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Butternut Squash Chicken Stew Recipe

Butternut Squash Chicken Stew Recipe
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★★★★★

4.9 from 17 reviews

This comforting Butternut Squash Chicken Stew is a hearty and flavorful one-pot meal perfect for any season. Featuring tender chicken breasts, sweet butternut squash, quinoa, and a blend of aromatic spices like oregano, curry powder, and chili flakes, this stew can be made easily in a slow cooker, Instant Pot, or on the stovetop. Finished with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lime juice, it combines wholesome ingredients for a nutritious and satisfying dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1.5 lbs chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, diced (unless making in slow cooker)
  • 1 medium-small butternut squash, peeled and cubed (about 4 cups)
  • 2/3 cup quinoa
  • 14 ounces (1 3/4 cups) diced tomatoes
  • 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 bay leaf

Spices and Herbs

  • 2 teaspoons oregano
  • 2 teaspoons dried parsley (or 1/4 cup fresh parsley to stir in after cooking)
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

To Serve

  • Fresh parsley, chopped (if using dried parsley during cooking)
  • Fresh lime juice, for squeezing over served stew

Instructions

  1. Slow Cooker Prep: Heat olive oil in a small pan and sauté the chopped onion and garlic until lightly browned. You can also do this step in the slow cooker if it has a browning function.
  2. Add Ingredients: Place the chicken breasts at the bottom of the slow cooker. Add all other ingredients including the sautéed onions and garlic, butternut squash, quinoa, diced tomatoes, broth, spices, and bay leaf on top.
  3. Cook: Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours. Note: Using an Instant Pot slow cooker setting, ‘More’ equals high and ‘Normal’ equals low.
  4. Finish: When done, discard the bay leaf. Remove the chicken breasts and shred them with two forks. Return shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir in fresh parsley if using dried parsley earlier.
  5. Serve: Ladle stew into bowls and finish with a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
  6. Instant Pot Saute: Select ‘Saute’ on Instant Pot. Once hot, add olive oil, then add onion, garlic, diced chicken, and spices. Saute until onion softens.
  7. Add Remaining Ingredients: Add butternut squash, quinoa, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, and bay leaf. Stir to combine.
  8. Pressure Cook: Close lid and set valve to ‘Sealing’. Cook on ‘Manual’ high pressure for 5 minutes. Allow natural pressure release for 5 minutes before quick releasing the remaining pressure.
  9. Finish Instant Pot: Stir in fresh parsley and serve with a squeeze of lime juice.
  10. Stovetop Method: Heat a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add olive oil, onion, garlic, diced chicken, and spices. Saute until onion softens.
  11. Add Veggies and Broth: Add butternut squash, diced tomatoes, and chicken broth. Stir and bring to a boil over high heat.
  12. Simmer: Reduce heat to low, cover with lid, and simmer for 15 minutes.
  13. Add Quinoa: After 15 minutes, stir in quinoa. Cover again and simmer for an additional 15 minutes until quinoa is cooked and squash is tender.
  14. Serve: Stir in fresh parsley and serve with lime juice squeezed on top.

Notes

  • You can substitute vegetable broth to make the recipe vegetarian, but omit chicken or replace with plant-based protein.
  • Adjust red chili flakes to your heat preference or omit for a milder stew.
  • Quinoa adds a nice texture and protein; you may substitute with rice but cooking times will vary.
  • Using fresh parsley at the end brightens the flavor but dried parsley works well during cooking.
  • Leftovers keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days and also freeze nicely for up to 3 months.
  • For a thicker stew, reduce the amount of broth slightly or simmer uncovered near the end of cooking.
  • This stew is naturally gluten free and high in protein and fiber.

Nutrition

Keywords: butternut squash stew, chicken stew, quinoa stew, healthy dinner, slow cooker chicken, Instant Pot stew, one pot meal, healthy comfort food

Find it online: https://platedbyemma.com/butternut-squash-chicken-stew-recipe/