Chicken Chili Verde (A Slow-Cooker Chili For All Seasons)

Q.  What should you do if your soup is too hot?

A.  Add a chilly pepper

(This post may contain affiliate links)

Jump to Recipe

This morning I woke up, extra grateful for a day off.  It's a cloudy day here. (December, Iowa, 'tis the season)  The first day in recent memory that I don't have a deadline, a place to be, a day of meetings, or anything pinning me to the calendar.

If you stopped by for a cup of coffee, I’d apologize and say that I've never been much of a fan.  Tea?  I’d offer, and reach for an herbal blend.  You’d find me wearing my favorite flannel pajamas, my husband's sweater, an attempted fluff of yesterday’s hair.

I’d probably put on mascara, though, let’s be honest.

— — —

We would talk about a number of things.  I’d share that it's been a good week, although truth be told, I've been fighting off a case of the winter blues.  You’d share you’re doing your best to be a good human, trying not to compare your efforts to other people, and we’d toast to that.

Refill?  I’d ask.

— — —

A small smattering of loveliness we might also share:

Wishing – for everyone to see the Mr. Roger's movie.  You'll feel like you're wrapped in the coziest blanket of kindness.

Related – the article the movie is based upon     [via Esquire]

Wondering – Friends, do you happen to have a good recipe for ramen?  I'm wanting to perfect a brothy noodly bowl of goodness and am hoping for a place to start

Reading (slowly, because I never want it to end) – Driftless by David Rhodes – One of the best books I've read in a very long time.  Whatever you do, find a place for it on your nightstand.  I can't say enough good things

Avoiding – our building's package room(!)  150+ apartments + Christmas?  Finding anything has become a boy job.

Holiday Musts – David Sedaris' Santaland Diaries + Paul Harvey's Christmas Story

The hustle, the bustle – I can accurately claim neither, although we did buy a giant wreath for our front door.  It makes my heart happy every time I round the corner

Happiness is – warm bathrobes from the dryer, vitamin D on the tongue

Today's philosophy to remember – for marriage and anything else:  “Life is sad.  Here is someone”   ~ Lorrie Moore

Hoping – to find a holiday cookie exchange.  I've been watching church billboards as I drive around town, but so far, no luck.  Lots of cute sayings, but no cookie announcements.  There's nothing merrier than a church basement filled with sugary goodness and cheer

Cooking short-list – includes Steamed Sweet Potatoes with Tahini,  Marinated Lentils, crunchy veggies, and some marinated beets, which I plan on turning into various salad-y lunch bowls.  For quick dinners, Soy-Ginger Scrambled Eggs, Greek Salad with Shrimp, and a big pot of Freaky Greens.

For the dessert gods – this weekend I'll be testing a chocolate cake with a peppermint frosting (maybe?) and/or sugar cookies for next weekend's Spaghetti Saturday

Cookbooks on the kitchen counter – Melissa Clark's Dinner – her recipes are simultaneously simple enough to make on weeknights and interesting enough to make for guests.  A few favorites:  Tofu with Ginger and Spicy Greens, Parmesan Dutch Baby, Pizza with Broccoli Rabe, and Tortilla Soup

More cookbooks on the kitchen counter – Amy Chaplin's Whole Food Cooking Every Day – all of her base recipes are captivating, and I'm excited to try her seasonal variations.  A few favorites:  Almond-Coconut Milk is yummy on morning oatmeal, fermented veggies of all sorts, and the wonderfully satisfying Cacao-Pear Hazelnut Cake

All else – cold walks, woolen feet, thumb-printing the cream cheese cookies for a Maraschino cherry

I think its safe to say; we're long overdue for a really good chicken chili recipe around here.  I'm not entirely sure what has taken me so long – I guess I needed a gentle nudge from my husband who still talks about the bowls of Chicken Chili Verde he used to eat at an old haunt.

It's not that I wasn't cooking chili, I just wasn't sharing.  I kept waiting until the pot in front of me was one that I was extra happy about.  The kind of chili that finds you leaning over the pot spoon in hand, saying, “Oh my, now this is good!”  And believe me, I would never have dreamed the best pot of chili I've made in a long time would be inspired by a bunch of green chiles.  But sure enough, that's what happened.

Any great chili should be richly spiced, with layers of deep, savory flavor and this one fits the bill.  Here, that big flavor comes from plenty of green chiles, fresh and canned; their kick offset with creamy white beans to mellow it all out.  Depending on your tolerance for heat, remove the seeds from the jalapeño before mincing.

While cilantro isn't everyone's favorite, a handful added at the end lends an unexpected freshness.

Lately, I've been making so many of our meals in the slow-cooker, especially meals like chili who's flavor improves with a long, slow simmer.  But no worries, I can also be prepared on the stovetop, adding an extra cup of stock because the liquid is more likely to evaporate.

This makes a big batch, is so nice for a cold-weather get-together, but if you're making it for a smaller group, the leftovers freeze well.

Enjoy!

xoxo

~ Adapted from The New York Times