If you’re looking for a stick-to-your-ribs kind of cozy meal, we have some awesome suggestions for you. Any one of these delicious Warm & Hearty Winter Stews will work. Not just for a chilly winter evening but whenever you may need a comforting hug in a bowl.
Not to get too technical here, but there is a difference between soups and stews.
Stews are heartier and thicker, with larger chunks of meat and vegetables. Most times they’re cooked low and slow, allowing the ingredients to tenderize and the flavors to meld together beautifully.
Soups are characterized by a higher liquid-to-solid ratio, where ingredients are submerged in broth. Soups tend to be ready to enjoy in less time.
Stews are usually served as hearty, one-pot meals whereas soups are often served as lighter meals or starters.
Let’s get started with some delicious chicken samplings…
1. Creamy Chicken Stew
This made-from-scratch, one-pot recipe lets the stove do most of the work: simply simmer everything with white wine and fresh herbs for bold flavor, then thicken with rice flour for a velvety, naturally gluten-free finish. {Stovetop – 1 hour}
2. Chicken, Sausage & Mushroom Stew
In true Jamie Oliver fashion, the combination of flavors & textures on this one is off the charts. Not your typical stew as it’s read to enjoy in well under an hour. {Stovetop – 30 minutes}
3. Crockpot Italian Chicken & Broccoli Rabe Chili
For the chili lovers, this upgraded flavorful bowl is loaded with lean chicken, cannellini beans, tomatoes and broccoli rabe. It all comes together in your slow cooker. {6 hours 40 minutes}
4. Country Chicken Stew
Chicken, thick-cut bacon, navy beans, veggies, and fresh herbs all simmering in one big pot. Allow extra time to presoak the beans. {Stovetop – 1 hour 45 minutes}
For the rest of the meat lovers…
5. Irish Lamb Stew
Flavorful and easy to make with frozen, peeled cipollini onions, baby carrots, and baby potatoes, this recipe requires very little chopping and dicing. {Stovetop + oven – 1 hour 50 minutes}
6. White Bean Cassoulet with Pork & Lentils
A rich slow-cooked casserole originating in the South of France. It all simmers along, on its own, for a good part of the day, with the lentils and beans added in the last hour of cooking. {Slow cooker – 7 hours on high or 9 hours on low}
7. Mulligan Stew
An easy-to-make, protein-packed stew crammed with meat and vegetables in a delicious beef broth. {Stovetop – 1 hour 30 minutes)
8. Slow Cooker Beef & Barley Stew
Hearty meal with tender beef & just-right barley in a flavorful gravy. {Slow cooker + stovetop – 8 hours 25 minutes}
9. Sausage, Kale & White Bean Soup
Herby Italian sausage, kale, smoky paprika, creamy beans and potatoes. The splash of cream makes it feel more like a stew. {Stovetop – 50 minutes}
10. Slow Cooker Beef Stew
A delicious, old fashioned beef stew recipe simmered in the slow cooker with tender meat, carrots, potatoes and celery. {Stovetop + slow cooker – 8 hours 30 minutes}
11. Authentic Homemade Zuppa Toscana
This classic hearty potato soup is more like a stew with the delicious addition of sausage and bacon. Comes together quickly in just one pot. {Stovetop – 1 hour 20 minutes}
Vegetarian stews for feeding a crowd…
12. Creamy Tomato White Bean Stew
This plant-based stew is quick & easy to make. Packed with wholesome ingredients, like high-in-protein white beans, cherry tomatoes, and nutrient-dense greens. {Stovetop – 30 minutes}
13. Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup
This slow cooker minestrone soup is vegan and can be made gluten-free. All ingredients are literally dumped in the bowl of your slow cooker. Get ready for an awesome bowl of deliciousness. {Slow cooker – 6 hours 15 minutes}
14. Gingery Coconut Sweet Potato and Rice Stew
For those who like things a bit spicy, try this delicious creamy stew of sweet potatoes, warming spices & coconut milk served over a bowl of steamy rice. {Stovetop – 45 minutes}
15. Bold & Cozy Ribollita
Rustic bread simmers in an aromatic tomato broth infused with fresh herbs, loads of garlic & a parmesan rind for bold flavor. Lots of heartiness from the addition of white beans & kale. {Stovetop – 60 minutes}
16. Greek-Inspired Cauliflower Stew
Olives, zingy lemon, fresh tomatoes, new potatoes & peas are the crowning glory to a perfectly caramelized head of tender cauliflower. {Oven – 1 hour 25 minutes}
17. North African Chickpea Soup (Leblebi)
Made from pantry staples like canned chickpeas and tomatoes, this stew comes together quickly and is incredibly flavorful thanks to an abundance of spices, herbs & aromatics. {Stovetop – 1 hour 25 minutes}
18. One-Pot White Bean Mushroom Stew
This hearty dairy-free & plant-based stew is made with white beans, mushrooms, and nutrient-dense greens. {Stovetop – 25 minutes}
19. Roasted Root Vegetable Stew
A collection of your favorite root veggies, seasoned & perfectly caramelized, are blended in with a delicious homemade tomato sauce. {Oven + stovetop – 60 minutes}
Winning seafood combos…
20. Mediterranean-Inspired Seafood Stew
This delicious stew recipe highlights a light, flavorful tomato-fennel broth with fresh fish and seafood. Highly recommend the optional chorizo. {Stovetop – 35 minutes}
21. Blushing Seafood Chowder
A delicious medley of shrimp, scallops & haddock. The rosy tint and flavor hit from Spanish chorizo is totally appetizing. {Stovetop – 50 minutes}
22, Spanish Seafood Stew with Saffron Rice
Hearty stew with chorizo, chickpeas & saffron rice. The bold flavors and ease of preparation make this a sure crowd-pleaser. {Stovetop + oven – 60 minutes}
23. Brazilian Fish Stew
This unique fish stew, also known as Moqueca, is packed with flavor thanks to the coconut milk, lime and jalapeño. {Stovetop – 35 minutes}
24. Seafood Stew with Fennel & Tomatoes
Delicious combination of shrimp, fennel and tomatoes. All served up in a light flavorful broth. {Stovetop + 1 hour 15 minutes}
25. Simple Bouillabaisse
Luxurious French seafood stew, brimming with a variety of fresh seafood simmered in a rustic tomato stew with aromatic saffron, savory fennel and herbs, {Stovetop – 45 minutes}
