Description
This Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Stew is a comforting, one-pot meal packed with tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and rich tomato flavors. Made with simple ingredients like boneless chicken breasts, fire-roasted tomatoes, and aromatic Italian seasoning, it simmers low and slow to create a flavorful, satisfying stew perfect for cozy dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken & Meat
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
Vegetables
- 1 cup carrots, chopped
- 1 cup celery, chopped
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 1 cup yellow or red waxy potato, chopped
Tomato & Seasoning
- 1 (15 ounce) can diced fire-roasted tomato
- 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Liquids & Oils
- 32 ounces chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (divided)
Thickening Agent
- 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Add the chicken breasts, carrots, celery, chopped onion, chopped potatoes, diced fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, granulated garlic, chicken stock, 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and kosher salt into a 6-quart slow cooker. Stir gently to combine all ingredients.
- Cook the Stew: Cover the slow cooker and cook the mixture on high for about 4 hours, or on low for about 6 hours. Cooking times may vary depending on your slow cooker, but the goal is for the chicken and vegetables to be tender and thoroughly cooked.
- Prepare Thickening Mixture: Carefully ladle out 1/4 cup of the broth from the slow cooker into a small bowl. Whisk in the arrowroot powder (or cornstarch) along with the remaining 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar until the mixture is smooth with no lumps.
- Thicken the Stew: Pour the arrowroot and balsamic mixture back into the slow cooker. Stir well to combine, then cover and cook on high for an additional 5 minutes until the stew thickens slightly.
- Shred and Serve: Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred or dice it into bite-sized pieces. Return the chicken to the slow cooker, stir to mix evenly, and taste the stew. Adjust salt if needed. Serve the stew warm, drizzled with a bit more olive oil and freshly ground black pepper if desired.
Notes
- This stew is wonderfully hearty and perfect for a comforting meal that requires minimal hands-on time thanks to the slow cooker.
- Using fire-roasted tomatoes adds depth and a slightly smoky flavor to the stew.
- Arrowroot powder is used as a natural thickener and can be substituted with cornstarch if needed.
- Serve with crusty bread or over creamy polenta for a complete meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 of 6 servings
- Calories: 336 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 777 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 64 mg
