Oh boy! We’re getting to the time of year when, at long last, the days are bathed in crisp autumnal sunlight and brisk, seasonal temperatures. It’s perfect weather for getting out your slow cooker and digging into some comfort food.
A hearty stew is the first thing that comes to mind. Once assembled, stews need very little attention and are perfect for a fall dinner since they’re very forgiving of being left to simmer should you have to run pick up the kids from whatever they’re doing, school, extracurricular activities — the usual late-afternoon chores on many schedules. Or you may just want to sit back and binge a series on your favorite streaming channel or get a start on your Christmas shopping. It’s never too early to add to your gift closet. Mine is almost full.
For most of us, “hearty stew” conjures images of red meat and rich gravy, but it doesn’t have to be. This handsome chicken stew has all the flavor and heartwarming body of those hefty meat stews without being heavy on fat. It’s really quite easy to put together, although there’s an extra step in browning the chicken before it goes into the cooker. Though it adds a few extra minutes and one extra pan to clean, browning the chicken enriches the stew with so much more flavor that the extra bit of work is well worth it.
The popular boned and skinned breasts and thighs never have as much flavor as a whole chicken, but this stew gets the most from them, is less messy to eat and, if you’re worrying about such things, is lower in fat and cholesterol than traditional beef stew.