Three Bean Chicken Chili

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Chili is one of my favorite comfort foods, especially in the fall and winter. What is better than coming home after a cold day to a warm pot of chili simmering in the crock pot? Try this recipe for a lighter version that skips the red meat and cheese but still has all the flavor of regular chili.

Ingredients

 

1 8oz can of tomato sauce
2 14oz cans diced tomatoes
1 4oz can diced green chillies
1 16oz can pinto beans
1 16oz can black beans
1 16oz can kidney beans
10oz package of frozen corn
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped (make sure you wear gloves while chopping peppers!)
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon dried mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
3 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Avocado & cilantro for garnish

Preparation

1. Add all of the canned tomatoes and the green chillies to the crock pot.
2. Drain and rinse all of the canned beans, then add them to the crock pot.
3. Add the frozen corn, onion, jalapeno, and garlic to the crock pot. Stir all the ingredients to combine.    (Note: I did not put any jalapeno seeds into my chili, but if you want a little more kick, try adding the seeds).
4. Add all the spices & the Worcestershire sauce to the crock pot and stir until all the ingredients are well mixed.

5. Place the three chicken breasts on top of the bean mixture. Cover and cook on high for 6 hours (or on low for 10 hours).
6. Remove the chicken breasts, shred them, and return the shredded chicken to the crock pot. Stir the chicken into the bean mixture. Cover and cook on high for another 30 minutes.

7. Serve the chili in bowls, topped with chopped fresh parsley.

I love adding cheese to my chili, but since I am eating diary free I have had to come up with an alternative. I added smashed avocado to my bowl of chili instead of cheese because avocado is a neutral flavor that cuts some of the spicy flavor, the same way cheese or sour cream does. You could also try adding dairy free cheese, or some crunched up tortilla chips to give your chili a little crunch. Enjoy!