Southwest Chicken Chili at Home

Papa Joe’s is a gourmet market here in Southeast Michigan. Back when I worked in the hospital, Papa Joe’s opened a mini-market inside the concourse where they served soups, salads and, my personal go-to, chicken chili. If I could, I would’ve ate it every single day I was working. So you can imagine how severely disappointed I was if they didn’t serve it on a day I was there.

Back then, I only work three to 4 (12 hour shifts) days a week, and once when I was off for a long weekend, it got me thinking – I want/need that chili. I wasn’t about to drive 30 minutes to the nearest Papa Joe’s and I was certainly not driving up to the hospital on my day off for a bowl. So I made my own instead.

For this Southwest Chicken Chili Gather:

• extra light olive oil – Or you can substitute with avocado oil.
• yellow onion – Adds a subtle sweet onion flavor.
• jalapeño –Remove seeds and ribs for less heat.
• garlic – Adds distinct punchy flavor.
• kosher salt – This will draw out flavor and season the dish.
• tomato paste – Lends depth and flavor to the chili.
• ancho chili powder – Lends smokiness with deep rich flavor. Spice level ranges from mild to medium.
• cumin (ground) – Adds earthiness and warmth, with an edge of citrus.
• thin-cut chicken breasts – This is cooked in the chili and then shredded.
• tomato sauce – Adds a rich and tangy tomato flavor with a little acidity.
• low-sodium chicken broth – Use kitchen-made or store-bought.
• pinto beans – I like to use canned for ease.
• black beans – I like to use canned for ease.
• poblano pepper – Charred with stem, skin and seeds removed.
• charred sweet corn – Lends to the smoky flavor and adds sweetness and texture.
• fat-free refried beans – Use this unfussy from-scratch recipe or store-bought.
• lime juice – Adds acidity and bright citrus flavor.

In a large pot or dutch oven add 2 teaspoons olive oil, 1 large (chopped) onion, 1 jalapeño and 3 cloves minced garlic plus a pinch of kosher salt and heat over medium-low heat. Cook until the peppers and onions are simply beginning to soften.

Measure and add 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 4 teaspoons ancho chili pepper and 2 teaspoons cumin.

Add 2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce.

Then pour in 2 cups chicken broth.

Next add 1-3/4 pounds thin-cut boneless skinless chicken breasts.

Cover and bring to a low boil, reduce to low and simmer 35 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked.

Remove the chicken and shred with 2 forks.

Return the chicken to the pot along with 2 cans (drained and rinsed) pinto beans and 1 can black beans. Stir to combine.

Next add in 1 (15 ounce) can fat free refried beans, 1 cup charred sweet corn and 1 poblano that has been charred (skin, stem and seeds removed) and diced.

Season with kosher salt, to taste. For me it was 2 teaspoons. Also, squeeze in the juice from 1 large lime.

Give it a good stir and heat through.

Ladle into bowls and top with desired toppings.

I highly, HIGHLY recommend a large dollop of sour cream or plain non-fat Greek yogurt to your bowl of Southwest Chicken Chili. We ended up adding thin corn tortilla strips and also sprinkled them in while we ate! Oh my lord. My daughters sprinkled white cheddar cheese in their bowls, and a regular at dinner put Cholula in his.

The sky is the limit.

• COOL: make sure the chili is completely cool before freezing. Never place hot or quite warm items in the freezer (or fridge!) as it can thaw and negatively affect the nearby food.
• PORTION: when cool, divide chili into portions. Whether it’s a single serving, two or four, portion the cooled chili into either freezer safe bags or air-tight containers. I prefer using freezer safe bags and removing as much air as possible, this helps with storing.
• FLATTEN: once portioned, lay flat on a rimmed baking sheet and freeze for a few hours. Like in this post.
• STORE: stack the flat frozen chili portions vertically or horizontally saving so much freezer space. Store chili in the freezer for up to 6 months.
• REHEAT: I prefer to thaw frozen chili overnight in the fridge. However you can soak in a sink of lukewarm water for 20 to 30 minutes – flip every so often and change out the water at least once or twice. You can also defrost in the microwave until thawed. Lastly, add thawed chili to saucepan or dutch oven and heat until thoroughly heated throughout.

Enjoy! And if you give this Southwest Chicken Chili recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!