White Bean Chicken Chili
Calories:
Ingredients
- 2 strips bacon sliced crosswise in ¼-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 medium onion cut in ¼-inch dice
- 2 stalks celery cut in ¼-inch dice
- 1 medium yellow bell pepper cut in ¼-inch dice
- 3 medium cloves garlic minced
- 1 small jalapeño seeded and finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 4 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 3 medium carrots cut in ¼-inch dice
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 4 19- ounce cans white beans*
- 3 cups shredded cooked chicken breast I use leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken
- ½ cup half and half
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Place bacon in a large dutch oven and cook over medium heat until golden and beginning to get crisp. Remove cooked bacon with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with several thicknesses of paper towels. Set aside.
- Add olive oil to bacon fat in pan. When oil is hot, add onions, celery, bell pepper, garlic and jalapeño to pan and cook until soft, about 4-5 minutes. Add flour, cumin, chili powder and oregano and cook 2 minutes, stirring continually.
- Slowly add chicken broth, continuing to stir. Bring to a boil then add carrots and sea salt. Reduce to a steady simmer.
- Rinse and drain beans. Mash 2 cups (approximately 2 cans) of the beans with a fork until fairly smooth. Add beans, mashed bean mixture, reserved bacon and chicken to simmering broth. Cook 15-20 minutes or until carrots are very tender.
- Add half and half and cilantro and stir to combine. Serve hot with tortilla chips and garnish with extra cilantro and/or a handful of cheddar cheese. It's also great with a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt.
Notes
* I like to use several different varieties of white beans in different sizes. This time, I used 2 cans of Cannellini beans and 2 cans of butter beans. Great Northern would also be fine.