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Home » Recipes » Dinner Recipes

Southern Chicken Stew Recipe

bowl of rice topped with chicken stew, whole leg with carrots and potatoes
This delicious Southern Chicken Stew Recipe comes from Cajun country. Homemade comfort food at it's best, this delicious thick stew will have your tummy happy in no time.
Prep Time :15 minutes mins
Cook Time :2 hours hrs
Total Time :2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
Servings :8
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two images, top image shows a pot with a dark roux and trinity of onions, bell peppers and celery. The bottom image shows a completed pot of chicken stew, dark in color

Published: Oct 24, 2023 · Modified: Oct 19, 2024 by Melanie Cagle · Leave a Comment

James first made his Southern Chicken Stew Recipe for me when I was asking him to make something different from the normal every day stuff. I'm blessed, my husband is a great cook, but I was craving something comforting that I hadn't had before.

bowl of rice topped with chicken stew, whole leg with carrots and potatoes
Southern Chicken Stew

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Jump to:
  • Groceries you'll need: Ingredients
  • Recipe variations and substitute ideas
  • Recipe walkthrough: Instructions
  • How To Serve Chicken Stew
  • How to store leftovers
  • Frequently asked questions: FAQs
  • More Southern Recipes I think you'll love
  • Southern Chicken Stew
  • 💬 Comments

This dish is so delicious and super easy to make. I would never have thought so much flavor would come from a few simple ingredients! If you like this you'll probably like my fried Chicken and Waffles, or my Smoked Chicken Thighs recipe too!

Groceries you'll need: Ingredients

ingredients all laid out showing how to make a chicken stew

You will need: (see the recipe card further down for quantities)

  • A Whole Chicken
  • Creole Seasoning
  • Canola Oil
  • All Purpose Flour
  • Onions
  • Bell Pepper
  • Celery
  • Garlic
  • Chicken Bone Broth
  • Carrots
  • Potatoes

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Recipe variations and substitute ideas

I like to use a whole chicken as it's the most economical choice, plus you can use the carcass to make a great homemade chicken stock! If you prefer less hassle go ahead and use pre-packaged chicken pieces. Drumsticks and chicken thighs will work best. Use shredded chicken too.

Any vegetables will work well in this Southern Chicken Stew Recipe, I prefer the carrots and potatoes thing, but go ahead and add your favorite vegetables.

For a gluten free roux, there is a brand I recommend, Savoie's, they have a great instant gluten free roux mix.

Use more fresh herbs, like fresh rosemary. Black pepper is great too.

Add more fresh vegetables.

Instead of Creole Seasoning you could use your own favorite seasoning blend. Like a Cajun seasoning.

Use a homemade Chicken Bone Broth as a savory broth in this hearty stew.

This is the kind of hearty dish that tastes even better the next day.
If the color is not as dark as you would have hoped, add a little browning sauce to darken it.

Recipe walkthrough: Instructions

This is an overview of the recipe steps. For more detailed instructions visit the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

  • Step One: Cut up chicken and season with the Creole Seasoning
  • Step Two: Heat oil over medium heat in a heavy cast iron pot (or large Dutch oven, large pot) and sear chicken on both sides.
  • Step Three: Remove Chicken and set aside...Add remaining oil and flour and cook until dark chocolate in color. See my post about making a roux.
  • Step Four: Dice the onion, bell pepper and celery.
four images showing steps on how to make a chicken stew
  • Step Five: Add those diced onions, bell peppers and celery to the dark roux. Keep stirring until translucent.
  • Step Six: Add minced garlic and cook a further 2 minutes.
  • Step Seven: Add Chicken Broth and stir well.
  • Step Eight: Bring to the boil then turn down to simmer, covered for 1 hour.
recipe steps 5 through 8 showing how to cook a chicken stew
  • Step Nine: Add the chicken back, with the carrots and potatoes
  • Step Ten: Cover and simmer another hour.
4 images showing the steps on how to make a southern chicken stew

How To Serve Chicken Stew

This Southern style Homemade Chicken Stew Recipe is best served over a bed of rice, or even with mashed potatoes. Some crusty bread would be a great addition.

How to store leftovers

Once the Chicken Stew has cooled completely store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

These chicken recipes do freeze well. Store in a resealable freezer safe bag and make sure to mark it with the date. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Frequently asked questions: FAQs

Can I make this chicken stew in the crock pot?

Definitely! Use the same steps through to adding the stock, at that point add all the ingredients and transfer to your slow cooker and cook for 4-6 hours on high.

Is this what they call Brown Stew Chicken?

Yes, I believe it is. There are some paler colored stews out there, so this particular Chicken Stew recipe is definitely brown! In the south stew recipes are always going to be a dark brown.

More Southern Recipes I think you'll love

  • a close up of a spoon full of baked beans with bacon
  • Shrimp and grits with some delicious bacon and green onions sprinkled on top.
  • close up of a bowl of venison chili with beans and sour cream on top
  • Close up of a bowl of slow cooker buffalo chicken chili.
  • Southern Baked Beans Recipe
  • Creole Shrimp and Grits
  • Venison Chili
  • Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili
  • Southern Liver and Onions with Gravy Recipe
  • Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken and Rice
  • Chicken Dumpling Soup
  • Chicken and Lima Beans
  • Chicken Cobbler with Red Lobster Biscuit Mix
  • Smothered Chicken

If you like stew you should try this Irish Stew with Mashed Potatoes. It's easy, quick and is a fail-safe recipe.


If you’ve tried this Southern Chicken Stew Recipe or any other great recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section below, how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers!

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bowl of rice topped with chicken stew, whole leg with carrots and potatoes
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Southern Chicken Stew

This delicious Southern Chicken Stew Recipe comes from Cajun country. Homemade comfort food at it's best, this delicious thick stew will have your tummy happy in no time.
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time2 hours hrs
Total Time2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
Servings: 8
Cuisine: American, Southern Food
Author: Melanie Cagle
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Equipment

  • Dutch Oven

Ingredients

  • 1 (4 Pound) Each Whole Chicken cut into pieces
  • 1 Tablespoon Creole Seasoning
  • ¾ Cup Canola Oil
  • 1 Cup All Purpose Flour
  • 1 Each Yellow Onion diced
  • 1 Rib Celery diced
  • 1 Each Green Bell Pepper diced
  • 3 Cloves Garlic Minced
  • 6 Cups Chicken Broth
  • ½ Pound Baby Carrots
  • 4 Each Red Potatoes quartered

Instructions

  • Cut up and season the chicken with the Creole Seasoning
    1 (4 Pound) Each Whole Chicken, 1 Tablespoon Creole Seasoning
  • In a large Cast Iron Pot (or Dutch Oven) over medium-high heat add ¼ Cup of canola oil. Add the seasoned chicken and sear on both sides. Remove and set to the side.
    ¾ Cup Canola Oil
  • Add remaining canola oil to the pot along with the flour. Stir well and cook until a dark chocolate color. Stir continuously so not to burn. Scrape the bottom of any chicken residues.
    1 Cup All Purpose Flour
  • Dice the onion, bell pepper and celery and once the roux (oil and flour) has reached the right color add to the pot.
    1 Each Yellow Onion, 1 Rib Celery, 1 Each Green Bell Pepper
  • Cook until translucent. (about 4-5 minutes)
  • Add the garlic and cook another 2 minutes.
    3 Cloves Garlic
  • Add the chicken broth and stir well to combine.
    6 Cups Chicken Broth
  • Bring the broth to a boil then turn down the heat to simmer, covered, for 1 hour.
  • Add the chicken pieces back to the broth, along with the potatoes and carrots. Stir well and cover again. Simmer for another hour on low.
    ½ Pound Baby Carrots, 4 Each Red Potatoes
  • Serve over a bed of rice, or mashed potatoes.

Notes

If the chicken stew has not thickened to your preference, the best way to thicken at the end is to add a little instant mashed potato. This works great, thickens well and adds to the flavor as there are already potatoes in the dish.
If there is too much grease for you (from the chicken skin), allow the chicken stew to cool a few minutes then skim the top.
You can use chicken breasts or chicken thighs if you prefer.
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Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 450kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 20g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 826mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g

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Filed Under: Cajun Recipes, Chicken Recipes, Dinner Recipes, Southern Recipes, Weeknight Recipes

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