Description
Creamy crockpot cream cheese chicken chili delivers comfort in a bowl, blending hearty ingredients with rich, tangy flavors. Slow-cooked simplicity meets southwestern comfort, inviting you to savor each spoonful of this soul-warming dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 (8 oz/225 g) block cream cheese, softened
Beans and Vegetables:
- 1 (15 oz/425 g) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz/425 g) can corn, drained
- 1 (10 oz/283 g) can Rotel tomatoes (or diced tomatoes with green chilies)
- 1 (4 oz/113 g) can diced green chilies (optional, for extra heat)
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 packet (1 oz/28 g) ranch seasoning mix
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup (240 ml) chicken broth (optional, for a thinner chili)
Garnish:
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped cilantro
- Sliced jalapenos
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Position chicken breasts at the base of the slow cooker, creating a foundational layer for the chili.
- Distribute black beans, corn, Rotel tomatoes, and green chilies evenly around the chicken, ensuring comprehensive ingredient coverage.
- Sprinkle ranch seasoning, cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder across the mixture to infuse robust flavor profiles.
- Delicately nestle the entire cream cheese block atop the assembled ingredients, allowing it to melt gradually during cooking.
- Pour chicken broth gently around the ingredients to maintain moisture and enhance overall liquid consistency.
- Secure the crockpot lid and set the temperature to low, allowing the ingredients to simmer and meld together for 6-7 hours.
- Once cooking completes, extract chicken breasts and utilize two forks to meticulously shred the meat into tender fragments.
- Return shredded chicken to the crockpot and vigorously stir, encouraging the cream cheese to dissolve and create a luxuriously creamy texture.
- Gently fold all ingredients to ensure uniform distribution of flavors and consistent sauce coverage.
- Transfer the aromatic chili into serving bowls, creating an inviting presentation.
- Embellish with optional garnishes like sharp cheddar cheese, fresh cilantro, sliced jalapeños, or a dollop of cool sour cream.
- Accompany the chili with crisp tortilla chips or warm, golden cornbread for a complete and satisfying meal.
Notes
- Ensure chicken breasts are evenly spaced in the crockpot for consistent cooking and maximum flavor absorption.
- Use full-fat cream cheese for a richer, more luxurious texture that melts smoothly into the chili.
- For a lighter version, swap regular cream cheese with low-fat or neufchâtel cheese without compromising the creamy consistency.
- Adjust spice levels by choosing mild or hot Rotel tomatoes, or by adding extra green chilies for more kick.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high)
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg