Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Stew (w/ Vegetables)
This hearty slow cooker Tuscan chicken stew is the kind of comforting one-pot meal you’ll keep coming back to! Made with juicy chicken breasts, tomato paste, a splash of balsamic, and a mix of hearty veggies, it cooks low & slow until everything is tender and flavorful.

5 star review
“This is the very first homemade tomato soup I have made that my kids did NOT say they like “campbells soup” better! A win!!! FINALLY’!! And so so healthy! Just started whole 30, and happy to have a recipe we can ALL eat and LOVE! Yay!”
– Jill
This Slow Cooker Chicken Stew with Vegetables is Like a Warm Hug in a Bowl
If your weeknights are calling for something warm, nourishing, and hands-off, this one’s got your back. This slow cooker chicken stew is cozy in a bowl – with tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and a rich tomato broth that simmers itself to perfection, without spending hours babysitting it on the stove. Plus fire-roasted tomatoes and a splash of balsamic vinegar bring a little depth and sweetness to the mix. The best part? It’s a true “add it all and walk away” kind of recipe, like many of my reader-favorite slow cooker recipes, including my slow cooker chicken and chickpea stew. It’s perfect for busy days, cozy nights, and anyone who wants dinner to be done without having to think about it.
Now, I tested this recipe multiple times to get it as simple & easy as possible, without compromising on the classic Tuscan flavors. There’s no browning or sautéing, no extra pots or pans, and everything goes into the crockpot in one go. And I kept the ingredients super accessible (you likely have most on hand already). Whether you’re using chicken breasts or thighs, the meat turns fall-apart tender, and a quick stir-in of a cornstarch or arrowroot slurry at the end gives this chicken vegetable stew that comforting, elevated finish without adding extra work.

Tips for Success
- Veg It Up: If you want to boost the veggie power, throw in some dark, leafy greens at the end of cook time like baby spinach, kale, or chard.
- More Flavor: Use fire-roasted tomatoes for added flavor depth (but regular diced tomatoes work too!).
- Make Ahead: This stew thickens more as it cools, so leftovers are even better the next day.

Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Stew (w/ Vegetables)
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
- 1 cup carrots, chopped
- 1 cup celery, chopped
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 1 cup yellow or red waxy potato, chopped
- 1 (15 ounce) can of diced fire-roasted tomato
- 1 (6 ounce) can of tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 32- ounces chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Just Before Serving:
- 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Equipment
Instructions
- Add the chicken, carrots, celery, onion, potato, tomato, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, granulated garlic, stock, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and salt to a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on high until the chicken and veggies are cooked through, about 4 hours on high, or 6 hours on low (times vary depending on slow cooker).
- Carefully ladle out 1/4 cup broth into a small bowl and whisk with the arrowroot powder, and 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar until smooth. Pour the mixture back into the slow cooker, stirring to combine. Cover and cook on high for an additional 5 minutes, until the stew begins to thicken.
- Remove the chicken and shred or dice. Add back to the slow cooker, stir, and taste, adding additional salt if desired. Serve warm with a generous drizzle of olive oil and freshly ground pepper, if desired.
Notes
- Dice the veggies into even pieces so they cook at the same rate.
- Don’t skip the final balsamic vinegar + arrowroot powder or cornstarch to thicken the soup – it really brings the whole dish together!
- If you’re using chicken thighs, trim any large pieces of fat before adding them to your slow cooker.
This stew is so delicious!! I didn’t have enough chicken so I did half chicken and half chicken sausage. I also added quite a bit of spinach at the end of cooking. This will definitely be on rotation all winter at our house!
Lori, love that you made this one your own. Great to hear you and your crew will continue to enjoy!
I almost skipped the last step because it tasted so good already but I’m so glad I went ahead and add the mixture at the end. So delicious!
Oh good, glad you god that last step in. Happy you enjoyed this one! 🙂
This is so delicious! The balsamic at the end is perfection!
Yay, so glad you enjoyed this one Shaylea! Thanks so much for leaving a review. 🙂
Any ideas how you would adjust the directions for using frozen chicken in an instapot? Thanks in advance!
Melissa, I haven’t experimented much with frozen chicken yet, but I think you just need to add about 5-10 minutes to the total cooking time. Just make sure the chicken is in a single layer and not frozen to each other for best results.
What about if you use frozen chicken in the slow cooker? Do you think that would work?
Lindsey, for safety reasons, frozen chicken isn’t recommended for the slow cooker, so I’d defrost the chicken first!
One of my favorites! Simple & delicious.
Heather, yay, so glad you’re enjoying this one!
Made this tonight and it was delicious! Lots of flavor! Family approved, too. My veggies were slightly undercooked at 4 hrs on high so I’ll cook a little longer next time.
Stephanie, so glad you enjoyed and thanks for the note on cook time. Every slow cooker is slightly different when it comes to heat, so good to know this one took a bit of extra time on yours!
I so appreciate how easy you make it to print your recipes! Thanks for being so reader-friendly! I hope to make this chicken wing recipe for my kids /grandkids during some of our fall get gatherings. Love your site and all the great recipes. a
i’m doing whole 30 and added some more potatoes to make it heartier. this was a fantastic recipe and super clean and easy!! thank you!
Great idea to add more potatoes! So glad you enjoyed this one. Thanks so much for leaving a review!
It smells delicious in the house! Can’t wait to taste it!
Can we freeze it and save it for later?
Thanks!
Alyssa, absolutely, this recipe freezes beautifully!
LOVED this. I only had rotisserie chicken so I used that and just added it towards the end. Came out delicious. I will definitely be making this again.
Courtney, yay, so happy to hear you enjoyed this one. Love that you added rotisserie chicken at the and – such a great tip that I’m sure will help others as well. Thanks so much for leaving a review!
Made in the crock pot on the high setting and it came out SO GOOD!!!
Bella, yay, so glad you enjoyed this one. Thanks so much for leaving a review!
Hi! Looks delicious! Trying it for dinner tomorrow! What is the nutrition information for this recipe? Thank you!!
Hi Sarah, nutrition estimates have been added. I hope you enjoy!
Hi! How much olive oil are you putting? I didn’t see the amount. Thank you. Love all your recipes!
Hi Jessica, since the olive oil is just for drizzling on top at the end for extra flavor the amount is really up to you. I like about a teaspoon or two, or one “swirl” around the bowl from an olive oil decanter. I hope you enjoy!