Instant Pot Chicken Stew

Creamy Instant Pot Chicken Stew with juicy chicken and veggies, made easy in one pot and no sauteing. Flavorful and perfect for chilly days!

No Instant Pot? No problem! Make this stovetop chicken stew instead.

This Instant Pot chicken stew recipe has all the mouthwatering flavors of my famous Instant Pot chicken and potatoes and creaminess of slow cooker chicken stew with an aroma of garlic and dill that’s to die for!

I made this hearty stew a few times during the holiday season, serving it with my favorite spinach salad. It quickly became my lifesaver that turned hectic days into comforting bowls of goodness.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• One pot meal: That’s why I love Instant Pot recipes like this one, because everything cooks in same pressure cooker. Save time on washing dishes and extra steps!
• So flavorful: Food cooked under pressure comes out more flavorful. Plus I add 2 secret ingredients at the end for adding extra flavor!
• Minimum ingredients: One of my newest soup and stew recipes that uses just a handful of everyday ingredients.
• No need to saute: Skip the sautéing when making chicken stew in Instant Pot. Just chop, pressure cook, and dish up in less than 45 minutes!
• Wholesome: A balanced meal of nutrient-dense protein, carbs, and veggies.

Ingredients for Instant Pot Chicken Stew

Instant Pot chicken stew keeps meal time simple with a short ingredient list. Here’s what you’ll need.

• Vegetables: Potatoes, carrots, and onions cut into bite-sized chunks, and fresh or frozen peas. I used baby potatoes and left them whole.
• Chicken: Boneless skinless chicken thighs cut or left whole, see tips section below.
• Chicken broth: I use low-sodium chicken broth to manage salt intake. Homemade chicken broth or Instant Pot chicken broth are great too, if you have some.
• Milk: Adding a touch of whole milk gives the chicken stew a creamy texture and helps thicken the broth.
• Cornstarch: A bit of cornstarch yields a medium-thick consistency that’s not too heavy.
• Garlic: Add freshly grated garlic at the end for maximum flavor.
• Seasonings: Bay leaves, salt, and pepper.
• Fresh herbs: I love topping this dish with dill, but fresh parsley works well too.

How to Make Chicken Stew in Instant Pot

Here’s a quick overview of how to make chicken stew in Instant Pot. There’s a full recipe card below.

It’s both easy and delicious, you might also want to explore my other Instant Pot chicken recipes!

• Prep: Toss onion, carrots, potatoes, chicken, bay leaves, salt, pepper, and chicken broth into the Instant Pot. Give it a gentle stir to separate the chicken pieces.
• Pressure cook: Close the lid, turn pressure vent to Sealing and press Pressure Cook on High or Manual for 10 minutes.
• Release pressure: After the Instant Pot’s done cooking, give it 5 minutes, then do a Quick Release by turning valve to Venting and open the lid.
• Thicken the stew: Hit Saute. Whisk milk with cornstarch in a small bowl, pour it into the pot, stir, and let it thicken for 1-2 minutes. Then press Cancel.
• Finish and serve: Gently stir in the peas, garlic, and dill. Serve hot and enjoy!

Tips for Best Results

Let the Instant Pot do the hard work for you, here are some easy tips and tricks to make the best pressure cooker chicken stew.

• Use dark meat: The dark meat from chicken thighs stays tender and juicy, adds more flavor, and makes the broth extra rich.
• Cut veggies large: Aim for larger bite-sized pieces so they don’t fall apart.
• For dairy-free stew: Use your favorite dairy-free milk. Make sure it’s unflavored and unsweetened.
• Add chicken thighs whole: If you have boneless skinless chicken thighs, add them whole. After cooking just break them with a spoon. This will save extra step, time and washing the cutting board. I had bone-in chicken thighs, so I had to cut them.
• Avoid russet potatoes: Unless you like a very thick, soup-like stew. Russet potatoes are better for mashed potatoes, they’re quite more starchy.
• No need to peel the potatoes: If you use yellow potatoes, red potatoes or baby potatoes there is no need to peel them. Keep the skin for added health benefits and save some time.
• Don’t skip fresh herbs and garlic at the end: This final touch elevates the flavor and keeps the herbs fresh.

Variations

I stuck to the recipe because we loved it but stews are so versatile. Try these additions for exciting flavors!

• Celery: Combine 2-3 chopped celery ribs with the carrots.
• White wine: Add up to 1/2 cup of dry white wine with the chicken broth for an extra layer of flavor.
• Omit milk: Feel free to skip the milk for a less heavy stew or dairy-free option. Keep in mind the flavor and texture will be a bit different, but still delicious.
• Sear the chicken: If you’re a fan of that rich browning flavor, start by pressing Saute and waiting until the Instant Pot says Hot. Swirl a bit of olive oil, sear the chicken on all sides for about 2 minutes each. Hit cancel, scrape away all those flavorful browned bits, then follow the recipe.
• Dried herbs: I kept the recipe simple, but you can add up to 2 teaspoons of dried thyme, rosemary, or sage.

How to Store and Reheat

Store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 4-5 days. Reheat covered on low heat for 5 minutes or until warmed through.

Freeze: Allow stew to cool, then freeze in an airtight container with room for expansion for up to 3 months. Potatoes will change color and texture once thawed, I prefer not to freeze but some don’t mind.

FAQs

More Stew Recipes to Try

• Chicken chickpea stew
• Instant Pot beef stew

More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes

• Instant Pot chicken and rice
• Instant Pot white chicken chili
• Instant Pot chicken curry
• Instant Pot chicken stir fry
• Instant Pot Italian chicken breasts