Southern Chicken Stew Recipe

Warm, rich, and bursting with flavor, this Southern Chicken Stew has earned its place as a family classic! We’re talking chicken, corn, potatoes, and tomatoes, all slow-simmered in a broth so good you’ll want to mop it up with one of my Southern Cathead Biscuits. It’s simple to prepare, easy to customize, and perfect for feeding a crowd.

Southern chicken stew in a white soup bowl.

A Quick Look At The Recipe

Recipe Name: Southern Chicken Stew
Serves: 4
Main Ingredients: chicken, onions, water, canned tomatoes, potatoes, sugar, frozen or canned whole kernel corn, butter
Why You'll Love It: Featuring tomatoes, corn, potatoes, and chicken, this flavorful and hearty southern chicken stew recipe is a firm family favorite.

How do you make Southern chicken stew?

Cook a whole chicken in 7 cups of water, then shred the meat and skim the broth. Simmer 6 diced potatoes in a cup of the broth until tender and mash them slightly. Add corn, chopped onions, 4 cups canned tomatoes, sugar, salt and pepper to the broth and simmer 20 minutes, then stir in the potatoes and chicken and simmer uncovered at least 45 minutes. Finish with 2 tablespoons of butter.

The Chicken Stew That’s Been in Our Family for Decades

Originally published in a 1974 issue of Good Housekeeping, this Southern chicken stew recipe has stood the test of time. It’s been a staple for our family meals, gatherings, and cozy nights in for as long as I can remember, and is often served alongside my Deep South Buttermilk Cornbread. You really just can’t beat the hearty mix of tender chicken, potatoes, and a flavorful broth, which makes it both satisfying and versatile.

This stew is so straightforward that once you’ve made it a couple of times, you’ll likely have the recipe memorized. It stores well in the fridge, freezes beautifully, and, much like my Cozy Potato Corn Chowder, can be easily stretched by adding more potatoes. A double batch keeps a warm, homemade meal on hand all week. And did I mention that it’s budget-friendly too? Honestly, the more you learn about this stew, the better it gets!

Ingredients

Bone-in chicken breast (pre-cooked or rotisserie works too)
Onions
Canned tomatoes (or fresh diced tomatoes if that’s what you have!)
Potatoes
Sugar
Frozen or canned corn (whole kernel)
Butter
Salt & pepper

Tips Before You Get Started

For a little kick, try serving your stew with hot sauce on the side. Or, if you like it spicy, just toss in a teaspoon of paprika or a tablespoon of Cajun seasoning before you let it simmer!
Feel free to bulk it up with more veggies! I love throwing in a cup of frozen peas or green beans when I add the corn. You can also add diced carrots, bell pepper, or celery. Whatever you’ve got in the fridge works great.
To make this in a crockpot, cover the chicken and cook on low for 6-8 hours, adding the potatoes and onions a couple of hours in. Once the chicken is tender, pull it out and shred it, remove the potatoes as usual, then add everything back in. Cook on high for a couple more hours until it’s all warmed through.

Overhead close up of Southern chicken stew with a spoon.

How to Make Southern Chicken Stew

1. Cook the Chicken

In a Dutch oven, cover the whole chicken with water and cook it over medium heat until the thickest part of the breast hits 165°F (74°C) on an instant-read thermometer.

Chicken covered with water in a Dutch oven.

Once it’s done, take the chicken out of the broth and let it cool for a bit. Don’t throw out that broth – you’ll need it later!

2. Cook the Potatoes

Peel and dice your potatoes and onions, then toss them into the reserved broth. Cook everything until the potatoes are nice and tender.

Peeled and diced potatoes and onions on a wooden cutting board.

Diced potatoes and onions in a Dutch oven with reserved chicken broth.

3. Shred the Chicken

While the potatoes are cooking, go ahead and pull the chicken meat off the bones and give it a good shred.

Shredded chicken on a wooden cutting board with a dish of corn beside it.

4. Mash the Potatoes

Once the potatoes are very soft, scoop out about a coffee cup’s worth and mash them up with a fork. Stir the mashed potatoes back into the Dutch oven, then add in your shredded chicken.

Note: We’re only mashing a portion of the potatoes here, not all of them. The mashed potatoes help thicken the stew, while the remaining whole potatoes add a hearty texture. It’s the best of both worlds!

A fork mashing potato in a small white dish.

Adding mashed potatoes to pot of broth and diced onions.

5. Add Ingredients & Simmer

Next, add your can of tomatoes, then add in the corn.

Season with salt and pepper, then stir in the sugar.

Pouring sugar in a pot of corn, tomatoes, onions, and shredded chicken.

Let everything simmer slowly with the lid off for about 45 minutes.

6. Add Butter & Serve

Just before serving, stir in the butter. Adding butter just before serving makes for a creamy, velvety texture.

Time to serve up this hearty stew! We love soaking it up with our 2-Ingredient Easy Homemade Biscuits. Enjoy!

Southern chicken stew in a pot with a spoon scooping out.

Storage

This Southern chicken stew recipe refrigerates and freezes really well. You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat in the microwave.

Southern chicken stew in a deep white bowl with a spoon scooping some out.

Southern Chicken Stew FAQs

Can I use boneless, skinless chicken breast?

You sure can! I would just recommend adding in some chicken bouillon cubes to your water to make sure your chicken broth is rich enough.

What makes chicken stew taste better?

The secret to better chicken stew is all about layering flavors! While this recipe doesn’t call for it, one way to boost the flavor is by searing your chicken thighs in the Dutch oven first to get a beautiful golden crust, then deglaze the pot to pick up all those tasty browned bits from the bottom. Then you’d add your broth and cook your onions and potatoes from there.

What else can I serve with this Southern chicken stew?

Saltine crackers, some buttery cornbread, or homemade drop biscuits are some of my top choices! Honestly, nothing beats dunking a warm, buttery biscuit into a hearty bowl of stew. If you’re looking for something a little lighter on the side, I’d also recommend throwing together an easy Greek salad.

Our Family’s Southern Chicken Stew