Description
Creamy comfort meets zesty excitement in this slow cooker cream cheese crack chicken chili, a mouthwatering fusion of rich flavors and hearty textures. Delightful spices and tender chicken blend seamlessly, promising a satisfying meal that will keep you craving more with each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 6 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
Beans and Vegetables:
- 1 (15 ounces / 425 grams) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 ounces / 425 grams) can corn, drained
- 1 (10 ounces / 285 grams) can rotel (diced tomatoes with green chilies)
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 (1 ounce / 28 grams) packet ranch seasoning mix
- 1 (8 ounces / 226 grams) block cream cheese, cubed
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 green onions, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Assemble the base: Nestle chicken breasts into the slow cooker, creating a foundation for the chili. Cascade black beans, corn, and Rotel around the chicken, then generously sprinkle ranch seasoning and complementary spices throughout the mixture.
- Enhance moisture and creaminess: Strategically distribute cream cheese cubes across the top of the ingredients, ensuring even coverage for ultimate flavor infusion.
- Slow cook to perfection: Secure the lid and allow the slow cooker to work its magic, transforming the raw ingredients. Select low temperature for 6-8 hours or high temperature for 4 hours, ensuring chicken becomes supremely tender.
- Breakdown and integrate: Extract chicken from the liquid, meticulously shred using two forks. Return shredded meat to the slow cooker, thoroughly blending until cream cheese melts completely and coats every ingredient.
- Final flavor enhancement: Introduce shredded cheddar cheese and crispy bacon crumbles, stirring gently. Allow an additional 5 minutes for cheese to melt and flavors to harmonize.
- Presentation and serving: Ladle the rich, creamy chili into serving bowls. Garnish with fresh green onions and accompany with tortilla chips, crackers, or rustic bread for a satisfying meal.
Notes
- Prep chicken efficiently by using frozen chicken breasts, adding 1-2 hours to cooking time for perfect tenderness.
- Customize heat levels by selecting mild or spicy Rotel tomatoes, accommodating different spice preferences.
- Reduce dairy for lighter version by substituting half the cream cheese with Greek yogurt, maintaining creamy texture while cutting calories.
- Enhance protein content by adding extra beans or swapping chicken with shredded rotisserie chicken for quicker preparation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 290 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg