I have spent my entire life in Alabama, where my family roots run deep. While researching my home state for an article, I stumbled upon North Alabama Chicken Stew for the first time. My mother’s family hails from North Alabama, and upon inquiring about the dish, I discovered that my great-grandmother had a similar recipe with her own twist. Unable to find a recipe online, my mom and I improvised by combining various recipes to create our own version of the stew, which we instantly fell in love with.
Digging further into the history of the stew through old newspaper clippings and Emily Blejwas’s book, “The Story of Alabama in Fourteen Foods,” I found that the origins of this dish trace back to the Scottish-Irish settlers who arrived in the region over 200 years ago. It suddenly made sense when considering my 23andMe results and my mother’s maiden name, Stephenson—this stew is in my blood.
Alabama Chicken Stew is a comforting blend of chicken, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and corn simmered in a homemade stock. Traditional versions stick to basic seasonings like bay leaves, salt, and pepper, while modern variations may include additional vegetables like carrots and celery. The slow-cooked potatoes give the stew its unique texture as they dissolve into the broth, acting as a natural thickener.
This beloved dish is specific to the northern part of Alabama, particularly in the Tennessee Valley, and has been enjoyed for centuries. The roots of Alabama Chicken Stew can be traced back to the early 1800s when pioneers settled in the fertile lands near the Tennessee River. Despite facing isolation and challenges, the community spirit of the pioneers shone through in gatherings centered around meals like chicken stew.
Today, Alabama Chicken Stew remains a cherished tradition, often prepared in large batches over fires or stovetops and shared among neighbors. Annual stew sales hosted by local fire departments and churches draw in crowds eager to savor this classic dish.
To make your own Alabama Chicken Stew, simmer chicken in seasoned water to create a flavorful stock. Cook the chicken for about two hours until tender, then add in potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and corn to simmer until the flavors meld together. While a wooden paddle is traditional for stirring, it’s not essential for recreating this heartwarming Southern dish in your own kitchen.
I carefully looked through the recipe. I transferred the chicken to a cutting board, removed the skin and bones, shredded the chicken, and returned it to the pot. I added the tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, and corn to the pot and cooked until the potatoes thickened the stew. For the full recipe for Alabama Chicken Stew, you can find it on ALLRECIPES.
