Tender chicken stew with hearty potatoes and carrots in a savory gravy. This one-pot, easy Chinese chicken stew recipe uses simple ingredients and is ready in just 30 minutes! A family-friendly main that's perfect for the cold weather and great for busy weeknights and meal preparation.
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This comforting Chinese chicken stew features chicken drumsticks braised in a rich, savory sauce with chunky potatoes and vibrant carrots.
It's best served with steamed rice for dinner or lunch. This stew is packed with flavor and warmth, making it fantastic for winter or autumn to warm you up!
My mother makes a similar dish and it's such a satisfying meal that brings warmth to the soul.
You won't find this chicken potato and carrot stew at Chinese restaurants, but it’s easy to make at home with minimal ingredients in little time!
Ingredients & Substitutes
Please scroll to the recipe card below for exact measurements.
- Chicken Drumsticks: Or use skin-on bone-in chicken thighs. The bones and skin add depth of flavor. Avoid using boneless chicken thighs or chicken breast.
- Yukon Gold Potatoes: Or use yellow potatoes.
- Carrots: Or use yellow carrots, sweet potatoes, or yams.
- Onion
- Water: Or use low-sodium chicken stock for more flavor!
- Green Onions
- Neutral Oil: Use a neutral oil like avocado, sunflower, grapeseed, peanut, vegetable, or canola oil. Avoid olive oil or any low smoke point oil.
Sauce
- Regular Soy Sauce: Or use low-sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce.
- Dark Soy Sauce: Or use dark mushroom soy sauce or add more regular soy sauce to taste at the end of cooking.
- Oyster Sauce: Or use vegetarian stir-fry sauce.
- White Granulated Sugar: Or use cane sugar to balance the salty flavors.
- Sesame Oil
- Black Pepper
- Garlic
Note: Asian ingredients are typically available at most Asian grocery stores, or check online.
Variation
- Gluten-free version: Replace both soy sauces with tamari sauce, coconut aminos, or gluten-free soy sauce. Use gluten-free oyster sauce.
Expert Tips
- Use fresh skin-on bone-in chicken drumsticks for best taste. The bones and skin add more flavor, rather than using skinless, boneless chicken.
- Cut the potatoes and carrots into large quarters or chunks so they don't break down in the stew.
- Prepare the ingredients in advance as the cooking process is fast.
- Brown the chicken for extra flavor.
- Avoid moving the chicken around as you brown it or it can tear off the skin. Just let it sear untouched until you're ready to flip it over.
- Don't skip the oyster sauce (or use vegetarian stir-fry sauce) as it offers umami flavor.
Instructions
Below are step-by-step instructions on how to make Chinese chicken stew:
- Make the sauce: In a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients as listed above and set aside.
- Cook onions: Heat vegetable oil in a large pan or large pot on medium-high heat. Cook onions until slightly softened, about 1 minute.
- Brown the chicken: Add the chicken drumsticks and let them brown on each side. Avoid moving them around so they can properly sear.
- Add vegetables: Mix in chopped potatoes and carrots. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Add sauce and water: Mix in the sauce and water until combined.
- Simmer the stew: Cover, bring to a boil, and then reduce to medium heat. Simmer for 20-25 minutes stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked and potatoes are fork-tender. For a thicker sauce, remove the lid and simmer for another 5 minutes or until desired consistency.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from heat and garnish with green onions. Enjoy with steamed rice or plain noodles.
Storage & Reheating
- Chinese chicken stew can last up to 4 days when stored in an airtight container in the fridge once cooled. To enjoy, reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through.
- Chinese chicken stew can be frozen for up to 2 months, divided into smaller portions in freezer-safe bags once cooled. To enjoy, defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through.
Pairing Suggestions
Chinese chicken stew pairs well with:
- Starters: Egg rolls, Crab rangoon, Egg drop soup, or Hot and sour soup.
- Rice Dishes: White rice, brown rice, or fried rice.
- Noodles: Chow mein, Lo mein, Plain noodles, Egg noodles, or Soup noodles.
- Vegetable Dishes: Chinese Garlic Gok Choy, Spicy Garlic Bok Choy, Chinese Garlic Yu Choy, Chinese Garlic Gai Lan, Garlic Green Beans or Stir-fried Snow Pea Leaves.
FAQ
Chinese chicken stew can be made up to 4 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. To enjoy, reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through.
To make Chinese chicken stew spicy, add 1-2 teaspoon red chili flakes or gochugaru to the sauce mixture.
Feel free to add frozen mixed vegetables, peas, or even broccoli to this stew.
📖 Recipe
Quick & Easy Chinese Chicken Stew
Ingredients
- 6 chicken drumsticks or bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
- 3.5 cups yukon gold potatoes or yellow potatoes, chopped into quarters
- 1 medium carrot chopped into ½-inch-thick pieces
- 1 small onion chopped
- 3 cups water cold or room temp
- 2 green onion finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or any neutral oil
Sauce
- 2 tablespoon regular soy sauce or light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce or vegetarian stir fry sauce
- 1 tablespoon white granulated sugar or cane sugar
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- ½ tablespoon sesame oil
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients as listed above and set aside.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large pan or large pot on medium-high heat. Cook onions until slightly softened, about 1 minute.
- Add the chicken drumsticks and let them brown on each side. Avoid moving them around so they can properly sear.
- Mix in chopped potatoes and carrots. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Mix in the sauce and water until combined.
- Cover, bring to a boil, and then reduce to medium heat. Simmer for 20-25 minutes stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked and potatoes are fork-tender. For a thicker sauce, remove the lid and simmer for another 5 minutes or until desired consistency.
- Remove from heat and garnish with green onions. Enjoy with steamed rice or plain noodles.
Jd
Oh I'm gonna love this Chinese potato stew recipe,I'll make it over & over till I make it perfect Christie
Sue Bond
This was a great dish also many others that i have tried since i found you thank you so much am sure i am Asian inside as love all the recipes
christieathome
Hi Sue, thank you so much for this kind comment! I am so glad you enjoyed my dish! The pleasure is all mine 🙂 Have a great day! - Christie