Description
This Cheese Chicken Chili is a creamy, comforting slow cooker dish combining tender chicken breasts with a flavorful mix of beans, corn, spices, and cream cheese. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, it cooks low and slow to develop deep, rich flavors and a luscious, cheesy texture.
Ingredients
Protein and Dairy
- 3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- 8 ounces cream cheese, cubed
Canned Goods
- 1 can (14.5 oz) chicken broth
- 1 can (14.5 oz) petite diced tomatoes, do not drain
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) corn, do not drain
Seasonings
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker: Spray the insert of a slow cooker with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Lay the skinless, boneless chicken breasts evenly on the bottom of the insert.
- Add liquids and seasonings: Pour the chicken broth, petite diced tomatoes (with juice), black beans (drained and rinsed), and corn (with juice) over the chicken. Sprinkle the ranch seasoning packet, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, and kosher salt over the top. Gently stir the mixture to combine the seasonings evenly, but keeping the chicken breasts mostly intact at the bottom.
- Add cream cheese: Cut the cream cheese into small cubes (about 8-12 pieces) and scatter them evenly over the top of the chili mixture in the slow cooker.
- Slow cook the chili: Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW heat setting for 7 to 8 hours. This long cooking time allows the flavors to meld and the chicken to become tender.
- Shred the chicken: After cooking, carefully remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker. Using two forks, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine and finish: Return the shredded chicken back into the slow cooker. Stir everything thoroughly until the cream cheese is melted completely and the chili has a creamy consistency.
- Serve: Serve the Cheese Chicken Chili hot, optionally garnished with tortilla chips, shredded cheese of choice, chopped cilantro, and avocado slices for added flavor and texture.
Notes
- Using a slow cooker allows hands-off cooking and tender, juicy chicken.
- Do not drain the diced tomatoes or corn to preserve flavor and moisture.
- Shredding the chicken after cooking ensures it absorbs the chili flavors evenly.
- You can adjust spices to your heat preference by adding more chili powder or a pinch of cayenne.
- Serving with fresh toppings like avocado and cilantro enhances the dish’s freshness and texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American