Savory Apple & Chicken Stew in a Slow Cooker
This hearty and healthy Savory Apple & Chicken Stew is a delightful blend of tender chicken, root vegetables, and sweet tart apples, all simmered together in a slow cooker until perfectly tender. Perfect for those crisp autumn days, this low-fat dish balances savory and sweet flavors while being easy to prepare. Simply layer your ingredients in the slow cooker, let it do the work for you, and enjoy a warm, wholesome meal that your whole family will love. Serve with your favorite whole-grain bread for a complete meal.
6
Servings
200
Calories
14
Ingredients
Ingredients
Potatoes
4 medium (cubed)
Carrots
4 medium (cut in 1/4 inch slices)
Red Onion
1 medium (halved and sliced)
Celery
1 rib (thinly sliced)
Salt
1 1/2 teaspoons (to taste)
Dried Thyme
3/4 teaspoon (dried)
Pepper
to taste
Caraway Seed
1/2 teaspoon (dried)
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
2 lbs (cubed)
Oil
2 tablespoons
Tart Apples
2 large (peeled and cubed (3-4 can be used if desired))
Apple Cider
1 1/4 cups
Cider Vinegar
1 tablespoon
Bay Leaf
1
Instructions
1
Start by preparing your vegetables: cubing the potatoes, slicing the carrots, halving and slicing the red onion, and thinly slicing the celery.
2
In your slow cooker, layer the potatoes, carrots, red onion, and celery evenly at the bottom.
3
In a small bowl, mix together the salt, dried thyme, pepper, and caraway seed.
4
Sprinkle half of this seasoning blend over the layered vegetables in the slow cooker.
5
In a skillet over medium heat, add the oil and brown the cubed chicken on all sides. This should take about 5-7 minutes; the chicken doesn’t need to be fully cooked, just browned.
6
Transfer the browned chicken to the slow cooker, layering it on top of the vegetables.
7
Add the cubed apples over the chicken, spreading them out evenly.
8
In a separate bowl, combine the apple cider and cider vinegar, then pour this mixture evenly over the chicken and apples in the slow cooker.
9
Sprinkle the remaining seasoning mix over the top and place the bay leaf on top of everything.
10
Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 4-5 hours, or until the vegetables are tender and the chicken is cooked through.
11
Once cooking is complete, remove the bay leaf and give the stew a good stir before serving.
Nutrition Information
3.3g
Fat
23.3g
Carbs
16.7g
Protein
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Savory Apple & Chicken Stew?
It is a hearty and healthy slow-cooked meal featuring tender chicken, root vegetables, and sweet-tart apples balanced with savory seasonings.
How many servings does this recipe yield?
This recipe makes 6 servings.
What are the primary seasonings used in this stew?
The seasonings include salt, dried thyme, pepper, caraway seed, and a bay leaf.
How many calories are in one serving?
Each serving contains approximately 200 calories.
Is this a low-fat recipe?
Yes, it is considered low-fat, with only 3.3g of fat per serving.
What type of chicken should I use?
The recipe calls for 2 lbs of boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed.
Do I need to cook the chicken before putting it in the slow cooker?
Yes, you should brown the cubed chicken in a skillet with oil for 5-7 minutes before adding it to the slow cooker.
What vegetables are included in the stew?
The stew includes 4 medium potatoes, 4 medium carrots, 1 medium red onion, and 1 rib of celery.
What kind of apples work best for this recipe?
Tart apples are recommended. You can use 2 large apples, or up to 3-4 if you prefer a stronger apple flavor.
What is the recommended cooking time?
Cook the stew on the high setting for 4-5 hours.
What liquids are used for the base of the stew?
The base consists of 1 1/4 cups of apple cider and 1 tablespoon of cider vinegar.
How should the vegetables be layered in the slow cooker?
Layer the potatoes, carrots, red onion, and celery at the bottom of the slow cooker first.
How much protein is in each serving?
Each serving provides 16.7g of protein.
How many carbohydrates are in the stew?
There are 23.3g of carbohydrates per serving.
What should I do with the bay leaf?
The bay leaf should be placed on top of the ingredients before cooking and removed once cooking is complete before stirring.
Do I need to peel the apples?
Yes, the instructions specify that the apples should be peeled and cubed.
How should the carrots be sliced?
Carrots should be cut into 1/4 inch slices.
Is there a specific way to prepare the red onion?
The red onion should be halved and then sliced.
How is the seasoning applied during preparation?
Half of the seasoning blend is sprinkled over the vegetable layer, and the remaining half is sprinkled over the chicken and apples.
Can I serve this with anything else?
It is recommended to serve this stew with your favorite whole-grain bread for a complete meal.
What is the purpose of the cider vinegar?
The cider vinegar adds a bright acidity that balances the sweetness of the apples and apple cider.
How much oil is used for browning the chicken?
The recipe uses 2 tablespoons of oil.
Is the chicken fully cooked in the skillet step?
No, the chicken only needs to be browned on all sides; it will finish cooking in the slow cooker.
What size should the potato pieces be?
The potatoes should be cubed into bite-sized pieces.
Are there any specific caraway seed measurements?
The recipe calls for 1/2 teaspoon of caraway seed.
How much salt is used?
Use 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, or adjust to your preference.
What makes this dish appropriate for autumn?
The use of root vegetables, apples, apple cider, and warm spices like thyme and caraway makes it ideal for cooler fall weather.
Should the celery be thick or thin?
The celery should be thinly sliced.
Can I use more than one celery rib?
The recipe calls for 1 rib, but you can adjust based on your preference for vegetables.
What is the final step before serving?
Remove the bay leaf and give the stew a good stir to incorporate all the flavors.