Creamy Chicken Sausage Stew

This creamy chicken sausage stew is a cozy, comforting meal that fills your kitchen with warm spices and invites everyone to the table. It’s designed to be rich and satisfying with tender chicken, smoky sausage, and hearty vegetables all simmered slowly to perfection. Whether you’re craving a weeknight dinner or a dish to share on a chilly day, this stew delivers on flavor and ease without complicated steps.

I first made this dish after searching for a stew that felt indulgent but was still healthy enough for my family. Now it’s a favorite that I pull out whenever we need comfort food that feels special without being complicated.

Ingredients

• Yellow potatoes: roughly chopped for a creamy texture and natural thickening of the stew
• Celery: diced adds freshness and subtle crunch that balances richness
• Carrots: diced bring sweetness and color to the dish
• Yellow onion: diced builds a savory foundation with mild sweetness when cooked
• Garlic cloves: minced provide aromatic depth and punch
• Unsalted butter: melted to sauté veggies gently without overpowering flavors
• Smoked sausage: sliced delivers a smoky, slightly spicy character—choose quality sausage for best results
• Cooking oil: to brown sausage and chicken evenly without sticking
• Boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs: for lean protein that stays tender when slow cooked
• Low sodium chicken broth: as the stew’s flavorful liquid base—choices with low sodium give better control over saltiness
• Cornstarch and water: mixed as a slurry to thicken the stew creating a luscious texture
• Heavy cream: adds rich creaminess and smoothness that ties the ingredients together
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese: contributes sharp, salty umami and creamy depth
• Lawry’s seasoning salt: enhances and balances the savory notes
• Kinder’s Buttery Steakhouse Rub: brings a buttery, savory blend of spices unique to the recipe
• Garlic powder: heightens the garlicky flavor subtly throughout
• Black pepper: freshly ground for warmth and slight heat
• Herbs de Provence: adds fragrant herbal complexity with thyme, lavender, and rosemary
• Dried parsley: as garnish adds brightness and a pop of green
• Salt and pepper: to season the chicken perfectly before browning

Instructions

Add Vegetables And Seasonings:

Place the roughly chopped yellow potatoes, diced celery, carrots, yellow onion, and minced garlic into the slow cooker. Pour the melted unsalted butter evenly over the vegetables. Sprinkle in Lawry’s seasoning salt, Kinder’s Buttery Steakhouse Rub, garlic powder, black pepper, and herbs de Provence. Mix everything thoroughly so the veggies are well coated and infused with the spices.

Brown The Smoked Sausage:

Heat one teaspoon of cooking oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced smoked sausage to the skillet and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes, turning occasionally until the slices are browned and slightly caramelized. This step builds that smoky, rich flavor. Remove the browned sausage from heat and set aside.

Sear The Chicken:

Season the boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs liberally with salt and pepper. Using the same skillet that held the sausage, sear the chicken pieces for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until they develop a golden crust but are not cooked through. This quick sear locks in juices and adds flavor. Remove the chicken and set aside.

Combine Ingredients In Slow Cooker:

Add the browned sausage slices into the vegetable and spice mixture in the slow cooker. Nestle the seared chicken on top of the mixture. Pour the low sodium chicken broth over everything to create the cooking liquid. Cover the slow cooker and set it to cook on high for 4 to 6 hours or on low for 6 to 8 hours. This slow cooking allows flavors to meld and ingredients to become tender.

Shred Chicken And Thicken Stew:

Carefully remove the chicken from the slow cooker once cooking is complete. Shred or chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Use a potato masher within the slow cooker to mash some of the potatoes gently—this adds natural thickness and creaminess to the stew base. Mix together cornstarch and water to make a slurry, stir it into the stew along with the heavy cream and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Stir gently until the cheese melts and the stew thickens to perfect creaminess. Return the shredded chicken to the pot and let it rest on the warm setting for 10 to 15 minutes.

Garnish And Serve:

Before serving, sprinkle dried parsley over the stew for a fresh finish and a touch of color. Ladle into bowls and enjoy hearty, creamy goodness with every bite.

One of my favorite parts of this recipe is how the smoked sausage layers a deeply savory flavor. It reminds me of chilly family evenings when we gathered around the table warming up with bowls of this hearty stew. The slow cooking develops the perfect cozy vibe every time.

Storage Tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy within four days for best freshness. If you want to freeze portions, allow the stew to cool completely before transferring to freezer-safe containers. It thaws best overnight in the fridge and reheats gently on the stove, stirring occasionally to revive its creamy texture.

Ingredient Substitutions

If you do not have smoked sausage, kielbasa or andouille sausage make excellent swaps and keep the smoky dimension intact. For a dairy-free version, substitute coconut cream for heavy cream and leave out the Parmesan or use a nutritional yeast alternative. You can switch potatoes for turnips or parsnips if you want a lower-carb option though the texture will be less creamy.

Serving Suggestions

This stew is hearty enough to serve on its own but also pairs beautifully with crusty bread or a light side salad to balance the richness. A sprinkle of fresh herbs like thyme or additional parsley at the table elevates the presentation. Leftover stew even turns into a tasty gravy-like sauce over mashed potatoes or polenta the next day.

This stew combines ease and rich flavor to create a comforting meal any night of the week.

FAQs about Recipes

→ Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?

Yes, both boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts work well, providing tender, flavorful meat.

→ How do I achieve a creamy texture in the stew?

Mixing heavy cream with parmesan cheese and a cornstarch slurry helps thicken the broth, creating a rich, creamy texture.

→ What type of sausage works best?

Smoked sausage adds a deep, savory flavor and caramelizes nicely when browned before adding to the stew.

→ Can this dish be made in a slow cooker?

Yes, layering vegetables, sausage, and chicken in the slow cooker and simmering for several hours yields tender, melded flavors.

→ How should I season the stew?

A blend of Lawry’s seasoning salt, garlic powder, black pepper, herbs de Provence, and a steakhouse rub adds complexity and warmth.

→ Can I substitute the potatoes with other vegetables?

Potatoes help thicken and add texture, but root vegetables like turnips or parsnips can be used as alternatives.