Ok so talk about a favorite.. I make this when I entertain all the time (ask our friends)... If you are a friend of this house you have more then likely had this meal. It feeds about 6-8 people for about $20! Oh and did I mention it is SUPER easy.. just looks like a ton of ingredients..well it is but as long as you can open a can, measure a palm full and chop some peppers.. you can make this dish..
So to start out.. here are your ingredients::: (in this pic it shows two of everything.. I made two batches for my hungry crew but this recipe serves anywhere from 6-8 depending on your hunger levels)
2 lbs of uncooked chicken breast (or one whole rotissaire chicken .. meat pulled and shredded)
1 can of fire roasted tomatoes w garlic
1 can enchilada sauce (however hot you can handle)
1 can corn (or frozen)
1 can black beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can chopped green chili's
1 packet of taco seasoning (the packets are easier then homemade because they contain corn starch which is a thickening agent)
1 green pepper
1 onion
1 quart of chicken stock
cilantro (fresh makes it SO much betteR)
cayenne pepper
paprika
garlic powder
bay leaf
cumin
chili powder
red pepper flakes
salt
pepper
toppings and extras ::
frito scoops
tortilla scoops
sour cream
mexican cheese
peppers of any kind
cooked white rice (I have tried mexican but because you will pour the chili over the rice.. white rice is better)
and really anything else you can think of.. maybe some green onions for the top?
Alright so gather all of your ingredients together and start working your can opener... best to do it all in one swoop and work those forearms! Sorry forgot to mention it is a workout too.. ps for all you automatic can opener people.. curse you.. oh and buy me one please :)
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| I was making two batches remember.. you only really need one pot! |
Grab you trusty crock pot.. and start dumping in the tomatoes, chilis and enchilada sauce
next drain and rinse beans and corn.. so important so you don't have nearly as much sodium or preservatives!
add in your taco seasoning
Ok so with your green peppers and onion.. you can either a) hand dice them.. I prefer this method because I like to see and taste my green peppers and onions or you can b) use your handy dicer.. I used this method because I was having a rather picky crowd .. two men who do NOT like to see their peppers or really veggies and if they do they will pick every single one out.. this way I am hiding them!!!! so dice away and add
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| All the pretty colors should start to show::: |
Now comes the chicken. If you have just gone ahead an gotten a rotissaire chicken (this I prefer as well but I had this chicken in the freezer and it needed to be used and in all honesty it probably tastes the same because it cooks down so much) take all the meat off of the bone and shred it with a fork into "stringy" chicken and add at this step. For those of use who are using raw chicken breast.. just add them.. once they cook (about 5-6 hrs in the crockpot.. or even just a little bit before serving) go ahead and pull just the breasts out onto a plate and shred them then add them back.. a good point to do this is before serving while the rice is cooking.
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| This was shredded about 6 hrs into cooking... |
alright in goes all the spices.. I am going to hit you again with the palmfuls. The more you make this dish the more you will know how many spices you can handle and how much of each.. the more chili powder and cayenne obviously the more heat. Add 2 palmfuls of each cilantro (if using fresh just dice up a few good handfuls), paprika, chili powder. add a pinch of red pepper and cayenne (these two pack a serious punch so less is more.. you can always add more for heat but you cannot take away once it is in there.. so be careful!) add one palm of garlic powder and a few shakes of cumin. just a little pepper should be fine.. you can add salt later in the cooking process when you taste before serving! add a bay leaf (I totally forgot my bay in this batch.. it gives it a little earthy taste.. I know you are probably thinking I don't want my chili to taste earthy.. but it really makes it better.. really.. trust me!)
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| ok so all added spices are not photographed.. I figured you got the idea of what a palmful looked like.. |
Add about 3/4 a quart of chicken stock... sorta add a little at a time because if you add too much it ends up more like soup.. too little and you will have burnt chili... so you want enough to have a good bit in there but not enough that it looks like straight water
turn that crockpot on low and walk away. You can prepare this the night before and just let set it in the crock pot (***edit IN THE FRIDGE... raw chicken sitting out over night :(.. yea way to go becky not clarifying) and turn it on (after removing it from the fridge) in the morning on your way out the door.. by the time you come home from work your ENTIRE house will smell SO good.... like seriously I am with Rachael Ray on this one.. they need to invent a way to capture smells so they can be broadcast across the internet or television.
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| here I added a little too much stock.. so I thicken it a little with some corn starch later in the cooking process |
To serve this. (yes i was so excited to eat I forgot to get a picture of the cooked version in the pot..) I make some fresh white rice and just put a nice scoop of rice in a bowl then pour the chili on top.. your guests can chose their toppings (we make a little bar of toppings on a lazy susan and it is so fun). We love to use scoops to scoop the chili all up instead of a spoon. Or you have the choice of just crushing your chips into the chili or no chips.. it is all your guests choices! Don't you love it? I love catering to my family and my guests needs!
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| Our buddy Steven's beautiful chicken chili creation... I was already devouring mine when I realized I forgot a plated picture |
Enjoy down to the last bite! I am telling you this meal is SO good! And a great way to use left over chicken or clear some pantry shelves. Feel free to use different kinds of beans too. Whatever you have on hand...
Now to get some reader input.. What is your favorite go to meal for guests? Comment below!
