This slow cooker 3-ingredient poor man chicken stew is the kind of meal my Midwestern grandma would stretch to feed eight hungry people on a shoestring budget. It leans on simple, inexpensive staples—bone-in chicken, potatoes, and carrots—but time and technique turn them into a surprisingly rich, golden broth.
Slow cooker chicken stew in a rustic bowl
Slow cooker chicken stew in a rustic bowl
Long, gentle cooking coaxes collagen and flavor from the chicken bones, so even without fancy ingredients, you end up with a deeply comforting stew that tastes like it simmered on the back of the stove all day. It’s practical, forgiving, and the sort of recipe you can throw together in the morning and come home to a full slow cooker of hearty, steaming dinner.
Serve this stew ladled into wide bowls with plenty of the broth, making sure everyone gets a mix of chicken, potatoes, and carrots. A basket of sliced crusty bread, cornbread, or even plain white sandwich bread is perfect for soaking up the rich juices. A simple green salad with a sharp vinaigrette or a side of tangy pickles helps cut through the richness and keeps the meal balanced. If you want to stretch it further, spoon the stew over cooked white rice, egg noodles, or leftover mashed potatoes to make it even more filling.
Slow Cooker Poor Man Chicken Stew
Servings: 6
Ingredients
3–3.5 lb bone-in chicken pieces (legs, thighs, or a cut-up whole chicken, skin on or off)
2 lb russet or yellow potatoes, peeled and cut into 1.5-inch chunks
1 lb carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
1 1/2–2 teaspoons salt, or to taste (optional but recommended)
1/2–1 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste (optional)
4–6 cups water, enough to just cover the chicken and vegetables (not counted as an ingredient, but essential for broth)
Directions
Prep the vegetables: Peel the potatoes and cut them into large, even chunks about 1.5 inches wide so they hold up during the long cook. Peel the carrots and slice them into 1/2-inch rounds. Keeping the pieces uniform helps everything cook at the same rate.
