Secret Ingredient White Chicken Chili.
Have you ever thought about all the different types of chili in the world? Up until the past few years, I thought there were two types – everyone else’s chili and my chili, the best darn chili on the planet (according to my husband). Well, if you ask my kids and my husband, that statement about my chili con carne might still be true, but knowing more about chili now than I did then, that statement might not be true.
If I begin to list all the different types of chili, I won’t be able to stop until the rooster across the street crows again this time tomorrow morning, so here is an abbreviated list: Chili, Chili Dogs Chili, White Chili, Taco Chili, Green Chili, Chili Con Carne, Chili Mac, Vegetarian Chili, Chili Frito Pie, Chile Verde, Fish Chili, Cincinnati Chili, Chili Burgers, Chili-Tamale Spread, Dixon’s Chili, Slow-Cooker Chili, Southwestern Chili, Texas Chili and Black Bean Chili. I’ll stop there.
Chili is an incredibly versatile dish, and that’s one of the reasons I love it. I can incorporate my favorite meats, beans, cheeses, vegetables and spices, or I can choose to leave them out. The resulting masterpiece will be determined by my mood at that particular moment. If happy, I’ll add more sweetness, if bored, I’ll add extra spice; if daring, I’ll add more beer to see what might happen.
I’m trying to remember the first time I made White Chicken Chili, but I think it was in 2008. I came across a recipe in a local cookbook I had purchased a few years earlier, and decided it was time to come up with my own version. My Secret Ingredient White Chicken Chili is my latest chili creation. It is packed full of flavor from the beer, to the cumin, to the secret ingredient. With the first bite, your taste buds will be shaking their maracas.
One day I might have a chili party and prepare my favorite chili recipes. I’ll serve all my favorites and let a panel of chili experts decide which is the best of the best, but until then, there are two things I know for certain:
1. I still make the Best Darn Chili-Dog Chili.
2. My Secret Ingredient White Chicken Chili will make you want to shake your bum while your taste buds shake those maracas.
Enjoy!
White Chicken Chili
Ingredients
- 1½ cups diced onion
- 1 Granny Smith apple peeled, cored & diced
- 3-4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 2 tablespoons butter unsalted
- 4 cups cooked cubed or shredded chicken (4 chicken breasts or 1 large rotisserie chicken)
- 3 cups chicken broth – low sodium or unsalted
- 12 ounces beer – your favorite, Dos Equis or Main & Mill Green Chile Blond Ale
- 1 can chopped green chiles drained or 1 fresh Anaheim or California green chiles, seeded & chopped
- 2 cans Great Northern Beans drained
- 1 lime – juice only
- ¼ teaspoon ground red pepper, opt.
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon Ancho chili powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon apple pie spice
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup Half & Half, whole milk or heavy cream
- ½ cup fresh cilantro chopped
- --------------------
- For Garnish:
- Sliced avocado
- Fresh cilantro chopped
- Low-fat sour cream
- Mexican blend or sharp cheddar cheese
- Crackers or crusty bread
- tostito-style chips
Instructions
- In a large skillet, place canola oil and butter. Add diced onion and diced apple and sauté until onion is translucent and apples are soft. Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds more.
- In a Dutch oven or large pot, place all ingredients except the half ‘n half, cilantro and garnish ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 50 minutes.
- After 50 minutes, add chopped cilantro and Half & Half. Turn heat to medium, stir and cook until heated through.
- Serve with your choice of garnishes.
- Enjoy!
Janette@culinaryginger
I love a white chili and this sounds so good. Great combination of flavors I can't wait to try your recipe.Susie Gall
Thank you, Janette, and thank so much for stopping by today.peter @feedyoursoultoo
I love a white chicken chili. one of these days I will have to try it myself.Susie Gall
I know you will put your own terrific spin on it, Peter, and it will be fantastic. Thanks for coming by today.Dan from Platter Talk
I can only imagine how wonderful this white chicken chili is to taste! We love our rendition as well and as I was looking at yours and wondering what might set yours apart from ours, it quickly dawned on me - beer. Genius. Such a natural enhancer to the other ingredients, many of which we use in ours too. Really job with this one Susie. Then again, I'm convinced you know of no other way.Susie Gall
Thank you so, so much Dan. One of these days we will have to get together to share a terrific meal. We need to pick a time when not too much else is going on since there are so many food topics to cover. It would be a blast. Thanks (again) for your sweet comments.[email protected]
Looks so yummy Susie. I can't wait to give it a try!Susie Gall
Thank you, Nancy. I think you will love it. Thanks for stopping by, I truly appreciate it.Nicole Neverman
This chili sounds fantastic, Susie. Love all the amazing spices. Looking forward to trying this one!Susie Gall
Thank you, Nicole. It is one of my favorites and I think you will be pleased. Thanks for coming by today - so sweet of you.Heidy@ The McCallums Shamrock Patch
White Chicken Chili in my opinion never looks better, those photos are beautiful and make me want this immediately.