Gut-Healing Asian Chicken Stew for Toddlers (with Coconut Milk, Meat Stock & Zucchini Fries)
Looking for a cozy, immune-supportive, gut-loving meal your toddler will actually eat—and that you’ll crave too?
This GAPS-friendly, Asian-inspired chicken stew is everything we want in a healing meal: warm, deeply nourishing, rich in collagen and healthy fats, and gentle enough for sensitive little bellies. My daughter happily slurped it down with some zucchini fries on the side, and I had a bowl too—with a dollop of fermented daikon for extra probiotic power.
So let’s talk real food, mamas. ✨
This isn't just a stew. It’s a mineral-rich, brain-boosting, immune-supporting bowl of love for toddlers, babies, and postpartum mamas alike.
Gut-Healing Asian Chicken Stew (Instant Pot)
Ingredients:
4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (pasture-raised)
2–3 cups homemade meat stock (chicken or pork work beautifully)
1 can (13.5 oz) full-fat coconut milk (no gums or additives)
1–2 cloves garlic, minced
1-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1 small yellow onion or shallot, chopped
1 cup shiitake or cremini mushrooms, sliced
1 carrot, thinly sliced or julienned
1 small zucchini or baby bok choy, chopped (optional)
1 tbsp animal fat (chicken fat, ghee, or tallow)
Sea salt to taste
Optional garnish: fresh cilantro, green onion, or kimchi juice (for post-cooking)
Instructions:
Prep first: Chop veggies, mince garlic, grate ginger.
Sauté aromatics: Set Instant Pot to “Sauté.” Add animal fat, garlic, ginger, and onion. Cook 2–3 minutes until soft and fragrant.
Brown chicken: Add chicken thighs, skin side down, and sear 2–3 minutes per side (optional but adds so much flavor).
Deglaze: Add ½ cup meat stock to scrape up all those golden brown bits.
Add everything else: Stir in remaining stock, coconut milk, mushrooms, carrots, zucchini/bok choy, and sea salt. Add coconut aminos if using.
Pressure cook: Seal lid and set to Manual or Pressure Cook for 35 minutes for richer flavor. Let pressure naturally release for 10 minutes, then quick release.
Shred chicken: Remove chicken, discard skin and bones (or keep if your toddler eats them), shred meat, and return to pot.
Taste and serve: Add more salt, or a splash of coconut aminos if needed.
Want to Switch Up the Seasoning?
You can easily make this your own by rotating flavors:
Thai-Inspired: Add lemongrass, lime zest, or Thai basil
Indian Flare: Use turmeric, cumin, and a pinch of cinnamon
More Umami: Add a tiny splash of fish sauce or use extra mushrooms
Mild Kid-Friendly: Just garlic, onion, sea salt, and meat stock!
✨ Remember: always taste before adding extra salt or spice. Sensitive toddler bellies don’t need much!
What to Serve It With
We served ours with steamed zucchini fries because it’s what my toddler loves right now. But it pairs beautifully with:
🥔 Steamed or mashed root veggies (parsnip, sweet potato)
🍠 Roasted butternut squash cubes
🥬 Steamed cabbage or bok choy
🍚 Cauliflower “rice” or mashed cauliflower
Storage Tips: Make It Work for You
In the Fridge:
Store in an airtight glass container for up to 4 days
Reheat gently on the stovetop to preserve nutrients
Skim any fat from the top if needed (or stir it in for extra nourishment)
In the Freezer:
Freeze in individual portions or ice cube trays for babies
Store for up to 3 months
Defrost overnight in fridge or warm gently from frozen on the stove
✅ Bonus: It thickens slightly when chilled—great for toddlers who prefer spoonable meals!
Why This Stew is So Healing
This isn’t just a “cozy dinner” kind of meal. It’s designed to fuel growth, rebuild tissue, and calm inflammation. Here’s how:
Brain-Boosting Fats
Full-fat coconut milk, ghee, and chicken skin = nourishing saturated fats toddlers need for brain development, hormone balance, and stable mood.
Immune Resilience
Garlic, ginger, mushrooms, and bok choy bring natural antimicrobials, antioxidants, and zinc to the table—perfect for seasonal shifts or post-illness recovery.
Gut + Joint Support
Meat stock made from bones and connective tissue delivers collagen, glycine, proline, and minerals that seal the gut lining and reduce eczema, colic, and food sensitivities.
Mineral-Rich Veggies
Carrots, zucchini, and mushrooms offer gentle fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and plant compounds that support digestion and detox.
From My Kitchen to Yours
This stew is one of those batch-cook, save-for-later meals I return to again and again. It’s simple, deeply satisfying, and packed with bioavailable nutrients that support your child’s growth and your healing journey as a mama.
It’s:
✔️ Easy to digest
✔️ High in protein + fat
✔️ GAPS- and WAPF-aligned
✔️ Perfect for toddlers with eczema, constipation, or gut issues
✔️ Ideal for postpartum mamas, too