Wild Garlic Chicken Stew with Cheesy Dumplings

 This Wild Garlic Chicken Stew with Cheesy Dumplings is packed full of veg & uses delicious and seasonal wild garlic pesto. Wholesome, tasty, full of flavour!

This hearty chicken stew with most delicious cheesy dumplings is no diet food! It is, however, super wholesome and packed full of veg and with lovely wild garlic pesto giving it that fresh, spring flavour. This stew is worth every single calorie , I promise you that!

This recipe is relatively quick as stews go due to the use of chicken thighs and also uses one pot only which is a bonus. You will need to make your food processor or a bowl dirty in order to make dumplings but that's it.

Wild Garlic Season!

If you've been following my blog you know that I have been a little bit besotted with wild garlic and have been enjoying it in many different recipes. You might want to check them out:

Wild Garlic Hummus

Wild Garlic & Walnut Pesto

Roast Chicken with Wild Garlic Pesto & Shallots 

Wild Garlic Pesto Baked Salmon with Gnocchi

Wild Garlic Soup

Vegan Cheese Scones (with Wild Garlic)

What if I don't have wild garlic pesto? Can I still make this chicken stew?

This Wild Garlic Chicken Stew with Cheesy Dumplings uses my wild garlic and walnut pesto but feel free to use any pesto that you've got available as I am aware that wild garlic might be a bit difficult to come by. However, I would definitely stick to green type of pesto as opposed to red (roasted pepper) one as it's got more of a Spring/Summer feel to it. When taking my step-by-step photos to update this recipe I have used regular basil pesto.

Wild Garlic Chicken Stew with Cheesy Dumplings - Serving Suggestions!

As it's a one pot dish packed full of veg, this lovely stew doesn't really need anything to go with it but serving it with a side of seasonal veggies like purple sprouting broccoli or season's first asparagus will not go amiss. Any green veg, in fact, will work here beautifully, including the leafy ones like spinach or kale!

Do I need to make dumplings?

Of course you don't! You can make this lovely chicken stew without them and save yourself on some calories but I would encourage you to try the dumplings as they really are super delicious and make this simple chicken stew a proper comfort food dish!

Storing, freezing and other tips when making Wild Garlic Chicken Stew with Cheesy Dumplings

You can make your dumplings in advance and pop them either on a large plate or in a container sprinkled with some flour. Make sure you cover them well to prevent them from drying and pop in the fridge until you are ready to use them. I would suggest to take them out of the fridge approx. 30 minutes before they go in your stew so they have a chance to come to room temperature and cook nice and even.

This stew reheats really well if you have any leftovers. Once cooled, simply pop your leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or on the hob/stovetop.

This chicken stew can be frozen in freezer safe container for up to 6 months. If you'd like to freeze it I would recommend to do it without dumplings and prepare fresh ones once you've defrosted your stew as frozen dumplings lose their lovely fluffy texture. Defrost your stew in the fridge overnight and reheat on the hob/stovetop with freshly made dumplings as per recipe below.

You might want to consider making your own chicken stock to use here. It really couldn't be easier and you can have a nice stash in your freezer to take out and use whenever you need. Check out my guide on How To Make Chicken Stock in Instant Pot (with instructions for hob/stovetop users too)!

How to make Wild Garlic Chicken Stew with Cheesy Dumplings - Step-By-Step

• Heat a glug of oil in a heavy duty casserole dish with the lid and sautée chicken thighs seasoned with some salt and pepper for approx. 5 min until they start to brown. Take them out of the dish with slotted spoon and set aside.

• Melt butter in the same dish and sautée prepared onions and leeks until they start to soften approx. 5 min. Add remaining vegetables and bay leaf and sautée for another 5 min.

• Sprinkle over the flour, pour in stock and give it all a good stir. Add chicken pieces making sure they are immersed in the liquid, bring everything to boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 min. whilst you prepare your dumplings.

• For dumplings mix flour and butter in the food processor or by hand until they resemble breadcrumbs.

• Mix in grated cheese and season with some salt and pepper.

• Slowly pour in icy cold water and keep mixing your dough only until it comes together (you don't want to overmix it).

• Divide the dough into 12 equal size balls and set aside until needed.

• After 15 minutes of simmering, add pesto and frozen peas to your casserole and mix well.

• Place dumplings on top, cover tightly with a lid and simmer for approx. 20-25 min until cooked.

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5 from 8 votes

Wild Garlic Chicken Stew with Cheesy Dumplings

This Wild Garlic Chicken Stew with Cheesy Dumplings is packed full of veg & uses delicious and seasonal wild garlic pesto. Wholesome, tasty, full of flavour!

Course Chicken Dish, Main Course

Cuisine American, British

Keyword chicken casserole, chicken stew, One-pan, Pesto, wild garlic

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Servings 6 people

Calories 829kcal

Author Jo Allison

Ingredients

Metric - US Customary

Chicken Casserole

• 6 skinless & boneless chicken thighs cut into small chunks
• 1 onion finely chopped
• 2 leeks cleaned, halved and thinly sliced
• 2 celery stalks cut into small chunks
• 3 carrots cut into small chunks
• 6 small(ish) potatoes (roughly 400g) cut into small chunks
• 1 bay leaf
• 30 g unsalted butter
• 1 heaped Tbsp plain flour
• 100 g frozen peas
• 600 ml chicken stock from cube is fine
• 1 small jar wild garlic pesto (125 ml / ½ cup) or regular pesto
• fresh parsley for garnish
• salt, pepper, oil

Cheesy Dumplings

• 250 g self-raising flour
• 125 g unsalted butter cold and cubed
• 100 g mature cheddar grated
• 100 ml ice cold water

Instructions

• Prepare all the vegetables as per instructions above.
• Heat a glug of oil in a heavy duty casserole dish with the lid and sautée chicken thighs seasoned with some salt and pepper for approx. 5 min until they start to brown. Take them out of the dish with slotted spoon and set aside.
• Melt butter in the same dish and sautée prepared onions and leeks until they start to soften approx. 5 min. Add remaining vegetables and bay leaf and sautée for another 5 min.
• Sprinkle over the flour, pour in stock and give it all a good stir. Add chicken pieces making sure they are immersed in the liquid, bring everything to boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 min. whilst you prepare your dumplings.
• For dumplings mix flour and butter in the food processor or by hand until they resemble breadcrumbs. Mix in grated cheese and season with some salt and pepper. Slowly pour in icy cold water and keep mixing your dough only until it comes together (you don't want to overmix it). Divide the dough into 12 equal size balls and set aside until needed.
• After 15 minutes of simmering, add pesto and frozen peas to your casserole and mix well. Place dumplings on top, cover tightly with a lid and simmer for approx. 20-25 min until cooked. 
• Serve sprinkled with fresh parsley and roasted asparagus or any other seasonal veg. Enjoy!

Notes

• Nutritional information is approximate and should be treated as a guideline only.
• If you don't have wild garlic pesto you can use any green pesto you've got on hand, store bought one is fine too. 
• Leftovers can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 days. 
• Chicken stew can be frozen without dumplings for up to 6 months. Dumplings are best prepared fresh after defrosting.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Wild Garlic Chicken Stew with Cheesy Dumplings

Amount Per Serving (0 g)

Calories 829 Calories from Fat 369

% Daily Value*

Fat 41g63%

Saturated Fat 19g95%

Cholesterol 185mg62%

Sodium 596mg25%

Potassium 1537mg44%

Carbohydrates 73g24%

Fiber 9g36%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 41g82%

Vitamin A 6975IU140%

Vitamin C 37.9mg46%

Calcium 278mg28%

Iron 9.6mg53%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tried this recipe?Tag me @Joskitchenlarder or use hashtag #joskitchenlarder!

Update Notes: This post was originally published on 22 May 2018 and republished in March 2019 with some step-by-step photo, updated recipe card and some useful info.

Some more comfort food recipes you might enjoy!

One Pot Leftover Ham & Pea Pasta

Family Favourite Easy Fish Pie

Brussels sprouts, Bacon & Chestnuts Macaroni Cheese

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