This hearty Dump and Start Instant Pot Chicken Stew recipe is full of pantry staples and super quick to make thanks to the InstantPot.
Plus it’s suitable for gluten free diets and Weight Watchers friendly.
Folks, there’s nothing quite like a delicious and hearty chicken stew to fill you up. The ultimate comfort food, dump and start Instant Pot chicken stew is an easy, inexpensive meal that’s sure to satisfy on those chilly winter nights.
I am sharing this Irish chicken stew recipe just in time for your upcoming St. Patrick’s Day celebration, or anytime you want to serve up a satisfying and filling chicken stew quickly and without a lot of prep. As delicious as this Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie.
I’m a huge fan of dump and start meals, and this one is sure to become one of your all-time faves. All you need are some everyday pantry and refrigerator staples, your trusty Instant Pot, and my secret weapon for maximum flavor (aka caraway seeds), and this pressure cooker chicken stew is ready to serve in just a handful of minutes.
Why Make This Recipe
- Quick and easy – Just dump the ingredients into your Instant Pot, press start and walk away.
- Budget friendly – Made with affordable ingredients, most of which you have already.
- Great flavor – full of simple yet great flavor thanks to the addition of caraway seeds and ground coriander.
- Dietary – suitable gluten free diets.
Ingredients Notes
- Chicken – I used skinless boneless chicken breast but you can use skin-on breasts.
- Veggies – a selection of baby potatoes, carrots, and cabbage make this stew. Cut the vegetables into thicker chunks than you normally would so they retain their shape. This is especially important for the cabbage. You can add in other firm veggies too.
- Chicken stock – feel free to use homemade or store-bought stock and you cab substitute in some veggie stock instead.
- Seasonings – This has a selection of flavorings like onion powder, garlic powder, ground coriander, bay leaves thyme, salt and pepper, and the secret ingredient that makes all the difference caraway seeds. Feel free to omit any you don’t like and add a little more of those you do like.
- That extra flavor – yes smoked bacon, you only need a small amount but it makes a world of difference. Smoked ham should work too.
How To Make Instant Pot Chicken Stew
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
- Add all of the ingredients into the Instant Pot insert, then top with the chicken. Do NOT mix.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot, turn the valve to the sealing position, and set to high pressure, pressure cook/manual cook for 6 minutes.
- When done, allow for a natural pressure release (NPR) of 4-5 minutes, then perform a quick pressure release.
- Open the lid, adjust seasonings as needed, and serve.
Important note: the cooking time listed does not include the time needed for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure or for the pressure to release.
Tips For Success And Variations
- You can add up to another cup of chicken stock for more liquid if needed.
- Cut the chicken breast into larger pieces so that it does not overcook.
- Feel free to use chicken thigh meat instead – it is fattier and has a bit more flavor.
- For those who like a little heat, add some red pepper flakes or chipotle.
- Use different herbs, like fresh rosemary and oregano.
Budget Friendly Tips
This is already a super frugal dish since you only need 2 chicken breasts, but there are a few more ways to make it even more economical:
- Double the veggies – add twice as many veggies and double the rest of the ingredients, excluding the chicken, and you can have it for 2 meals.
- Bulk it out by adding beans for more affordable protein instead of chicken.
- You can make this with leftover chicken instead. Omit the chicken and cook everything else, then at the end add in leftover, precooked chicken.
- Add leftover rice or pasta to make it even more hearty.
Prep Ahead and Storage
- Prep in advance – chop your veggies in advance and keep in the refrigerator.
- Refrigerate – let it cool and store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freeze – yes you can freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months but the vegetables will get mushy.
- Thaw – thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating in the microwave or stovetop.
FAQs
This is good as is, however you can thicken it by adding in a cornstarch slurry and sautéing it after it has cooked. Be careful though as you don’t want to overcook the chicken. It might be worth taking the chicken out while sautéing
Weight Watchers Points
There are 7 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.
Other Easy Instant Pot Chicken Recipes
- Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie.
- Instant Pot Chicken Tortellini Soup.
- Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti.
- Easy Instant Pot Rosemary Chicken Thighs.
Tools Needed.
- Instant Pot.
- A sharp knife.
- Measuring cups and spoons.
- Spatula.
Get The Pressure Cooker Chicken Stew Recipe:
Dump and Start Instant Pot Irish Chicken Stew
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450g) baby potatoes halved or cut into thirds if large
- 2 large carrots scrubbed and roughly cut into chunks
- 1 ½ cups (150g) cabbage cut into large chunks
- 2 cups (473ml) chicken stock
- 4 cooked smoked bacon slices diced
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander optional
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 sprigs thyme
- salt & pepper
- 1 pound (453g) skinless boneless chicken breast diced into ¾ inch cubes
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients into the Instant Pot insert, then top with the diced chicken. Do NOT mix.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot, turn the valve to the sealing position, and set to high pressure, pressure cook/manual cook for 6 minutes.
- When done, allow for a natural pressure release (NPR) of 4-5 minutes, then perform a quick pressure release.
- Open the lid, adjust seasonings as needed, and serve.
Notes
Tips For Success And Variations
- Cut the vegetables into thicker chunks than you normally would so they retain their shape. This is especially important for the cabbage.
- You can add up to another cup of chicken stock for more liquid if needed.
- Cut the chicken breast into larger pieces so that it does not overcook.
- Feel free to use chicken thigh meat instead – it is fattier and has a bit more flavor.
- For those who like a little heat, add some red pepper flakes or chipotle.
- Use different herbs, like fresh rosemary and oregano.
Budget Friendly Tips
This is already a super frugal dish since you only need 2 chicken breasts, but there are a few more ways to make it even more economical:- Double the veggies – add twice as many veggies and double the rest of the ingredients, excluding the chicken, and you can have it for 2 meals.
- Bulk it out by adding beans for more affordable protein instead of chicken.
- You can make this with leftover chicken instead. Omit the chicken and cook everything else, then at the end add in leftover, precooked chicken.
- Add leftover rice or pasta to make it even more hearty.
Dik Liu
That looks yummy! I am new to Instant Pot. If I were to double the amount of chicken, should I double the cooking time from 6 minutes to 12 minutes? Thanks.