Aack! I’m still behind on posting but I have to put off the 2 ideas I have waiting in the wings to share a crockpot meal I made for dinner this weekend.
It came out A-MAZING! Even --are you ready for this??-- The Husband agreed!
He, the man who doesn’t like chilies or stews or one-pot anything!
I was shocked to say the least. This is totally my kind of meal, and it’s nice to have him on the same page for a change.
The kids?
Well, they are another story.
The 7-year-old was not pleased to get a bowl of “stuff” all mixed together but he knows by now, resistance is futile. He’s not gonna win.
I asked him what he thought and he said, “It’s good!”
“Thumbs up or down?” I asked.
HA! He may be giving the thumbs up but his face says it all. It wasn’t his favorite thing in the world, which is OK. I reminded him that sometimes you eat something because you like it, sometimes you eat something because it's good for you, and sometimes you eat something out of respect for the person who made it for you.
He ended up eating about half the bowl and knew not to ask for dessert until it was gone so he didn’t even bother.
Now, the toddler? He’s in a whole other stage.
I tried to give him a mix of the items deconstructed as well as all together in the bowl. He fussed, made faces, cried and screamed.
Ahh, the joys of raising diverse eaters.
He ended up eating 2 bites of chicken, taking a bite of carrot and spitting it out and having one spoonful of oats.
Then he gave the sign for all done. I looked at him square in the eye and said, “OK, no snacks until you finish your dinner,” to which he made a face because even though he doesn't talk much, the little bugger understands everything I say.
About 45 minutes later he went to the pantry and said, “nnnack.”
“Not until you finish your dinner.”
He ran over to his chair and grabbed his plate. There were 3 carrots and 2 small pieces of chicken on it. Not too much to ask for dinner if you ask me. He picked up a carrot, thought about eating it for a minute and then threw it to the ground.
Needless to say “nnnack” didn’t happen.
I have faith that one day all of this will be worth it and my kids will simply just eat. No bargains. No faces. No crying. No worry.
Please tell me it’s possible. PLEASE!
Anyway, sorry for the long-winded intro. Here’s what I did...
Ingredients
- 1 cup steel-cut oats (160g)
- 32oz chicken broth or stock
- 2-3 boneless chicken breasts (~20oz) (Mine were frozen)
- 4-5 carrots, cut into larger pieces
- 1 15oz can great northern beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
Put everything in the crockpot.
Cook on high for 4-5 hours.
I’m sure 7-8 on low would be fine as well, but I haven’t done it yet.
Before serving, shred the chicken breasts with two forks.
I’ve been putting oats in my soups for some time but this was the first time I went with a thicker stew.
Savory oats! Who knew?
📖 Recipe
Simple Chicken and Oat Stew With Northern Beans
Ingredients
- 1 cup steel-cut oats 160g
- 32 oz chicken broth or stock
- 2-3 boneless chicken breasts ~20oz (Mine were frozen)
- 4-5 carrots cut into larger pieces
- 1 15 oz can great northern beans drained and rinsed
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
- Put everything in the crockpot.1 cup steel-cut oats, 32 oz chicken broth or stock, 2-3 boneless chicken breasts, 4-5 carrots, 1 15 oz can great northern beans, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Cook on high for 4-5 hours.
- Before serving, shred the chicken breasts with two forks.
- I’ve been putting oats in my soups for some time but this was the first time I went with a thicker stew.
Michele
Roni - I live alone and like to make large batches of stuff and freeze it into individual portions. Do you think this would freeze well? It sounds delicious!
roni
Ohh totally! It stores well in the fridge, I've found steel cut oats great for make ahead stuff.
Hope you like it!
April
Do you need to seer the chicken before cooking?
roni
Nope. I put mine in frozen most of the time.
Denise
Again thank you!! Made this again!! This time stovetop w green beans! Next trying your butternut squash stew. You rock!
Mandy
Thanks for the awesome tip! I tried this recipe and it was yummy. My kids loved it as well.
Mara
This was really good - I must have a really powerful crockpot, because I tried the recipe at an 8 hour setting for 7 hours and the oats disintigrated into nothing-ness. Instead of onion powder, I just cut up one big onion! And at the end, I threw in the last of my kale - great for color and this was a great, satisfying filling meal. I never thought this would be a good idea, but we all really liked it! Thanks, Roni.
sherijung
OK, I made this yesterday, but with quick-cooking steel cut oats, and with red beans. I also cooked it on low for 8 hours. The oats kind of disintegrated into starch, but not in a bad way, it made it more like a really creamy soup. My son said it reminded him of clam chowder, and I thought it almost tasted like I'd added a bunch of cheese(yum). I liked the color the red beans added, but I'll double the beans next time because we really like our beans in my house.
Thanks for this one, it's a keeper for me.
Shay
awesome tip!! I like using the crock pot.. but my hubz is phobic about leaving the crock pot on while no one is home. (why even have a crock pot then?) anyhow, it will actually be easier then for me to make it on the stove top!! Awesome!! Thanks for inspiring me, as always!!
roni
I think it would be yummy with regular oats but there's no need for the crockpot. I'd just cook them up on the stovetop with smaller cut carrots and the chicken cut into chunks.
Shay
I want to try this ... if I was to make it with regular oats (not quick oats) would that ruin it? I am trying to formulate my next 2 weeks of meals using a lot of what I already have in the house.. don't have steel cut oats. If you think I should only use steel cut, I will do it! Thanks Shay
Rachel
Made this today...LOVE it!!!!!!!!!
Susan
A friend of mine (who has been a vegetarian most of her life) cooks savoury meals with oatmeal. It is amazing what she creates...stir fry meals, Indian, everything! This sounds delicious. After following you for years (2008), I just ordered your cookbook. Can't wait for it to arrive!
Valerie
My youngest is a fussy eater. At 12, he is finally getting better but when I make things that are going to be mixed, he gets his deconstructed. Both my kids refuse to eat cooked carrots because they don't like them. I make them try new things when we have them but if they don't like them, they can get a bowl of cereal. There are certain things that I just don't serve - like beans - because no one but me likes them. Sigh. I just order them when we go out.
Karen
Is this just regular quacker oats.
Andrea
I have been wanting to try this since I learned that people in the old days used oats this way. Okay, actually, I'm a nerd and I read it first in 'World Without End' by Ken Follet. I just haven't been brave enough to to even try a little salt on my breakfast oatmeal! Thank you for posting this recipe along with the great story about your team of taste-testers! Can't wait to try it now!
stephanie chin
YAY .. good to know I'm not the only crazy person .. sometimes my breakfast is savory oatmeal : oatmeal plus some costco rotisserie chicken.
Crystal
This looks so good, can't wait to try it. Yes as your boys get older they will become less picky eaters. I have 3 boys my older 2 are not picky anymore 🙂 they eat practically eat any veggie I give them(victory!!) my youngest (7 year old) is still kind of picky but as history in my family has shown this will be outgrown....so I patiently wait :). Thanks for sharing your recipe.
sherijung
Hmmm, I never thought to put oats in a stew or a soup. This is definitely going on my try out list.
And yes, they will (eventually) just eat what you put in front of them. Boys do grow into teenagers who tend to eat like vacuum-cleaners. I just have to keep a rule about not getting seconds until all the veggies are eaten.