If you want a comforting, stick-to-your-ribs meal, these Warm & Hearty Winter Stews are perfect. Any of the selections below will warm you up on a chilly evening — or whenever you need a bowl that feels like a hug.
A quick note: soups vs. stews
Stews are thicker and heartier, usually featuring larger chunks of meat and vegetables and slow-cooked to develop deep flavor and tender texture.
Soups have a higher liquid-to-solid ratio and generally cook faster, making them great as lighter meals or starters.
Both make excellent comfort food, but stews are often served as one-pot, filling meals while soups tend to be lighter.
Let’s start with delicious chicken stews
1. Creamy Chicken Stew
A made-from-scratch one-pot stew simmered with white wine and fresh herbs for bold flavor, then thickened with rice flour for a velvety, naturally gluten-free finish. {Stovetop – 1 hour}
2. Chicken, Sausage & Mushroom Stew
In true Jamie Oliver style, this stew balances flavors and textures beautifully. Not your usual slow-cooked stew — ready in under an hour. {Stovetop – 30 minutes}
3. Crockpot Italian Chicken & Broccoli Rabe Chili
A bold chili-style stew loaded with lean chicken, cannellini beans, tomatoes and broccoli rabe, all finished in the slow cooker for hands-off flavor. {Slow cooker – 6 hours 40 minutes}
4. Country Chicken Stew
Chicken, thick-cut bacon, navy beans, vegetables and fresh herbs simmered together in one pot. Allow extra time if you presoak the beans. {Stovetop – 1 hour 45 minutes}
Meat-lovers’ favorites
5. Irish Lamb Stew
A flavorful, low-effort stew using frozen cipollini onions, baby carrots and baby potatoes — minimal chopping required. {Stovetop + oven – 1 hour 50 minutes}
6. White Bean Cassoulet with Pork & Lentils
A rich, slow-cooked French casserole that simmers for hours; lentils and beans are added toward the end for perfect texture. {Slow cooker – 7 hours on high or 9 hours on low}
7. Mulligan Stew
An easy, protein-packed stew filled with hearty meat and vegetables in a rich beef broth. {Stovetop – 1 hour 30 minutes}
8. Slow Cooker Beef & Barley Stew
Tender beef and perfectly cooked barley in a savory gravy — a filling slow-cooker favorite. {Slow cooker + stovetop – 8 hours 25 minutes}
9. Sausage, Kale & White Bean Soup
Italian sausage, kale, smoky paprika, creamy beans and potatoes come together with a splash of cream to create a stew-like soup. {Stovetop – 50 minutes}
10. Slow Cooker Beef Stew
A classic, slow-cooked beef stew with tender meat, carrots, potatoes and celery — comforting and timeless. {Stovetop + slow cooker – 8 hours 30 minutes}
11. Authentic Homemade Zuppa Toscana
A hearty potato-based soup that functions like a stew when sausage and bacon are added — all in one pot. {Stovetop – 1 hour 20 minutes}
Vegetarian stews that feed a crowd
12. Creamy Tomato White Bean Stew
A quick, plant-based stew packed with protein-rich white beans, cherry tomatoes and greens for a nourishing bowl. {Stovetop – 30 minutes}
13. Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup
A vegan, slow-cooker minestrone that can be made gluten-free — simply add ingredients to the slow cooker and let it work its magic. {Slow cooker – 6 hours 15 minutes}
14. Gingery Coconut Sweet Potato and Rice Stew
A creamy, slightly spicy stew of sweet potatoes, warming spices and coconut milk served over rice — satisfying and aromatic. {Stovetop – 45 minutes}
15. Bold & Cozy Ribollita
Tuscan-style stew where rustic bread simmers in tomato broth with garlic, herbs, a parmesan rind, white beans and kale for a hearty finish. {Stovetop – 60 minutes}
16. Greek-Inspired Cauliflower Stew
Caramelized cauliflower topped with olives, lemon, tomatoes, new potatoes and peas for a bright, Mediterranean-inspired stew. {Oven – 1 hour 25 minutes}
17. North African Chickpea Soup (Leblebi)
Made from pantry staples like canned chickpeas and tomatoes, this spiced stew is flavorful and simple to prepare. {Stovetop – 1 hour 25 minutes}
18. One-Pot White Bean Mushroom Stew
A dairy-free, plant-based stew with white beans, mushrooms and greens — quick and satisfying. {Stovetop – 25 minutes}
19. Roasted Root Vegetable Stew
Caramelized root vegetables blended with a homemade tomato sauce create a hearty vegetarian stew. {Oven + stovetop – 60 minutes}
Seafood stews that shine
20. Mediterranean-Inspired Seafood Stew
A light tomato-fennel broth showcasing fresh fish and seafood, with the option to add chorizo for extra depth. {Stovetop – 35 minutes}
21. Blushing Seafood Chowder
A medley of shrimp, scallops and haddock with a rosy flavor boost from Spanish chorizo. {Stovetop – 50 minutes}
22. Spanish Seafood Stew with Saffron Rice
Chorizo, chickpeas and saffron rice combine for a bold, crowd-pleasing stew. {Stovetop + oven – 60 minutes}
23. Brazilian Fish Stew (Moqueca)
Also called Moqueca, this Brazilian fish stew features coconut milk, lime and jalapeño for bright, tropical flavor. {Stovetop – 35 minutes}
24. Seafood Stew with Fennel & Tomatoes
Shrimp, fennel and tomatoes simmered in a light, flavorful broth for a fresh seafood stew. {Stovetop – 1 hour 15 minutes}
25. Simple Bouillabaisse
A luxurious French seafood stew with a rustic tomato base, saffron, fennel and a variety of fresh seafood. {Stovetop – 45 minutes}
