
• 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup water (optional, to adjust consistency)
• 2 tbsp tomato paste (optional, for deeper flavor)
• 2 tbsp flour or cornstarch (optional, for thickening)

For garnish (optional):

• Fresh parsley, chopped

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Instructions

1. Brown the chicken:
   • Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
   • Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
   • Add to the pot and cook until golden on all sides (about 5–7 minutes).
   • Remove chicken and set aside.
2. Sauté the vegetables:
   • In the same pot, add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery.
   • Cook for 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
3. Add liquids and seasonings:
   • Stir in tomato paste (if using), thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf.
   • Pour in chicken broth and water, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
4. Simmer the stew:
   • Return chicken to the pot.
   • Add potatoes.
   • Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 25–30 minutes, until chicken is cooked and vegetables are tender.
5. Add quick-cooking vegetables:
   • Add green beans and corn.
   • Simmer for another 5–10 minutes.
6. Thicken (optional):
   • If you prefer a thicker stew, mix 2 tbsp flour or cornstarch with 2–3 tbsp cold water to make a slurry.
   • Stir into the stew and cook for 2–3 minutes until thickened.
7. Taste and serve:
   • Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
   • Remove bay leaf.
   • Garnish with fresh parsley.

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This stew is rich, filling, and perfect for chilly evenings. It also freezes well for meal prep.

If you want, I can also give you a slow-cooker version that makes it even more hands-off and extra tender. Do you want me to do that?