Easy Chicken Stewed Louisiana Style (Print View)

Tender chicken in savory tomato Creole sauce with vegetables and aromatic spices.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.5 lbs bone-in, skinless chicken thighs or drumsticks
02 - 1 tsp salt
03 - 1/2 tsp black pepper

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 large onion, diced
05 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
06 - 2 celery stalks, diced
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes

→ Seasonings

09 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
10 - 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
11 - 1 tsp dried thyme
12 - 1 bay leaf
13 - 1 tsp dried oregano

→ Liquids

14 - 2 cups chicken broth
15 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil
16 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
17 - 1 tsp hot sauce

→ To Serve

18 - Cooked white rice
19 - Fresh parsley, chopped

# How to Make:

01 - Season the chicken pieces thoroughly with salt and black pepper on all sides.
02 - Heat the vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add chicken and brown on all sides for 5–7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
03 - In the same pot, add onion, bell pepper, and celery. Sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
04 - Add garlic and cook for another 1 minute, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
05 - Stir in smoked paprika, cayenne, thyme, oregano, and bay leaf. Add the canned tomatoes with juice and Worcestershire sauce.
06 - Return the browned chicken to the pot. Pour in chicken broth and bring to a simmer.
07 - Cover and simmer on low heat for 35–40 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
08 - Check seasoning, adjust salt, pepper, or hot sauce as desired. Remove bay leaf. Serve hot over cooked white rice, garnished with chopped parsley.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The sauce develops this incredible depth that makes you want to sop up every last drop with rice
  • Its one of those rare dishes that tastes like it simmered all day but comes together in under an hour
02 -
  • Browning the chicken properly creates flavor compounds that transform the entire stew
  • Letting the vegetables soften completely prevents raw onion texture in the finished dish
03 -
  • Use boneless chicken if you prefer, but reduce the cooking time by about 10 minutes
  • Taste the sauce before serving, as some brands of hot sauce are saltier than others