Chicken Stew (Casserole)
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
50 mins
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Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
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Servings
5
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Calories
510 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Chicken Stew (Casserole)
Description
This stew begins by browning chopped bacon and chicken thigh pieces seasoned with salt and pepper to develop savory base flavors. Garlic, onion, celery, and carrot are then cooked briefly to soften and release aromatics. Red wine is added and simmered to cook off alcohol and concentrate taste. Flour helps thicken the sauce when incorporated, followed by gradual addition of beef or chicken broth, crushed tomato, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, bay leaves, salt, and pepper for depth of flavor.
Baby potatoes are added first and simmered covered to cook through. Finally, mushrooms and green beans go in to simmer uncovered, allowing the sauce to thicken further. The resulting stew is hearty with a deep brown color and balanced taste, benefiting from red wine's richness and layered seasoning. Serving with crusty bread complements the dish by soaking up the sauce.
Boneless chicken thighs help maintain juiciness, while the inclusion of bacon and slow simmering develop a rich, balanced flavor. Red wine or dark beer can be substituted to influence the flavor profile. Cooking uncovered towards the end thickens the sauce, and the notes caution against covering the pot then, to achieve desired consistency.
Ingredients
- 0.5 tbsp olive oil
- 150g/5oz Bacon , chopped
- 750g/ 1.5lb chicken thigh cut into 3cm / 1.25" pieces (Note 1, boneless, skinless
- 1/2 tsp salt each
- 1/2 tsp black pepper each
- 3 garlic minced (1 tbsp, cloves
- 1 onion , sliced
- 3 carrot peeled, halved lengthwise, sliced 1cm / 1/3" thick
- 2 celery sliced 1cm / 1/3" thick, stalks
- 1 1/2 cups (375ml) red wine (Note 2)
- 4 tbsp flour
- 3 cups (750ml) beef stock low sodium (or chicken, Note 3, or broth
- 400g/ 14oz crushed tomato , canned
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp salt each
- 1/2 tsp black pepper each
- 1 1/2 tsp thyme dried
- 2 bay leaves dried
- 350g/ 12 oz baby potato halved
- 200g/ 6oz mushrooms , halved (large quartered)
- 150g/ 5 oz green beans , trimmed and halved
Instructions
- Place oil and bacon in a large heavy based casserole pot over high heat.
- When the oil is heated and bacon releases some fat, add chicken.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook, until chicken and bacon is browned.
- Add garlic and onion, cook 1 minute.
- Add celery and carrot, cook 2 minutes.
- Add red wine, allow to simmer rapidly 2 minutes until the winey alcohol smell is gone.
- Add flour, mix until incorporated.
- Slowly pour in half the beef broth while stirring, then pour the rest in.
- Add tomato, Worcestershire, thyme, bay leaves, salt, pepper.
- Stir, add potato.
- Cover, simmer 30 minutes.
- Remove lid, add mushrooms and green beans. Simmer without lid* for a further 10 minutes.
- Serve with crusty bread, sprinkled with parsley if desired!
Notes
- Keep the lid off during the final simmer to thicken the sauce appropriately; covering will prevent this.
- Boneless chicken thighs retain moisture during the simmer and are preferred; chicken breast can be added near the end to avoid drying out.
- Using bone-in pieces requires longer cooking; consider using a slow cooked oven method to achieve crispy skin.
- Dry, full-bodied red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot add depth; avoid light wines like Pinot Noir.
- Guinness or stout beers can substitute red wine, adding a different rich flavor when simmered longer without lid.
- For a non-alcoholic version, brown bacon, mushrooms, and chicken separately to build fond for flavor without wine.
- Beef broth provides deeper color and flavor to the sauce than chicken broth but either can be used.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 5Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 510 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 510cal | 26% |
| Carbohydrates | 29g | 10% |
| Protein | 40g | 80% |
| Fat | 20g | 31% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 162mg | 54% |
| Sodium | 1231mg | 51% |
| Potassium | 1654mg | 35% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 8g | 16% |
| Vitamin A | 6550IU | 131% |
| Vitamin C | 23.3mg | 26% |
| Calcium | 104mg | 10% |
| Iron | 6mg | 33% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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