Spicy Chicken Chili

Cold temps may be on the way out (fingers crossed), but there’s still time to make chili. Using chicken thighs, I made this Spicy Chicken Chili.

This is a very simple dish to make that’s full of healthy ingredients. I used dark meat, but if you want it even healthier, you can use white mean. But I actually prefer dark meat for the flavor in slow-cooked dishes.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lb. of boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 6), cut into strips
• 2 TBSP olive oil


Serve Spicy Chicken Chili with Jalape&ntidle;o-Cheddar Cornbread

• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 TBSP white pepper
• 2 TBSP black pepper
• 3 TBSP chili powder
• 1 TBSP ground cumin
• 2 TBSP kosher salt
• 3 jalapeños (seed removed), chopped
• 1 can crushed tomatoes with their juice
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1 can pinto beans, drained
• 1 can red kidney beans, drained
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro (optional)
• Sour cream (optional)
• Shredded cheese (optional)

Directions:

1. In a large pot or saucepan, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 3 minutes, or until they soften.
2. Increase the heat to medium and add the chicken. Cook about two minutes until the strips are no longer pink.
3. Stir in the salt, white pepper, chili powder and cumin.
4. Add the jalapeños and the tomatoes with their juice.
5. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
6. Uncover and stir in the beans and black pepper. Simmer until the chili has thickened (about 15 minutes longer).
7. Spoon chili into bowls and garnish with cilantro, sour cream and shredded cheese (if desired)

If the chili seems to spicy for you, remove a tablespoon of chili powder and take out a jalapeño or two. Also, if your chili is a little too thick, cut it with some chicken broth (or water if you don’t have chicken broth).

I served my Spicy Chicken Chili with Jalapeño and Cheddar Cornbread (cornbread I don’t share the recipe for). You can also sub in different kind of beans as you see fit. Chili is a really versatile dish so use your culinary imagination.