Chemo week calls for food that's low effort and easy on the tummy. This chicken and sweet potato stew is exactly that - simple, soothing, and kind to a body that's doing its best.
It's light but filling, tender but not bland, and the kind of easy that doesn't ask much of you. No fancy ingredients, no drama. Just warm bites of chicken, soft sweet potatoes, a touch of maple syrup balnced with a whisper of lime to remind you that comfort can still taste like something.
Table of Contents
What you'll need to make this sweet potato and chicken stew
Nothing fancy here-just real ingredients that go down easy and don't fight back. You probably have most of it on hand already.
- Chicken - Breast or thigh, whatever's in the fridge and doesn't sass you back. You can use boneless pork if you prefer.
- Onion - Yellow, white, or whatever's rolling around in the onion bin.
- Sweet potato - Adds that earthy sweetness and a little golden glow.
- Celery - Brings the crunch and balance like it's got something to prove.
- Fresh thyme - Optional, but she's got that herbaceous Southern charm.
- Chicken stock - The base of it all. Use the good stuff if you've got it.
- Garlic - Because obviously.
- Cumin - Just a pinch for warmth and depth, like a cozy hug from a spice rack.
- Lime - A squeeze of brightness to cut through the soft.
- Maple syrup (optional) - If you want a touch of sweet to round it all out.
- Spinach (optional) - Toss it in at the end if you're feeling virtuous or just want to green things up.
📖 Recipe
Sweet Potato and Chicken Stew
Print Pin Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- ½ cup onion, chopped (or skip if it upsets her stomach)
- ¼ cup celery stalk with leaves, diced
- 1 ½ cups sweet potato, peeled and cut in chunks
- 1 ½ pounds boneless chicken, breast or thighs. Or, use boneless pork.
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- Pinch salt, taste at the end; chemo can alter salt perception
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ¼ cup thinly sliced spinach leaves
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
Instructions
- Add everything to crockpot.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high 4-6 hours
- Roll spinach leaves tightly and then slice thin slices and stir it into the stew.
- Drizzle with maple syrup and add a squeeze of lime before serving.
- Mash a few sweet potatoes in the pot to thicken the stew naturally.
Notes
- Refrigerator: Let the stew cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. It reheats beautifully in the microwave or on the stovetop - just add a splash of broth or water if it's thickened up too much.
- Freezer: This stew freezes like a dream. Spoon it into individual portions and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or reheat gently straight from frozen if you're too tired to plan ahead (we've all been there).
- Pro tip: Use freezer-safe silicone soup molds or zip-top bags laid flat so they stack like little flavor bricks. You'll thank yourself later.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
Tips from the "I just need dinner to be easy" files
While I developed this chicken sweet potato stew chemo recipe to help my daughter through her chemo weeks it's great for anytime.
- Use rotisserie chicken if you're too tired to cook meat. Just shred and toss it in. No shame. We're feeding a body, not auditioning for Top Chef.
- Pre-chop your veggies on a good day. Store them in zip-top bags so future-you can thank past-you without cussing.
- Frozen spinach works fine. Ain't nobody judging. Toss it in near the end and call it a win.
- Add the lime at the very end. That little squeeze freshens everything up and makes it feel slightly fancier than it is. Same with maple syrup if you're using it.
- Double it and freeze the extra. Future-you is going to cry tears of gratitude pulling this from the freezer on a rough day.
- Skip the maple syrup if you're not feeling sweet. It's optional - not a personality test.
- Taste as you go, or don't. Honestly? This stew is forgiving. If your taste buds are shot from treatment, just salt it to your comfort level.
- Serve it in a pretty bowl. You're allowed to romanticize your healing. Fancy china or paper plate - do what makes you feel human.
Bonus tips for caregivers
- Keep the flavors gentle. This isn't the time to get adventurous with spices. Warm, mild, and familiar beats "bold" every time when taste buds are on strike.
- Ask before adding extras. Garlic, spinach, even lime - all great unless someone's stomach is acting like a toddler with a grudge.
- Texture matters. Shred the chicken fine, keep the sweet potatoes soft. No big chunks. No weird surprises.
- Make it smell like home. The scent of onions and broth simmering? That's therapy. Light a candle if you must, but nothing that smells like pumpkin laundry detergent.
- Portion into single servings. Little containers = easier to heat, less waste, less overwhelm. Plus they feel like gifts instead of chores.
When your body's doing the hard work of healing, food should feel like a friend-not a battle. This chicken and sweet potato stew shows up with quiet strength, a little brightness, and zero drama. Like the ginger chicken and rice soup, it's the kind of meal that doesn't ask much from you but gives plenty in return.
So go ahead. Curl up, sip some tea, and let this bowl of goodness take care of dinner tonight. You've got enough on your plate… and thankfully, now it's the right kind.
Comments
No Comments