Slow-Cooker Chicken Stew With Spinach, Lemon and Feta

By Sarah DiGregorio

Published Dec. 7, 2022

Slow-Cooker Chicken Stew With Spinach, Lemon and Feta
Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Brett Regot.
Total Time
4¼ hours
Rating
4(1,236)
Comments
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This meal-in-a-bowl is inspired by Greek-style vegetable dishes like lemony potatoes or garlicky spinach. Here, potatoes and chicken thighs slow cook in a punchy mix of lemon, garlic and herbs; add the spinach at the very end so that it retains its freshness. Russets can be substituted for Yukon golds, but their texture will be more grainy and less creamy. A bunch of mature spinach or frozen spinach works best here because of its mellow flavor, as opposed to baby spinach, which is more tannic. Add the amount of dill that sounds best to you, or if you don’t like it, swap in a few tablespoons of fresh parsley or mint.

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Ingredients

Yield:5 to 6 servings
  • 1½pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 1½pounds Yukon gold potatoes (about 3 medium), scrubbed, halved lengthwise and sliced into 1-inch wedges
  • 8large garlic cloves, smashed and finely chopped 
  • 1shallot, finely chopped
  • 3cups chicken broth 
  • 2tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 
  • 1heaping tablespoon roughly chopped fresh rosemary (leaves of about 1 large sprig) or 1½ teaspoons dried rosemary
  • 1½teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1½teaspoons coarse kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • ½teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¾teaspoon red-pepper flakes 
  • Black pepper
  • Juice of 1 large lemon (about ¼ cup juice)
  • 1(8-ounce) bunch mature spinach, stems included, chopped, or 1½ cups frozen spinach
  • ¼ to ⅓cup lightly packed roughly chopped dill 
  • Crumbled feta and crushed pita chips, for topping
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

344 calories; 11 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 6 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 32 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 4 grams sugars; 30 grams protein; 791 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker, combine the chicken, potatoes, garlic, shallot, broth, olive oil, rosemary, oregano, salt, garlic powder, red-pepper flakes and several generous grinds of black pepper. Add about half the lemon juice. Cover and cook on low until the chicken and potatoes are tender, about 4 hours.

  2. Step 2

    About 10 minutes before serving, with the slow cooker still on low, add the spinach and dill. Before serving, taste and add some or all of the remaining lemon juice, as well as more salt and pepper, if desired. Break the chicken thighs up into chunks by pressing the meat against the side of the slow cooker with a spatula or spoon. Serve in bowls topped with feta and crushed pita chips.

Ratings

4 out of 5
1,236 user ratings
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Comments

Fresh tasting but too much garlic

Made this for dinner tonight. Took longer than 4 hours in the crock pot and turned out really garlicky. Probably wouldn’t make again.

tramy

This was easy to make- put in crockpot and let it go. I did use half the amount of garlic b/c 8 cloves seemed excessive. I used kale instead of spinach which I sliced/chopped in thin strips. It was good the first night and I am sure it will be better after it has set for a day. It wasn’t over the top delicious, just homey and comforting. I will make this again, but next time I will likely quickly brown the thighs for a bit of extra flavor

kellykerstin

With a couple changes, this was really good! Added lemon zest at the start; used garlic olive oil instead of garlic powder. Also, browned the chicken (season with S&P first) in a cast iron, put it in the pot, then added the garlic (halved the number of cloves) and shallot to the cast iron to soften and deglazed the pan with dry vermouth to get the brown bits. Then dumped it all in the pot and cooked for 6 hours. Served with feta.

Cg

My potatoes weren't completely cooked in 4 hrs. ??

Beth

Top tier crock pot dish! The lemon and crushed red pepper kick this up. Very satisfying even without the crunchies added at the end. The feta is great. Feels wholesome and yet also so tasty.

Slam

Smelled great, flavour was underwhelming as is. Disappointing.

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