Healthy Recipes 101

The Heart of The Home Beats in The Kitchen

  • Recipe Index
  • Courses
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Beverages
  • Method
    • Air Frying
    • Boiling
    • Broiling
    • Frying
    • Grilling
    • Oven Baked
    • One-Pan
  • About

Hot Tags

  • Juices
  • Chicken
  • Salmon Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • Instant Pot
  • Salads
Fact-checked
Main Dishes

Instant Pot Chicken Stew Recipe

  • Chicken
  • Instant Pot
  • Main Dishes
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Servings 4 servings
Calories 457 kcal
Instant Pot Chicken Stew Recipe
Jump to Recipe
facebook pinterest twitter Print Recipe

One of the best things to cook in the Instant Pot is stew. In this Instant Pot chicken stew recipe, the food that requires hours of simmering on the stove can now be done effortlessly in a matter of minutes.

The tender, juicy chicken chunks and soft vegetables are simmered in the umami, gravy-like sauce with a boost of flavor from dried herbs. The dish is made for those cold days when you need a hearty spoon to warm you up from the inside.

Is Chicken Stew Healthy?

With fresh ingredients included and the nutritional value calculated, our Instant Pot chicken stew is healthy. 

  • Each serving of our chicken stew contains only 457 calories, impressively low for a comfort stew dish.
  • Sodium content is around 562 mg. It’s recommended to consume less than 2300 mg per day.
  • There are 6.3 grams of fiber — up to 22% of the suggested daily intake from the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines.

We also paired this chicken stew with a green salad and fresh fruit juice, which is lighter and healthier than bread or a muffin. This delectable combination brings the total calories to around 750 calories, ensuring you have enough energy until the next meal.

is chicken stew healthy

Ingredients for Chicken Stew

Here is all you need to make an Instant Pot chicken stew at home:

  • Chicken: Dark meat cuts like chicken thighs are beloved for their juiciness and fat. If you want to go with leaner meat, please feel free to use chicken breast in this recipe.
  • Potatoes: For stew dishes, we prefer waxy potatoes like French fingerling, Red Bliss, or baby potatoes since they are less likely to fall apart and become mushy during pressure cooking.
  • Carrots: You can either cube the carrots into bite-size pieces as per the photos or slice them into 2-inch pieces. Use baby carrots to reduce the prepping time.
  • Broth: Use low-sodium or unsalted broth so that it’s easier to monitor your intake of salt in every meal.
  • Seasoning: The seasoning blend with salt, pepper, thyme, and mustard works best in this recipe. It is quick to combine and simple enough to preserve the natural goodness of all components in your Instant Pot.
  • Herbs: For an aromatic enhancer, we used dried herbs for this chicken stew. Bay leaf and thyme enhance the other elements in the pot and complete the flavor profile of the dish.
ingredients for instant pot chicken stew

Loaded with protein from chicken, plus fiber and vitamins from vegetables, the chicken stew makes a delicious and healthy dinner.

How to Make Stew Chicken in the Instant Pot

The chicken stew takes much less time and labor of active cooking than the stove method. That gives you all the more reason to include this easy-to-make recipe in your weekly dinner rotation.

ingredients

This is how we made the chicken stew in the Instant Pot:

step 1: Sauté the vegetables.

Sauté the vegetables.

Step 2: Stir fry chicken with herbs and spices.

Stir fry chicken with herbs and spices.

Step 3: Add cubed vegetables.

Add cubed vegetables.

Step 4: Pour in the chicken broth. Cook in the “stew meat” mode.

Pour in the chicken broth. Cook in the “stew meat” mode.

step 5: Open the lid and cook in the “sauté” mode.

Open the lid and cook in the “sauté” mode.

step 6: Garnish and serve hot

Garnish. Serve.

Tips for Cooking Chicken Stew

  • Prep in Advance

Cleaning and chopping your ingredients in advance or even the night before is always a good idea to save time. Whenever you’re craving a quick and comforting dinner, all you have to do is to throw your prepared ingredients in the Instant Pot, press the button, and get ready to set the table.

  • Enhance The Flavor

The beauty of stew food is that there is no strict rule for seasoning. You can add as much or as little seasoning to fit your taste buds. A fresh squeeze of lemon at the end will elevate the finishing flavor, or perhaps add a handful of shredded cheese if you are a big fan of creamy sauce.

  • Thicken The Sauce

Cooked chicken stew could be watery and dilute if there are just meat and vegetables in the pot. A simple tip is to add a tablespoon of cornstarch mixed in water in the end or simply add the flour directly while stirring the chicken.

Once the cornstarch is added, let the stew simmer for a few minutes until you get the desired consistency.

tips for cooking

Store and Reheat

  • To store:

The chicken stew should be placed in an airtight container within 2 hours of making. If you know you want to eat the leftovers within 4 days, keep them in the fridge.

For more extended storage, we encourage you to place the stew in the freezer. Though freezing may change the texture of vegetables a bit, the dish can last for up to 4 months in the freezer. 

  • To reheat:

When it comes to reheating the leftovers, it’s best to thaw them completely in the refrigerator the night before. 

If you’re using the microwave, take the food out and give it a stir halfway through cooking time. This will ensure the food is heated evenly.

If you prefer reheating in the skillet, cover with a lid so that the stew won’t end up drying out.

What to Serve With Instant Pot Chicken Stew

It’s easier than ever to turn your warm soup into a feast by pairing it with one of our side dishes below. 

  • Salad: When it comes to texture, tender chicken stew loves a fresh and crunchy side dish, and salad wonderfully fits that description. Our kale salad is light and full of healthy tropical flavor, making it a perfect accompaniment for stew.
  • Rice: A bowl of warm and chewy steamed rice is all you need to round out the comforting stew. It’s a humble side that will let the star of the meal shine.
  • Baguette: Whenever a stew is involved on the table, there is always a place for crispy and flavorful bread. It also works as a sponge that will soak up all the delicious goodness in your soup bowl.
Recipes Course Calories Saturated fat Sodium
Instant Pot Chicken Stew Main Dish 457 8.0 g 562 mg
Kale Salad Side Dish 207 1.8 g 248 mg
Lemon Watermelon Juice Beverage 95 0.0 g 5 mg
Total 759 9.8 g 815 mg
Nutritional values in this table vary somewhat to those below due to different app calculations. Read more...
what to serve with instant pot chicken stew

More Tasty Instant Pot Chicken Recipes You’ll Love:

Here are some tasty, healthy Instant Pot chicken meals that we just couldn’t help but fall in love with:

  • Instant Pot Chicken Thighs Recipe
  • Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
  • Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe
  • Instant Pot Thai Chicken Curry Recipe
  • Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe
ingredients for instant pot chicken stew

Instant Pot Chicken Stew Recipe

PRINT RATE Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest
Today’s Instant Pot chicken stew recipe makes a satisfying-yet-healthy dinner from scratch in just 40 minutes.
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 40 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 457kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 20 oz skinless boneless chicken thighs cubed
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 oz onions chopped
  • 1 tbsp garlic chopped
  • 2 oz celery chopped
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp thyme
  • 1/2 tsp ground pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp oregano
  • 1 tsp traditional Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 18 oz potatoes cubed
  • 10 oz carrots cubed
  • 2 cup unsalted chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp parsley chopped

Instructions
 

  • Heat your Instant Pot by using the “sauté” function. Add 2 tbsp olive oil, 3 tbsp butter, 2 oz onion, 1 tbsp garlic, and 2 oz celery to the pot. Stir fry for 2 minutes.
    step 1: Sauté the vegetables.
  • Add 20 oz chicken, 1 tsp paprika, 1 bay leaf, 1 tsp thyme, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tbsp oregano, 1 tsp mustard, and 1 tbsp cornstarch and stir every couple minutes until the onions become translucent, about 2 – 3 minutes.
    Step 2: Stir fry chicken with herbs and spices.
  • Add 18 oz potatoes and 10 oz carrots and give everything a stir.
    Step 3: Add cubed vegetables.
  • Pour 2 cups of chicken broth into the pot. Secure the lid. Set the “stew meat” mode for 12 minutes.
    Step 4: Pour in the chicken broth. Cook in the “stew meat” mode.
  • When the time is up, release the pressure naturally. Open the lid and cook for another 10 minutes at “sauté” mode until thickened.
    step 5: Open the lid and cook in the “sauté” mode.
  • Transfer the chicken stew to serving plates. Garnish with parsley. Serve hot.
    step 6: Garnish and serve hot

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Chicken Stew Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 457 Calories from Fat 198
% Daily Value*
Fat 22g34%
Saturated Fat 8g50%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 10g
Cholesterol 155mg52%
Sodium 562mg24%
Potassium 1235mg35%
Carbohydrates 33g11%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 32g64%
Vitamin A 12385IU248%
Vitamin C 21mg25%
Calcium 92mg9%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
homemade instant pot chicken stew recipe
Instant Pot Lo Mein Recipe
Previous Recipe
Instant Pot Lo Mein Recipe
Chicken Teriyaki Stir Fry Recipe
Next Recipe
Chicken Teriyaki Stir Fry Recipe
Luna Regina

Luna Regina

facebook instagram pinterest youtube twitter linkedin
Luna is the founder and chief recipe developer of Healthy Recipes 101. Apart from cooking, she also loves reading, programming, exploring the outdoors, and collecting useless facts about everything.

Comments/ Reviews

Cancel reply
Instant Pot Chicken Stew Recipe
Instant Pot Chicken Stew Recipe
Recipe Rating




Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD
Recipe developed by Luna Regina on October 28, 2021 Nutritionally reviewed by Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD

Latest Recipes

Shrimp Recipes
Garlic Shrimp Recipe

Mac And Cheese Shrimp Recipe

Shrimp Recipes
Shrimp Mac and Cheese Recipe

Shrimp Remoulade Recipe

Shrimp Recipes
Shrimp Remoulade Recipe

Shrimp Bisque Recipe

Shrimp Recipes
Shrimp Bisque Recipe

Shrimp And Broccoli Recipe

Shrimp Recipes
Shrimp And Broccoli Recipe

Salt And Pepper Shrimp Recipe

Shrimp Recipes
Salt and Pepper Shrimp Recipe

Top Pinterest

Banana Papaya Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies
Banana Papaya Smoothie Recipe

Pumpkin Spice Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies
Pumpkin Spice Smoothie Recipe

Strawberry Papaya Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies
Strawberry Papaya Smoothie Recipe

Orange Creamsicle Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies
Orange Creamsicle Smoothie Recipe

Pineapple Carrot Juice Recipe

Carrot Juice
Pineapple Carrot Juice Recipe

Strawberry Carrot Juice Recipe

Carrot Juice
Strawberry Carrot Juice Recipe

AS SEEN ON
eatthis
parade
bustle
insider
buzzfeed
forbes
cnn
msn
Healthy Recipes 101
We do not offer medical, dietetic, or nutritional advice. Please seek consultation from a qualified health care professional prior to any decision to alter your current diet. Learn more See additional information.
  • Recipe Index
  • Course
  • Method
  • About
  • Cooking Challenge
  • Nutrition Guidelines
  • Recipe Development
  • Cooking Tips
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Follow Us

facebook instagram pinterest youtube twitter linkedin

Get our latest healthy recipes

Stay up-to-date with our latest RDN-approved recipes, kitchen tips, and healthy eating challenges.

Opt-out at any time by clicking the 'unsubscribe' link at the bottom of our email.

Visit our other Healthy101 sites:

Healthykitchen101
© 2021 Healthy Kitchen 101, LLC - All Rights Reserved
Return to Top