Slow-Cooker Squash Stew

  3.7 – 22 reviews  • Butternut Squash
Level: Easy
Total: 8 hr 30 min
Prep: 20 min
Inactive: 8 hr
Cook: 10 min
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

  1. 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  2. 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
  3. 2 cloves garlic, sliced
  4. 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  5. 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  6. 1 1/2 cups dried chickpeas, rinsed
  7. 1 pound butternut squash, peeled and cut into large pieces
  8. 1 bunch Swiss chard, leaves and stems separated and roughly chopped
  9. 1 piece parmesan cheese rind, plus grated parmesan for topping (optional)
  10. Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  11. Crusty bread and/or lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft and golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and red pepper flakes and cook 1 minute. Stir in 1/2 cup water, scraping up any browned bits. Transfer the contents of the skillet to a 6-quart slow cooker.
  2. Add the chickpeas, squash, chard stems (not the leaves), the parmesan rind, if using, 2 teaspoons salt and 7 cups water to the slow cooker. Stir, then cover and cook on low, 8 hours.
  3. Just before serving, lift the lid and stir in the chard leaves; cover and continue cooking 10 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper, and stir to slightly break up the squash. Discard the Parmesan rind, if used. Ladle the stew into bowls; top with the grated parmesan, if desired, and serve with bread and/or lemon wedges.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 428
Total Fat 15 grams
Saturated Fat 2 grams
Sodium 1,250 milligrams
Carbohydrates 63 grams
Dietary Fiber 17 grams
Protein 18 grams

Reviews

Erik Burgess
Not good, not much flavor or substance. I should have know by reading the ingredients.
Ashley Hall
This was a big hit. I increased the tomato contribution and amped up the spices based on the review. Everyone loved it. I also served it with plain Greek yogurt and peanuts, which finished it off nicely.
Scott Brown
Tasty! Made it on the stovetop; cooked up in about an hour. Used canned, rinsed northern beans and kale. Will make again.
Kayla Morales
I’ve made this multiple times now, though on the stovetop instead of in slow cooker. Works great. I used stewed or diced tomatoes instead of tomato sauce. Topped with shredded parmesan cheese instead of using rind. I’ve also tried variations with adding lentils or carrots, both great. It’s been delicious and flavorful each time. I let it cook for about an hour total, at least, and that seems to be fine. 
Clinton Brennan
Just made this tonight.  We loved it!  In the permanent rotation on the menu list.  I made the modifications some of you mentioned. (thank you for the suggestions)

Didn’t use the parmesan cheese rind.  
1 can chickpeas not dried chickpeas as on the recipe
instead of 7 cp water we did 4 cup vegetable broth, 1 cup water and a 14.5 oz petite diced tomatoes
topped it with some parm.
*we only cook garlic for 1 minute, it burns easily
Ashley Yu
Based on previous reviews, chose to double the amount of garlic and seasonings. Also added 2 large pieces of chorizo for added flavor and color (but adding a ham hock would probably do just as well). It turned out pretty well. We served it over jasmine rice and it made for a nice dinner. We will likely make this again.
Jennifer Harrington
Flavorless 🙁 I’m not sure what I did wrong (or if it’s just the recipe), but this is the first Food Network recipe I’ve made that’s bombed.
Stephen Rogers
Made a few changes:
replaced the squash with sweet potatoes, used vegetable broth instead of water, added about a tablespoon of cilantro to the onion garlic base and a little cumin and turmeric
Recipe was easy and delicious.
Meredith Williams
The flavor could have been nice, but the chickpeas were still hard after 8 hours on low. We left it on for another couple hours, and they were still hard. I literally left it for 24 hours in the slow cooker, and the chickpeas *are still hard*! Maybe I had a dud batch of chickpeas, or maybe this recipe just doesn’t work with dry beans. Not sure how other people got theirs to work out so well.

Also, the disparity in sizing between thinly sliced onions (as directed and squash chunks (again as directed made the whole thing difficult to manage on a spoon. I may try this again in the future but without the chickpeas and using differently sized pieces.

It’s just surprising, since almost all items I’ve ever made from Food Network recipes have been at least 4 stars. Bummer.

Amanda Davis
Very good, a winner, I added stewing beef and 1 can of diced tomatoes instead of water

 

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