Easy Slow Cooker Tex-Mex Chicken and Bean Stew For Women Over 40

Easy Slow Cooker Tex-Mex Chicken and Bean Stew

This slow cooker Tex-Mex Chicken and Bean Stew is a practical, warming meal that suits days when energy is limited, appetite is variable, and you want something that feels substantial without being heavy.

Made with lean chicken, mixed beans, vegetables, and a gentle blend of spices, it cooks slowly and evenly, allowing flavours to develop without much hands-on time. That makes it a useful option for batch cooking, shared meals, or nights when decision fatigue is already high.

For women over 40, meals like this can provide structure and nourishment without needing precision or restriction. It’s filling and flexible depending on how hungry you feel and what else you choose to serve alongside it.

This Slow Cooker Chicken Stew Supports Women Over 40

Midlife nutrition often requires a shift in focus. Many women notice that meals which once “worked” no longer leave them feeling satisfied or energised. Protein needs increase, blood sugar responses can change, and tolerance for long gaps between meals often decreases.

This stew is built around lean chicken breast, providing a significant amount of protein per serving. Adequate protein supports muscle maintenance, recovery from training, and everyday strength, all of which become increasingly important through perimenopause and beyond. Protein also plays a role in satiety, helping meals feel more satiating and reducing the urge to snack shortly afterwards.

The inclusion of black beans and kidney beans contributes a meaningful amount of fibre, which supports digestive health and can contribute to better energy levels. For women experiencing cravings or energy dips, higher-fibre meals often feel more grounding and sustaining.

Saturated fat is kept relatively low by using skinless chicken and relying on beans and vegetables for bulk. This supports heart health without removing fat entirely. Optional additions such as avocado allow flexibility to include healthy fats, making it easier to adjust meals based on appetite, training demands, or personal preference.

From a micronutrient perspective, beans provide iron and magnesium, while peppers and tomatoes contribute vitamin C and potassium. These nutrients support general health, muscle function, and energy metabolism for women over 40. While no single recipe addresses all midlife changes, meals like this can form part of an overall pattern that feels supportive rather than exhausting.

Perimenopause Supportive Meals

One of the strengths of this recipe is its adaptability. It can be eaten on its own when appetite is lower, or paired with additional carbohydrates when energy needs are higher.

Some women find it works well with a small portion of brown rice, quinoa, or farro, particularly on training days. Others prefer it with roasted sweet potatoes or wrapped in whole-grain tortillas. These additions allow you to scale the meal without changing its nutritional foundation.

Because the stew stores and reheats well, it’s also useful for reducing decision load during the week. Having a protein- and fibre-rich meal already prepared can make it easier to eat consistently, even when motivation or energy is low.

Why This Recipe Works for Women Over 40

As a certified nutritionist and a woman in perimenopause myself, I create meals like this because they reflect how I actually need to eat now. I want food that supports my strength training, workdays, energy, and my ability to move through daily life without feeling depleted.

Meals that combine lean protein and fibre help me feel nicely full after eating and more settled between meals. Eating this way allows me to maintain a healthy weight without constant tracking or restriction. It supports my workouts, my recovery, and my energy levels, while still leaving room for flexibility and enjoyment.

This Slow Cooker Chicken Stew is perfect for women over 40 who need a recipe that doesn't require spending hours in the kitchen!

Recipes for Women Over 40

If this recipe feels aligned with how you want to eat now, you’ll find many more like it inside the 40+ Kitchen. It’s a space where nutrition is approached without extreme diets, restrictions or unrealistic expectations.

Inside, women over 40 learn how to make better use of the calories they’re already eating, to feel fuller, more satisfied, and better supported through common symptoms such as cravings, weight gain around the middle, low energy, disrupted sleep, and anxiety.