Our creamy Instant Pot chicken stew recipe is pure comfort food packed with potatoes, carrots and celery. We have used a shredded rotisserie chicken to make this or fresh breasts. Either way it is a delicious meal for dinner my family loves.
This is a great meal you can customize to be as creamy as you want! Add all the carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, and veggies you love and get ready to enjoy a meal together with a side of rolls made in 15 minutes. Just one of our favorite easy Instant Pot recipes my kids ask for on a monthly basis.
I know you’ve tried our Instant Pot chicken noodle soup, but this is a bit different! You are going to love them both but we just couldn’t stop with the Old Fashioned version. With potatoes and a bit of a creamier broth it’s a heartier meal we make all the time in the winter time.
Ninja Foodi Chicken Stew
You can use any brand of pressure cooker to make this of course. If you have a Crockpot Express or Ninja Foodi no worries, it will work the same as an IP except with the latter you need to use the lid that is not attached.
What Type of Chicken to Use
Chicken breasts, medium size boneless, skinless chicken thighs would be fine too. We have a large deep freezer at home so I try to stock up at times like these 2-3 times a year so I can make all the Instant Pot chicken recipes I want all year long.
Instant Pot Chicken Stew with Frozen Chicken
This one uses defrosted meat but if you really load up you can use our frozen chicken in the Instant Pot instructions first. Drain liquid in pot, then shred and continue on with instructions below where with the vegetables and gravy to cook together at that time.
Best Vegetables to Add
As for the vegetables I like to add a lot but they need to be somewhat on the firmer side so they don’t fall apart. Red Potatoes and carrots in bite size chunks with thick cuts of onions, some diced tomatoes and celery are the best choices in my experience of making it over the years.
Chicken broth is best, you could use water but it won’t have as much flavor. Our Instant Pot chicken broth is the best bet but you would need to make that ahead of time and then make this when done.
How to Make Creamy
The way to get a thicker stew like broth is to add some Heavy cream and if that isnt enough corn starch can thicken it more at the end if you want
Make sure your meat is not too thick or it may not cook all the way thru to the center. Medium size breasts are best. If you can only find large then slice them lengthwise so they’re half as thick. You want to ensure your meat is cooked to the right internal meat temperature for sure.
How to Thicken Chicken Stew
To thicken the sauce set pot to saute and whisk together until smooth your 1/2 c of water or use heavy whipping cream to make creamier with a bit cornstarch added and stirred until smooth. Allow to bubble for 3-4 minutes or until it is the consistency you desire for creamy chicken stew.
Tips for Success
First you’ll want to prep all your vegetables. Wash and dice them into bite size pieces so they’re ready. When pressure cooking this: place all ingredients into pot in the following order: chicken, potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, tomatoes, rosemary, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Then pour chicken broth over the top of everything.
Allow steam to naturally release when the cook time is up. When done lift lid. Use forks to shred chicken right inside the pot itself or dice on a cutting board. If your Instant Pot shredded chicken is tough to shred it needs more time, you can do this with another 5 minutes.
Can you double this recipe?
Making this Ninja Foodi stew for a large crowd? You can double the recipe without any issue if you have an 8 quart or larger pot so it doesn’t surpass the 3/4 full mark inside. Mine is just 6 and I typically cook one batch of everything at a time, other than my Instant Pot chili. I’ve doubled that.
Instant Pot Chicken Stew Recipe
Equipment
- 1 knife
- 1 cutting board
Ingredients
- 2 medium chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cut in half lengthwise if they are very thick
- 6 medium red potatoes, cut into 6 pieces each
- 2 large carrots, cut into dials
- 2 stalks celery, cut into large chunks
- 1 small onion, sliced or diced, depending on your preference
- 1 medium tomato , diced
- 1 sprig rosemary, fresh, or 1 tsp dry
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 cup water, or heavy cream if you want it thicker and creamier
- 3 tbsp cornstarch, to thicken
- 24 oz chicken broth
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into pot in the following order: chicken, potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, tomatoes, rosemary, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Then pour chicken broth over the top of everything.
- Close lid and steam valve and set to high pressure for 10 minutes, then allow steam to naturally release.
- When done lift lid. Use forks to shred chicken. Set pot to saute.
- In a bowl whisk together your 1/2 c of water or use heavy whipping cream to make creamier. Add your cornstarch to the liquid and whisk until smooth.
- When soup is boiling in pot add this mixture and stir. Allow to bubble for 3-4 minutes so liquid thickens, then serve.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How long can you keep chicken stew in the fridge?
Properly stored, cooked and then chilled chicken stew will last for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. To make it last even longer you should freeze it. Store in covered airtight containers or heavy duty freezer bags for best results.
To reheat the best method is to allow it to defrost in the fridge or countertop. Then heat in microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between. If using the stovetop, reheat on low medium heat stirring frequently.
Other one pot dinners you’ll love
After you fall in love with this meal you should try our turkey pot pie soup and Instant Pot chicken rice soup next too. You can follow our Instant Pot beef stew casserole to try that one too!
I have made chicken soup in the Crockpot low and slow which we love and/or Pan Fried Chicken Legs are super crispy choices. Both are quick and easy chicken recipes we love. One just takes quite a bit longer than the other to finish.
Delicious and very easy to make , thank you , I used onion gravy to thicken it