1-Getting started with this tomato basil chicken stew: Begin by preparing your ingredients to make the process smooth. This includes trimming and cutting 1 1/2 pounds of boneless chicken into bite-sized pieces, dicing 1 medium yellow onion, slicing 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, dicing 2 medium carrots, mincing 4 cloves garlic, and chopping 1/2 cup fresh basil.

2-First Steps: Mise en Place and Browning: First, prepare your ingredients as noted. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat and season the chicken with salt and pepper. Sear the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden, then remove and set aside. This step, as per the recipe tips, enhances the flavor and keeps the meat tender.

3-Bulking the Stew Base: Next, add the onion and carrots to the pot and cook for 5 minutes until softened, then add the mushrooms and cook for 3 minutes until browned. Stir in the garlic and tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to deepen the flavors.

4-Bulking the Stew Base continued: After that, add the potatoes, crushed tomatoes, chicken stock, oregano, bay leaf, and red pepper flakes, then stir well. Return the chicken to the pot, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes until the potatoes are tender and chicken is cooked through.

5-Finishing Touches: Stir in the basil and cream, discard the bay leaf, and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve warm, garnished with extra basil and Parmesan if desired. The total prep time is 20 minutes, and cook time is 50 minutes, making for a recipe that was updated in 2025 for more flavor. Explore more stew ideas on our site for variations like adding greens or using coconut milk.