1lbboneless skinless chicken breaststrimmed of excess fat
1yellow oniondiced
2clovesgarlicminced
24oz.chicken broth(low sodium)
215oz cansgreat Northern beansdrained and rinsed
24oz cansdiced green chiles(I do one hot, one mild)
115oz canwhole kernel corndrained
1tspsalt
1/2tspblack pepper
1tspcumin
3/4tsporegano
1/2tspchili powder
1/4tspcayenne pepper
small handful fresh cilantrochopped
4ozreduced fat cream cheesesoftened
1/4cuphalf and half
TOPPINGS:
sliced jalapenos
sliced avocados
dollop of sour cream
minced fresh cilantro
tortilla strips
shredded Monterey jack or Mexican cheese
Instructions
Add chicken breasts to bottom of slow cooker, top with salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, chili powder, and cayenne pepper.
Top with diced onion, minced garlic, great Northern beans, green chiles, corn, chicken broth and cilantro. Stir.
Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
Remove chicken to large mixing bowl, shred, then return to slow cooker.
Add cream cheese and half and half, stir, then cover and cook on HIGH for 15 minutes, or until chili is creamy and slightly thickened.
If you want to ensure a smooth blend of the cream cheese, try adding the softened cream cheese to a small mixing bowl, then adding a few ladles of the chili from the slow cooker. Whisk until smooth, then stir that mixture into the slow cooker and proceed with adding the half and half and cooking on high for 15 minutes.
Stir well and serve with desired toppings.
Video
Notes
** to thicken chili even more, mix 1 Tbsp of cornstarch into 2-3 Tbsp of milk/half and half/chicken broth or water. Stir until cornstarch dissolves, then stir that mixture into the chili. Cook until thickened to your liking.
STOVETOP DIRECTIONS
Cut chicken breasts into 3 pieces each, then set aside.
Add a Tbsp of butter and Tbsp of olive oil to a large dutch oven or soup pot. Heat over MED heat and add onions. Cook for 4-5 minutes, then add garlic for 1 minute, stirring often.
Add salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, chili powder, and cayenne pepper. Stir.
Add in chicken, great Northern beans, green chiles, corn, chicken broth and cilantro. Stir.
Increase heat to MED HIGH and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Simmer uncovered for 30-40 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the chili is thickened to your liking.
Remove chicken to a bowl to shred, then add it back to the pot. Add in half and half and cream cheese, stir well and let simmer a few minutes. Stir, then serve as per the recipe.
INSTANT POT (PRESSURE COOKER) DIRECTIONS
Add chicken breasts to pressure cooker (I personally use a 6 quart Instant Pot).
Add in onion, garlic, chicken broth, beans, green chiles, cilantro, corn, salt, black pepper, cumin, oregano, chili powder, and cayenne powder. Stir.
Cube cream cheese and place on top of the chili.
Cover and seal with lid, switch the valve to the "sealing" position and cook for 20 min on manual high pressure. Once it is done cooking, let it naturally depressurize for 10 min then switch the valve to the "venting" position to completely release steam before opening lid.**
Remove the chicken breasts to a plate or bowl and shred with 2 forks.
Add half and half. Stir everything together in the pot to melt the cream cheese into the chili and warm the half and half, then return the shredded chicken and stir to combine. Serve garnished as desired.