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Cozy Slow Cooker Autumn Harvest Chicken Stew

slow cooker autumn harvest chicken stew - featured image
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A warm and hearty slow cooker chicken stew featuring autumnal flavors like butternut squash, apples, and root vegetables. Perfect for cozy fall evenings and easy to prepare.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 cups butternut squash, peeled and diced
  • 1 large apple, peeled and chopped (preferably Granny Smith)
  • 1 large carrot, sliced
  • 1 medium turnip, peeled and cubed (or substitute with potatoes)
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • ½ cup apple cider
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Optional garnishes: chopped fresh parsley, crusty bread or warm dinner rolls

Instructions

  1. Rinse and pat dry the chicken thighs. Peel and chop the butternut squash, apple, carrot, and turnip into roughly 1-inch cubes. Finely chop the onion and mince the garlic cloves.
  2. Optional: Brown the chicken pieces in a hot skillet with a splash of oil until lightly golden, about 3 minutes per side.
  3. Place the chicken, butternut squash, apple, carrot, turnip, onion, and garlic into the slow cooker pot. Pour in the chicken broth and apple cider. Stir in the tomato paste, thyme, cinnamon, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
  4. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours until chicken is tender and vegetables are soft but not mushy.
  5. Stir the stew and taste; adjust seasoning if needed. If too thin, stir in a slurry of 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water and cook on HIGH for an additional 15 minutes to thicken.
  6. Serve warm, garnished with fresh parsley if desired, alongside crusty bread or a green salad.

Notes

Browning the chicken is optional but adds depth of flavor. Use bone-in chicken thighs for richer broth, increasing cooking time by about 30 minutes. To avoid mushy vegetables, cut root vegetables into larger chunks. Prep ingredients the night before for easy morning assembly. If stew is too thin, thicken with cornstarch slurry. Can be adapted for vegetarian, low-carb, or spiced-up versions.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker, chicken stew, autumn, butternut squash, turnip, apple, comfort food, easy dinner, fall recipe

Find it online: https://bakebelle.com/cozy-slow-cooker-autumn-harvest-chicken-stew-recipe-easy-and-best/