Slow Cooker Chicken Butternut Squash Stew Recipe
Are you looking to fight off a nagging cold or soothe the ache of winter’s frigid cold temperatures? Then this Slow Cooker Chicken Butternut Squash Stew Recipe is what you need!
High in protein, low in calories, and ridiculously high in vital nutrients, this Slow Cooker Chicken Butternut Squash Stew Recipe is practically effortless to make.
All it really requires is chopping up the vegetables and dumping all the ingredients into the slow cooker.
Then, let the slow cooker do all the cooking and enjoy the soothing warmth of this delightful dish when it’s ready!
Garnish with freshly sliced avocado for a healthy fat inclusion or even freshly chopped cilantro for an herby twist.
Reap the benefits of butternut squash in this easy-to-make slow cooker recipe!
Benefits Of Butternut Squash
Fights Off Cancer
Butternut squash is high in antioxidants, boasting 457% of the recommended daily intake for Vitamin A and 52% for Vitamin C.
Vitamin A has antioxidant properties essential for cell growth and division, among many other benefits.
Vitamin C has a wide range of functions in the body as well, from immune system function to the repair of body tissue.
These antioxidants are notoriously researched for their magnanimous qualities in fighting off cancer-causing cells.
Vitamin C is able to reduce the risk of specific cancers, like lung cancer, with regular consumption.
Protects The Skin
The ultimate vitamin, Vitamin C has been proven to reduce wrinkles and dryness in the skin.
It improves the skin’s protective barrier, fighting off wrinkle formation, age spots, and acne.
Improves Heart Health
Due to their rich nutritional content, vegetables and fruits are significant factors in improving heart health and lowering the risk of heart disease.
Produce, as in vegetables and fruits, are high in carotenoids that lower blood pressure in the body.
They also work to reduce inflammation and affect genes that would otherwise genetically express the probability of heart disease.
Prevents Mental Decline
Carotenoid-rich and antioxidant-rich foods, like butternut squash, have been proven to enhance visual attention, improve mental recall, and prevent mental decline.
High intakes of Vitamin E, which butternut squash boasts 13% of the daily recommended intake in one serving, have been shown to protect the brain against Alzheimer’s disease.
Improves Eyesight
Packed with Vitamin A, butternut squash can help to improve eyesight.
This vital vegetable also boasts the content of lutein and zeaxanthin, which are both antioxidants that aid in protecting and maintaining healthy vision.
Encourage Strong Bones
Butternut squash contains over 17% of the daily recommended intake of manganese.
This nutrient is needed for calcium absorption to maintain a healthy bone structure.
The high content of Vitamin C that butternut squash contains is also important for collagen production.
Collagen aids in building bone mass, while other nutrients like zinc, iron, and folate that are found in butternut squash, are necessary for preventing osteoporosis.
Improves Immune Function
Vitamin C is notorious for being the ultimate sickness fighter.
Consuming this vitamin, which is high in content in butternut squash, protects against pneumonia, lung infection, immune system deficiencies, and cardiovascular disease.
What You Will Need To Make This Slow Cooker Chicken Butternut Squash Stew Recipe
Our Slow Cooker Chicken Butternut Squash Stew Recipe is an easy and practically effortless option for sick or cold days.
The soothing warm each bite of this high-protein low-calorie stew boasts bountiful nutritional benefits for an effective and smooth-running immune system.
This recipe combines iron-packed spinach, high-protein chicken, and Fall-flavored butternut squash into one warming dish – it’s time to get cooking!
Ingredients:
- 1 Pound Chicken Breasts (Boneless)
- 3 ½ Cup Chicken Broth
- 3 Cups Butternut Squash (Cubed)
- 1 Cup Carrot (Chopped)
- 1 Medium Onion (Chopped)
- 2 Teaspoon Fresh Rosemary
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 4 Cups Fresh Spinach
- Salt (To Taste)
- Pepper (To Taste)
Equipment:
- Measuring Utensils
- Measuring Cup
- Cutting Board
- Chef’s Knife
- Slow Cooker
- Mixing Spoon
- Meat Thermometer
Step By Step Instructions To Make This Slow Cooker Chicken Butternut Squash Stew Recipe
Step 1: Prepare The Vegetables
Place the cutting board on a flat surface. Using the Chef’s knife, peel and cube the butternut squash. Set aside.
Next, peel and chop the onion. Set aside. Lastly, chop the carrot.
Step 2: Combine All The Ingredients In The Slow Cooker
In the slow cooker, add all the ingredients. This includes the chicken, chicken broth, butternut squash, onion, carrots, fresh rosemary, garlic powder, fresh spinach, salt, and pepper.
Stir to combine the ingredients together.
Step 3: Set Up the Slow Cooker
Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 hours until the chicken and vegetables are properly cooked through and ready to be eaten.
Step 4: Remove The Chicken
Once the time is up on the cooking time, remove the chicken. Use a meat thermometer to verify that the chicken is safe to eat. The chicken should have a temperature of at least 160℉.
This is up to personal preference, but before adding the chicken back into the slow cooker either shred the chicken with two forks or dice it using a knife and a cutting board.
Step 5: Serve And Enjoy!
Serve this Slow Cooker Chicken Butternut Squash Stew hot or warm. Enjoy!
Tips And Tricks
To save time prepping ingredients, buy pre-cut butternut squash rather than cutting it up yourself. Butternut squash is notoriously difficult to cut and chop.
For an extra nutritional boost, add quinoa and kale to this slow cooker recipe. The quinoa provides additional protein and the kale packs nutrients like copper and manganese.
A great garnishing option is sliced avocado which provides a healthy fat option!
Servings And Preparation Time
| Preparation Time | Cook Time | Servings |
| 10-15 Minutes | 4-6 Hours | 4-5 |
Conclusion
Did you enjoy this recipe? Make sure to leave a comment below to tell us what you think or if you have any questions.
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FAQs
How to make spaghetti squash chicken parmesan?
Follow a recipe for spaghetti squash chicken parmesan, which requires cooking the spaghetti squash and using a fork to culture the spaghetti squash noodles.
What kind of chicken goes with butternut squash?
In this recipe, we use chicken breasts, but boneless chicken thighs can work well, too!
What vegetable goes with butternut squash and chicken?
Leafy greens like spinach and kale go well with butternut squash and chicken, boasting bountiful nutrients. Others include potatoes, onion, carrots, and even bell peppers!
How to make squash casserole with cream of chicken?
Simply follow a recipe that includes cream of chicken for a squash casserole.
How to cook spaghetti squash with chicken in a crockpot?
Follow our recipe to find out!
Slow Cooker Chicken Butternut Squash Stew Recipe
Equipment
- Measuring Utensils
- Measuring Cup
- Cutting Board
- Chef’s Knife
- Slow Cooker
- Mixing Spoon
- Meat Thermometer
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Chicken Breasts Boneless
- 3 ½ Cup Chicken Broth
- 3 Cups Butternut Squash Cubed
- 1 Cup Carrot Chopped
- 1 Medium Onion Chopped
- 2 Teaspoon Fresh Rosemary
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 4 Cups Fresh Spinach
- Salt To Taste
- Pepper To Taste
Instructions
- Place the cutting board on a flat surface. Using the Chef’s knife, peel and cube the butternut squash. Set aside. Next, peel and chop the onion. Set aside. Lastly, chop the carrot.
- In the slow cooker, add all the ingredients. This includes the chicken, chicken broth, butternut squash, onion, carrots, fresh rosemary, garlic powder, fresh spinach, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine the ingredients together.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 hours until the chicken and vegetables are properly cooked through and ready to be eaten.
- Once the time is up on the cooking time, remove the chicken. Use a meat thermometer to verify that the chicken is safe to eat. The chicken should have a temperature of at least 160℉. This is up to personal preference, but before adding the chicken back into the slow cooker either shred the chicken with two forks or dice it using a knife and a cutting board.
- Serve this Slow Cooker Chicken Butternut Squash Stew hot or warm. Enjoy!
Notes
- To save time prepping ingredients, buy pre-cut butternut squash rather than cutting it up yourself. Butternut squash is notoriously difficult to cut and chop.
- For an extra nutritional boost, add quinoa and kale to this slow cooker recipe. The quinoa provides additional protein and the kale packs nutrients like copper and manganese.
- A great garnishing option is sliced avocado which provides a healthy fat option!
My name is Ania, and I am very glad to see you here. I have always loved cooking; even some of my earliest memories are flipping through a cookbook and making pudding standing on a stool because I was too small to reach the stove.
You should know that I am not a professionally trained chef, just a big food lover who grew up in a family obsessed with cooking and focused on what we eat.