Are you a fan of Chicken Stew? I sure am and today I have the best Instant Pot Chicken Stew recipe to share. This pressure cooker chicken stew is easy to make, healthy and comforting and is ready in less than 30 minutes.
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Why This Recipe Works
This hearty stew is a high protein recipe that will leave you feeling fuller for longer. It will also decrease your snacking habits in between meals or late at night. Plus, if you’re looking for Instant Pot chicken recipes that include chicken thighs, you are in luck, my friends… as this recipe uses boneless skinless chicken thighs Seriously!
📋 Ingredients
The ingredients are easy to find in your pantry or cupboard. And, with these typical staple items, you can whip this one up in a snap without running to the store.
- Olive Oil: Helps in searing the chicken and vegetables, locking in flavors.
- Onion and Garlic: These aromatic ingredients add a depth of flavor that forms the base of the stew.
- Skinless Chicken Thighs: Juicy and flavorful, perfect for a hearty stew.
- Bell Peppers: Add color and a slightly sweet, slightly bitter flavor to the stew.
- Paprika: Provides a smoky, sweet flavor and vibrant color to the dish.
- Bay Leaves: Infuse the stew with a subtle, herbal aroma and depth of flavor.
- Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance all the other flavors in the stew.
- Water or Chicken Broth: Provides the liquid base for the stew and helps in cooking the ingredients evenly.
- Tomato Paste: Adds a concentrated tomato flavor and thickens the stew.
- Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream: Adds a creamy, tangy contrast to the savory stew.
- Parsley (Optional): If used as a garnish, adds a fresh, herbal note and a pop of green color.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- You can easily use chicken stock instead of chicken broth for this recipe. If you decide to use chicken cubes and water in place of chicken broth, use 3 bouillon cubes for each 1 cup of water.
- Whether you prefer a slow cooked or pressure cooker chicken stew, this versatile recipe is sure to become one of your go-to favorites. Enjoy!
🔪How To Make Instant Pot Chicken Stew?
- Step 1: Add olive oil to the Instant Pot and select the saute setting. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 2 minutes, then add the garlic and sauté for an additional minute.
- Step 2: Slice the chicken thighs and bell pepper into strips and add to the Instant Pot. Add the chicken broth, bay leaf, tomato paste, paprika, and Greek yogurt to your pot.
- Step 3: After adding liquids, secure the Instant Pot Lid. Select the manual setting button and pressure cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Followed by a natural release.
- Step 4: Shred the chicken into smaller pieces using a fork. Serve this chicken stew Instant Pot recipe in bowls with a dollop of sour cream and fresh parsley or alongside Mashed Potatoes or Crusty Bread.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Be sure to naturally release the pressure for tender chicken. A quick release is not recommended for this recipe.
💭 FAQs
Yes, if you prefer to use pre-cooked shredded chicken for this chicken stew recipe simply add ¾ cup of pre-cooked shredded chicken and follow the remaining directions as written.
Yes, you can easily make slow cooker chicken stew instead of pressure cooker chicken stew. Simply add the ingredients to a slow cooker and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or high heat for 3-4 hours.
There are a few different methods that you can use to thicken your chicken stew, including adding more vegetables or using a roux. If you prefer a thicker soup-like consistency, you can add more potatoes or make a cornstarch slurry to thicken the stew.
If there are any leftovers, store the chicken stew in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To freeze chicken stew, place the cooled stew in an airtight container and freeze for 2-3 months.
Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Chicken Stew:
- Crusty Bread or Garlic Bread: Serve your chicken stew with warm, crusty bread or buttery garlic bread to soak up the rich broth. A side of sourdough or a baguette works especially well.
- Over Mashed Potatoes: Spoon the stew over a bed of creamy mashed potatoes for an extra hearty and comforting meal. The potatoes absorb the flavorful broth, making every bite satisfying.
- With Rice or Quinoa: Serve your chicken stew over steamed white rice, brown rice, or quinoa for a wholesome and filling option. This pairs well if you want to stretch the stew into multiple servings.
- Topped with Fresh Herbs & Cheese: Garnish each bowl with fresh chopped parsley, thyme, or basil for a fresh finish. A sprinkle of grated Parmesan or a dollop of sour cream can also add a creamy, tangy contrast.
🍜 Related Recipes
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Instant Pot Chicken Stew Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil or oil of choice
- 1 onion Chopped
- 3 Cloves Garlic Chopped
- 3 Chicken Thighs Boneless and skinless
- 2 Bell Peppers Chopped
- 2 Tablespoons Paprika
- 2 Bay Leaves
- Salt and Pepper To Taste
- 1 ½ Cups Chicken Broth
- 1 Tablespoon Tomato Paste
- 2 Tablespoons Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream
- Parsley Optional Garnish
Instructions
- Add olive oil to the Instant Pot and select the saute setting. Add the chopped onion and saute for 2 minutes, then add the garlic and saute for another minute.
- Slice the chicken thighs and bell pepper into strips and add to the Instant Pot.
- Add the chicken broth, bay leaf, tomato, paste, paprika and greek yogurt to your pot. I like to stir the tomato paste and greek yogurt into the broth before adding them all to the Instant Pot.
- Secure the Instant Pot Lid. Select the manual setting button to pressure cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
- Natural release the Instant Pot Lid. Shred the chicken into smaller pieces using forks.
- Serve this chicken stew Instant Pot recipe in bowls with a dollop of sour cream or alongside mashed potatoes or crusty bread.
Notes
Nutrition
More Chicken Recipes To Cook In Your Instant Pot
Looking for more easy Instant pot chicken recipes? Check these out!
How much does this recipe make????
Thanks,
Lisa
[email protected]
This makes 4 bowls
This was delicious! Made exactly as the recipe described (i went with Greek yogurt, not sour cream) and it was a big hit. Looking forward to making it again soon!
awesome. I am glad you enjoyed the recipe.
I'm a bariatric patient, and require a lot more detail in any recipe...
1 onion, chopped -- is this a large, medium or small onion. To be more precise, just what quantity of chopped onion are we talking about? A cup?> less? More?
3 chicken thighs, deboned - how large are these thighs? How much (in weight) are we talking about after deboning them?
2 bell peppers, chopped 0 see above, re: onions.
An imprecise recipe isn't really much use to anyone.
I'm also a bariatric patient and to be honest, the amount of onion doesn't really matter. You can use one average sized onion. same for the peppers an average sized pepper, it doesn't matter if the pepper is small or large. The chicken thighs again are regular sized chicken thighs. I've never heard of large or small thighs... we just get three thighs from the store.
How long on natural release
Natural release is usually anywhere from 8-10 minutes. Then you can QPR (Quick Pressure Release) the rest.