Pressure Cooker Chicken Stew: Open Adoption Edition

When my birth daughter Kaylee came to live with us for a few months in the fall/winter of 2022, we got to experience life together in a new way. After turning 18 and graduating, she wanted to experience life with us and her siblings here, and of course, we all wanted to spend lots of time with her too!

Unfortunately, one of the lovely parts of being in a larger family with five children is sharing germs! So at Christmas time when her siblings brought home an awful cold from school, Kaylee caught it too. It made her homesick, understandably, and he requested that I make her mom's chicken stew. I was happy to get her mom's recipe and do that for her!

As a birth mom, I've missed out on many everyday moments like this- the boo-boo's, the school pick up lines, the meal preparations, the tending to when sick...it's a gift of time through open adoption to get moments and firsts like this.

I also adore that a special piece of Kaylee and her mom's relationship and tradition has become a family favorite here, and a go-to now when we are sick. I was sick with the flu last week and as soon as I felt up to it, I made this recipe. Now my kids at home request it too!

Open adoption is so much more than just visits, it's little pieces of traditions and memories, all wrapped together honoring one another. This stew reminds me of her momma ❤️ Warm, inviting, and comforting.

*Recipe is adapted from this stove top version

Pressure Cooker Southern Chicken Stew

2–3 pounds chicken breasts

1 carton of chicken stock or bone broth

1 tsp salt

Pinch of pepper

1 tsp onion powder

½ tsp garlic powder

½ tsp poultry seasoning

½ tsp salt-free table blend (I use Lidl’s, Ms. Dash, or Trader Joe’s Green Goddess is nice too!)

½ cup of flour

1 Tbsp Butter

1 cup Milk (more if you desire)

1 package Egg noodles

Add chicken, an entire carton of broth, and dry seasoning into the pressure cooker. Set to cook for 30 minutes. Let it naturally release pressure for at least 10 minutes.

When chicken is done, remove from the broth and shred meat.

Begin to boil 1 package of egg noddles as directed.

In a small bowl mix together flour, milk and butter. Set the pressure cooker to Sauté setting. Gently spoon into simmering liquid and stir until incorporated. Allow liquid to simmer until slightly thickened. Add more flour if you want it thicker (we like it thicker like a gravy!). Taste and add additional seasoning if needed. Add shredded meat back into liquid. Serve over noddles.