Amazing 7-Hour Chicken and Zucchini Stew

When that first crisp autumn wind hits, I swear my kitchen just *demands* something warm, hearty, and totally hands-off. I’m Anna Kowalska, and here I share tried-and-true homemade recipes that you and your family will love. Everything I post here is made with heart and flavor, because life is too short for bland food, right?

I’m always hunting for ways to get incredible depth of flavor without spending my entire afternoon hovering over the stove. That’s why I absolutely adore my slow cooker, especially when it comes to weeknight meals.

If you’re looking for a dinner that practically cooks itself while you tackle homework or just put your feet up, then you are going to fall head over heels for my Chicken and Zucchini Stew. It’s the perfect blend of tender chicken and fresh vegetables, all swimming in the most savory broth. Trust me, this is going to be your new go-to comfort food!

Why You’ll Love This Chicken and Zucchini Stew

This isn’t just another soup recipe; this is pure, easy magic happening in a ceramic pot. I know you’re busy, so I focused on making this as simple as possible while maximizing flavor. You won’t believe how much flavor we pack in!

• It’s a true set-it-and-forget-it meal, thanks to the slow cooker doing all the heavy lifting.
• The chicken thighs stay unbelievably moist and tender after hours of simmering.
• Zucchini adds a wonderful freshness that keeps the stew from feeling too heavy or dense.
• The initial browning step gives the broth all that amazing depth you crave in a great Chicken and Zucchini Stew.

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Chicken and Zucchini Stew

The ingredient list looks long, but most of it is just spices or standard veggies you likely have lying around. The key is getting the chicken right before it goes into the pot. This is where we build the foundation of our flavor for this amazing Chicken and Zucchini Stew.

Chicken Preparation Details

We need about two and a half pounds of chicken thighs, bone and skin removed, and cubed up nicely. Don’t skip seasoning them with salt, pepper, and paprika—that’s flavor insurance! Then, toss those seasoned pieces right into the flour until they are lightly coated. This little bit of flour is what helps thicken the stew later on, so don’t skip that step!

Vegetable and Broth Components

For the aromatics, grab two cups of onions, diced, and four cloves of garlic, minced. You’ll need four cups of chicken broth to make sure everything swims happily. Don’t forget the carrots—three medium ones chopped up—and the star, two cups of diced zucchini. Oh, and two bay leaves and a sprig of rosemary go in for that beautiful herbal warmth!

Gathering Your Equipment for the Chicken and Zucchini Stew

You don’t need a million gadgets for this recipe, which is part of why I love it so much! The star, of course, is your slow cooker—you’ll need a big one, maybe 6 quarts or more, to fit everything comfortably. You’ll also need a good, sturdy skillet for browning the chicken and sautéing those onions and garlic.

Make sure you have sharp knives and cutting boards ready for prepping the chicken, carrots, and zucchini before we start building this fantastic Chicken and Zucchini Stew.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Chicken and Zucchini Stew

Okay, this is where the magic starts, but don’t let the steps scare you! Even though we do a little bit of work on the stovetop first, it’s really just to wake up those flavors before the slow cooker takes over. This initial prep ensures we don’t end up with pale, boring chicken!

Browning the Chicken and Sautéing Aromatics

First things first: get your seasonings mixed right onto those floured chicken pieces. Toss them gently so they’re coated but not swimming in flour. Heat up your olive oil in that skillet over medium-high heat. You want the oil shimmering before you drop the chicken in—this is how you get that beautiful, golden-brown crust! Work in batches, please! If you crowd the pan, the chicken steams instead of browns, and we absolutely cannot have that.

Once the chicken is nicely browned on all sides, scoop it out and move it right into the bottom of your slow cooker insert. Don’t clean that skillet yet! Drop in a couple of tablespoons of cold butter, let it melt, and then toss in your diced onions and minced garlic. Sauté them until they smell incredible and start to soften up—maybe five minutes. That’s flavor building 101!

Loading the Slow Cooker for Chicken and Zucchini Stew

Now we put it all together! Add the sautéed onion and garlic mixture on top of the chicken in the slow cooker. Next, pour in your chicken broth and stir in that tomato paste until it dissolves a bit. Toss in your chopped carrots, the diced zucchini, those lovely bay leaves, and the sprig of rosemary.

Give everything a good stir just to make sure the broth is getting around the chicken and veggies. This is the point where your Chicken and Zucchini Stew looks like a beautiful, colorful mess waiting for a long nap. Seal that lid on tight!

Slow Cooking Time and Final Additions

Set your slow cooker to LOW. I know it’s tempting to crank it up to high, but trust me, seven to eight hours on LOW is the secret to that fall-apart chicken texture without turning the zucchini to complete mush. Resist the urge to peek too often! For more information on slow cooking safety, check out this FDA guide on slow cooker safety.

When that timer is almost done—about 15 minutes before serving—toss in your cup of frozen peas. They just need a quick warm-up. Once the cooking time is up, you must fish out and discard those bay leaves and the woody rosemary sprig. They’ve done their job!

Thickening the Chicken and Zucchini Stew (Optional Step)

If you like your stew a little thicker, here’s the easy trick. In a tiny bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and the cold water until it’s totally smooth—that’s your slurry. Stir that slurry right into the hot stew during those last 15 minutes, along with the peas. It’ll start thickening up fast! For a velvety finish, swirl in the last bit of cold butter right at the end until it melts away. That makes the broth shine!

Tips for Achieving the Best Chicken and Zucchini Stew

Look, the slow cooker is amazing, but it does have one weak spot: zucchini! If you throw the zucchini in on hour one, you’ll end up with green soup, and nobody wants that. My biggest tip for this Chicken and Zucchini Stew is timing the zucchini perfectly. It goes in with the carrots, but because it’s so tender, it really doesn’t need more than three hours on low to get soft but still hold its shape.

Also, don’t underestimate the initial seasoning! Since everything cooks for so long, you need to season the chicken well *before* it hits the pot. Taste your broth right before you serve too—sometimes it needs a final pinch of salt or a fresh grind of pepper. And please, use chicken thighs! They have more fat and connective tissue, which breaks down beautifully over hours, guaranteeing that tender chicken you’re dreaming of.

Serving Suggestions for Your Chicken and Zucchini Stew

This stew is so hearty all on its own, but it really sings when paired with something great for soaking up that rich broth. You absolutely must serve your Chicken and Zucchini Stew with thick slices of crusty French bread—the kind that really shatters when you bite into it!

If you want something lighter on the side, a simple green salad dressed with a sharp vinaigrette is perfect. The acidity cuts through the richness of the chicken and butter perfectly. It’s a complete meal that feels cozy without weighing you down!

Storing and Reheating Leftover Chicken and Zucchini Stew

The best part about any slow cooker meal? The leftovers! This Chicken and Zucchini Stew tastes even better the next day once all those flavors have had a chance to mingle overnight in the fridge. Don’t just dump it in any old container, though; proper storage keeps the texture perfect.

Make sure the stew has cooled down a bit before sealing it up tightly. I prefer glass containers because they reheat more evenly, which is important for keeping that tender chicken from getting dry. If you know you won’t finish it within three days, definitely wrap it up well and pop it in the freezer!

Storage and Reheating Table

Storage Method	Duration	Reheating Tip
Refrigerator	Up to 3-4 days	Stovetop: Gentle simmer until hot. Microwave: Cover loosely and heat in 1-minute bursts, stirring often.
Freezer	Up to 3 months	Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat gently on the stovetop to maintain broth consistency.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chicken and Zucchini Stew

I get so many questions about swapping ingredients because everyone’s pantry looks a little different! Don’t stress if you’re missing one thing or have an allergy; we can usually work around it. Here are the most common things people ask when making my favorite version of this Chicken and Zucchini Stew.

Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs in this Chicken and Zucchini Stew?

You absolutely can use chicken breasts, but you have to be much more careful! Chicken breasts are leaner, so they dry out easily during long cooking times. If you use them, I highly recommend cutting them into slightly larger cubes than you would the thighs. Also, try reducing the low cook time by about an hour, or consider adding the chicken breasts in the last 4 hours instead of letting them cook the full 7 to 8 hours. They’ll still be tender, just not *quite* as melt-in-your-mouth as the thighs.

How can I make this Chicken and Zucchini Stew dairy-free?

This is an easy fix! The recipe uses butter twice—once for sautéing the aromatics and once for that final swirl if you thicken it. You can substitute the butter with a good quality olive oil or a plant-based butter substitute in both instances. Just make sure the substitute melts nicely if you are doing the optional swirl at the end. Everything else is naturally dairy-free!

Nutritional Estimates for This Recipe

I always like to give a little heads-up on the nutrition, but remember these numbers are just estimates based on the ingredients I listed, especially if you skip the optional thickener! Every brand and every cut of chicken is a little different, so take these figures as a helpful guide for your Chicken and Zucchini Stew servings.

Nutrient	Amount Per Serving
Calories	350
Protein	35g
Fat	15g
Carbohydrates	18g
Sodium	450mg

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