Description
Heartwarming queso chicken chili brings southwestern comfort to your dinner table with creamy melted cheese and tender chicken. Spicy, rich flavors blend perfectly, promising a soul-satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken (rotisserie works great)
- 1 (15 oz) can white beans (cannellini or great northern), drained and rinsed
Dairy:
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened and cubed
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese
- ½ cup heavy cream or half-and-half (optional for extra creaminess)
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles
- 1 (10 oz) can Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chilies), drained
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups chicken broth
- Fresh cilantro, jalapenos, or tortilla strips (for topping)
Instructions
- Warm a capacious pot over medium flame, drizzling olive oil to coat the bottom of the vessel.
- Gently sauté diced onions until translucent and softened, releasing their aromatic essence.
- Introduce minced garlic, verdant green chiles, and a harmonious blend of cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper, stirring to awaken their vibrant flavors.
- Incorporate tender shredded chicken, pristine white beans, zesty Rotel tomatoes, and rich chicken broth into the aromatic mixture.
- Allow the concoction to reach a gentle simmer, letting the ingredients meld and intensify their collective taste profile for approximately 10-12 minutes.
- Carefully fold in cream cheese, stirring consistently until it dissolves into a luxurious, silky texture.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese, continuously stirring until completely melted and integrated.
- Optional: Enhance the dish’s opulence by streaming in heavy cream, creating an even more decadent consistency.
- Transfer the bubbling chili into serving vessels, embellishing with fresh cilantro, fiery jalapeño slices, crisp tortilla chip fragments, or a tantalizing drizzle of hot sauce.
Notes
- Boost Flavor by sautéing onions and garlic slowly to develop deep, rich undertones that elevate the entire chili’s taste profile.
- Create Creamy Consistency by gradually melting cream cheese and stirring continuously to prevent clumping and ensure smooth texture.
- Customize Heat Levels by adjusting chili powder, adding fresh jalapeños, or incorporating different pepper jack cheese varieties to match personal spice preferences.
- Make Dietary Adaptations such as using low-fat cream cheese, shredded chicken breast, and reduced-sodium broth for a lighter version, or swap beans with cauliflower for low-carb alternatives.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 12 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg