Description

This Southern Style Chicken Stew is a comforting and hearty dish featuring tender shredded chicken simmered in a creamy, flavorful broth made from chicken stock, milk, and a touch of butter and flour for thickness. Perfect for family dinners, this stew captures the essence of Southern home cooking and is easy to prepare using simple ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Broth

1 whole chicken (3 pounds), whole, pieces, or just chicken breasts
2 cups chicken stock

Thickening Mixture

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ cup milk
1 tablespoon butter

Additional Ingredients

2 cups whole milk
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper

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Instructions

Cook the Chicken: Place the whole chicken, pieces, or breasts into a large stockpot, covering with enough water to submerge fully. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until the chicken is tender, about 1 hour. Once done, remove the chicken from the pot and reserve 2 cups of the cooking liquid for the stew base.
Prepare the Chicken Meat: Allow the cooked chicken to cool enough to handle safely. Remove and discard the skin, then shred the meat into bite-size pieces. Return the shredded chicken to the reserved cooking liquid and add 2 cups of chicken stock. Bring this mixture back to a gentle simmer.
Make the Thickening Sauce: In a small bowl, combine the flour, ½ cup of milk, and butter until smooth. Slowly spoon this mixture into the simmering chicken broth, stirring continuously to incorporate the roux evenly. Then add the remaining 2 cups of whole milk and stir to create a creamy stew base. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper, adjusting seasoning to taste.
Serve: Ladle the hot chicken stew into bowls and serve immediately. Optionally, add a dash of hot sauce for some heat and accompany with saltine crackers for a classic Southern touch.

Notes

This recipe serves 8 to 10 people, making it ideal for family meals or small gatherings.
To add more flavor, consider simmering the chicken with aromatics like onion, celery, and bay leaves.
If you prefer a thicker stew, increase the amount of flour slightly or reduce the liquid by simmering longer before adding the milk.
For a lighter version, substitute whole milk with 2% or use low-fat chicken stock.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently over low heat.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 280
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 650mg
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Unsaturated Fat: 4g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 12g
Fiber: 0.5g
Protein: 28g
Cholesterol: 95mg