Southern Chicken Stew
This Southern chicken stew is a comforting bowl of stew that’s a true classic. Its timeless appeal lies in its simplicity and the wholesome, delicious flavors of the traditional chicken recipe.
This simple, uncomplicated recipe delivers a stew that tastes incredible, a hearty combination of tender chicken, flavorful spices, and well-cooked vegetables. It is perfect for the family, the kind of meal that brings everyone together around the dinner table, sharing good food and good company.
It’s best served steaming hot with a slice of Southern cornbread or even some homemade biscuits. This classic combination never goes out of style!
❤️ WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
- Surprisingly simple: Despite its robust flavor, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to make this Southern chicken stew.
- Classic: This recipe is a Southern classic for a reason. It has stood the test of time and continues to be a favorite in many homes.
- Comforting: There are few things as comforting as a bowl of homemade Southern Style Chicken Stew. This classic chicken recipe has been around for generations for a reason.
- Delicious: The combination of spices, chicken, and vegetables makes for a stew that is not only hearty but also absolutely delicious.
- Family-favorite: This is the kind of meal that brings the family together. It’s a classic recipe that’s likely to become a favorite in your home.
🍊 INGREDIENTS
More details about the ingredients and measurements are in the recipe card below!
- Chicken: This is the star of the show. With a good amount of skin and cut into pieces, it will add a rich flavor to the stew.
- Cajun seasoning: Adds a spicy and savory flavor to the dish. It is the key seasoning that gives this chicken stew its Southern flair.
- Onion: Thinly sliced, this will add a sweet and savory depth to the stew.
- Garlic: Minced and added to the onion, it will infuse the stew with a deliciously aromatic flavor.
- Green bell pepper: Chopped and added to the onion and garlic, it will bring a subtle, refreshing flavor to the stew.
- Flour: Used to thicken the stew, the all-purpose flour will give it a hearty consistency.
- Chicken stock: The base of the stew, it will bring all the flavors together perfectly for a delicious Southern stew.
🔪 HOW TO MAKE SOUTHERN CHICKEN STEW
Step 1
Rub the chicken with spices: Start by seasoning the chicken. In a large mixing bowl, combine your chicken pieces with all the spices. Make sure the chicken is well coated with the seasoning.
Step 2
Fry the chicken: Next, in a large pan, heat your oil. Once the pan is hot, add your seasoned chicken. Pan-fry the chicken on both sides until it turns golden brown. Remember, your goal here is to brown the chicken, not to cook it all the way through.
Step 3
Prepare the vegetables: After removing the chicken from the pan, don’t turn the heat off. In the same pan, add your unsalted butter. Once it’s melted, toss in your thinly sliced onion and chopped green bell pepper. Stir the vegetables until the onion becomes translucent.
Step 4
Add the seasonings: Once the onion is translucent, add your minced garlic. Cook the garlic for a few seconds until its raw flavor is gone.
Step 5
Make the stew base: Now, it’s time to make the base of your stew. Add the flour to the pan and stir it into the vegetables. Cook the flour for about two minutes on medium-low heat until you no longer smell the rawness of the flour.
Step 6
Add chicken stock: Next, pour in your chicken stock. Stir the mixture continuously to prevent the flour from creating lumps in your stew base.
Step 7
Combine and cook: Once your stew base comes to a boil, add the chicken back into the pan. Pour in any juices that may have collected from the chicken. Gently stir to combine all the elements. Then, cover the pan and let the stew simmer. Remember to stir occasionally. You’ll continue to simmer until the chicken is fully cooked through and the stew has reached your desired thickness.
Step 8
Serve: The color of the stew should turn to a rich brown by the end of the cooking process. Serve your Southern chicken stew steaming hot.
👩🏽🍳 PRO TIPS
- Brine the chicken: Placing the chicken in a brine for an hour or two can make it juicy and remove any unwanted odors. This step is optional, but it can definitely elevate your dish.
- Customize with vegetables: Some recipes call for minced celery, which can add a unique flavor to your stew. If you wish to include vegetables, you can also add frozen peas or green beans to make a hearty chicken and vegetable stew.
- Use any part of the chicken: You can make this stew using any part of the chicken, so feel free to use your favorite cut or whatever you have on hand.
- Make sure the gravy is smooth: Cook the flour well to eliminate the raw smell and guarantee that your gravy will come out smooth, not grainy, with a rich, nutty flavor.
- Customize your flavor: If you’re not a fan of chicken stock or simply want to try a different flavor, you can use beef stock as a substitute.
📋 VARIATIONS
- Vegetables: If you’re a fan of hearty stews with a mix of flavors and textures, this variation is for you. In addition to the chicken, add your favorite vegetables like frozen peas, carrots, or green beans to create a delicious and filling
- Spicy: For those who love a bit of heat in their meals, this variation is a must-try. You can add an extra teaspoon of Cajun seasoning to the recipe for a spicier flavor. Serve it with some homemade southern biscuits.
- Light: If you’re looking for a lighter option, you can use skinless chicken in this recipe. This will reduce the fat content while still retaining the rich, savory taste of the stew.
🍽️ HOW TO SERVE
- For a classic Southern meal, serve your Southern chicken stew with a side of homemade Southern biscuits. The buttery, flaky biscuits are perfect for soaking up the flavorful gravy of the stew.
- If you’re in the mood for a bit of crunch, try serving your chicken stew with some saltine crackers. They add a nice texture contrast to the soft and tender stew.
- For a hearty dinner, pair your stew with a slice of cornbread. The slightly sweet cornbread compliments the savory flavors of the stew and is a favorite combination in Southern cuisine.
- If you want to add a fresh and light touch to your meal, serve your chicken stew with a Greek salad. The crisp vegetables and tangy feta cheese in the salad balance the rich flavors of the stew.
- And if you like a bit of heat, don’t forget the hot sauce! Some people love to drizzle a little bit of hot sauce on their chicken stew to give it a spicy kick. Let your guests customize their stew according to their taste.
💬 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Brining the chicken is optional, but it can make the chicken juicier and help remove any unwanted odors. If you choose to brine, remember to rinse the chicken and pat it dry before proceeding with the recipe.
Some recipes call for minced celery to add a subtle flavor, but it is not a must-have for this chicken stew. However, if you wish to add celery, mince one stick and include it in the recipe to suit your taste.
If you don’t have chicken stock, you can use beef stock as a substitute. Keep in mind that this will alter the flavor of the stew, so adjust according to your preference.
🌡️ STORING
- Refrigerate: Once your Southern chicken stew has cooled down, store it in an airtight sealed container. It will keep fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat Instructions: To reheat, simply warm the stew in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- Freeze: This stew freezes well. You can freeze it in airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags for up to 3 months.
⭐⭐Serve this with one of my easy rice recipes for a complete meal.
⭐ PLEASE RATE AND REVIEW
If you have tried this recipe and liked it, please give it a 5-star rating and leave a comment below with your experience!
Southern Chicken Stew
Ingredients
- 1100 grams Chicken with skin, cut into 8 pt 10 pieces
- 2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning has salt, hence didn’t add any in the recipe
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 3 tablespoon oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 medium onion thinly sliced
- ¼ green bell pepper chopped
- 4 medium garlic minced
- 3 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 4 cups chicken stock
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add the chicken pieces, and all the spices. Rub the chicken with the spices well.
- Add oil to a hot pan, and then add the chicken and fry on both sides until brown. The goal here is to brown the chicken and not to cook it through.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and keep aside. In the same pan, add the butter and when it melts add the onion and bell pepper. Stir until the onion is translucent, add the garlic and cook for a few seconds.
- Add the flour and cook until the raw smell of the flour is gone, should take two minutes on medium low heat.
- Pour the chicken stock and keep stirring to prevent the flour from creating lumps.
- When the stew comes to a boil, add the chicken and its juices and stir gently, then cover the pan and stir occasionally until the chicken is cooked through and the stew is thicker.
- The color of the stew should turn brown by the end of cooking.
- Serve with Egyptian rice or Creamy mashed potatoes.
Video
Notes
- I prefer to place the chicken in a brine for an hour or two; it makes it juicy and removes any odor, but that’s up to you.
- Some recipes call for minced celery, but I didn’t have any. If you wish to add some, mince one stick for this recipe and add it when adding the garlic.
- You can make this stew using any part of the chicken.
- Make sure to cook the flour, or the gravy will come out grainy with a hint of raw flour flavor.
- If you don’t have chicken stock, beef stock can work.
This sounds delicious. I’ll have to keep my eyes open for Egyptian rice, because that looks cool, too!
Thank you Jeff, it was my first time trying Southern chicken stew with Egyptian rice, but it tasted so good.