Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

Happy New Year!

The roaring 20s are back, and they’re sure to be better than ever. Like most people, I try to take some time to reflect on the past year and set my course for where I want to see myself by the end of the next. It’s funny though, sometimes the most well laid plans go haywire, change, or completely transform into things you never knew were possible. Creating plans is the surest way to make God laugh after all.

I took a break from blogging for the month of December because my schedule was crazy hectic. I think that about most every month, but this time around it was truly on another level. A few of the highlights:

1. Celebrating one of my best friend’s birthdays
2. Getting to serve as a bridesmaid for some of my closest friends
3. Changing jobs
4. Celebrating Christmas with family near and far
5. Celebrating my husband’s grandparents’ 60th wedding anniversary

All lovely events, all exciting celebrations, all with lots of added emotional labor and time investment (but so worth it!). In order to juggle everything (in addition to the day to day items, classes, Christmas preparations and wrapping/baking, etc.) I realized I had to let a few things drop. If you know me – that’s almost never without stress, guilt, or feeling like I can’t be super woman all the time.

WHY DO WE DO THIS TO OURSELVES???

Obviously, we can’t be everything to everyone while being everywhere at the same time. Unless you’re Hermione Grainger with a time-turner and we all saw how that worked out for her stress levels. Pass.

It wasn’t until the end of this year that I’ve finally gotten to a point where I feel OK letting some of the tasks go and placing my focus on larger, more important items. Even if those items are relaxing with family, enjoying some quiet moments reading, or investing in my hobbies. While I accepted letting go of being able to “do it all,” by no means was it easy. I kept looking around waiting for someone to complain, to be disappointed in me, or worse judge me for my choices.

SURPRISE! There was no one watching. There was no one disappointed. And there was no judgment.

Instead, I had an immense weight lifted off of my shoulders. I didn’t have to do it all and that was OK. This energy is what I want to make a purposeful practice of in 2020. Where are the most pressing items that need my attention vs. what are the nice to haves? How do I measure each day a success and celebrate my accomplishments vs. only focusing on the items left undone? Some days will have larger lists and more productive outcomes whereas others might only contain a shower, getting dressed, and turning on the slow cooker. And that’s OK. It’s the ebb and flow of life.

Today, I’m making a conscious effort to be productive and prepare myself for the new year. After all, the superstition goes that whatever you do on New Year’s Day is what you’ll carry with you through the rest of the year. What does my productivity look like? Organizing some of the clutter to clear my home space and my head space, meal planning and prepping for success for the month, taking time to play with my dog Finn in the backyard (squirrel patrol is a never ending job), and cheering on the Dawgs in the Sugar Bowl tonight. In order to allow myself the time and energy to work on my to do list and spend time with my family, you know I’m putting my slow cooker to good use! Not only is it a time saver, but it makes the house smell amazing all day. It’s the real MVP.

This recipe was a tough one to get! Back in the day, the company I worked for held an annual chili cookoff with two categories – red chili and white chili. The rest was up to you. It could include beans, any type of ground meat, flavorings, etc. and they were grouped according to their sauce base. It was anonymous and all the folks in our building got to taste test and vote on their favorites. Without fail, my coworker’s white chicken chili would take home the trophy every year. His crockpot was all but licked clean by the end of the day. After promising to NEVER enter the recipe into our chili cookoff and keeping it on the down low from the others in the office, his wife finally gave me the recipe. It’s now a staple in our house on cold evenings, and I think of my coworker’s family every time I make it. Pair it with your favorite cornbread or dinner rolls and a lightly dressed salad for the best winter weeknight meal.  

PS – This chili works especially well around the holiday season. Not only does it feed a crowd, but you can easily substitute turkey meat in place of the chicken for a great new take on leftovers!

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

Serves 6|Hands On: 10 Minutes|Total Time: 6 Hours

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 2 cans of northern white beans
• 1 package of cream cheese (8 oz.), room temperature
• 1 medium sweet onion, diced
• 1 packet Lipton onion soup mix
• 1 packed McCormick white chicken chili seasoning
• 1 can mild Rotel
• 1 can sweet kernel corn
• 2 Tbsp. Tony Chachere’s seasoning
• 24 oz. chicken broth
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil

Optional Toppings

• Colby Jack Cheese
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• Green Onions
• Fritos

Steps:

1. Drain and rinse beans, rotel, and sweet kernel corn.
2. Sauté diced onion in 2 Tbs. olive oil over medium heat until translucent. Add drained sweet kernel corn and continue to sauté for another 5 minutes.
3. Cube the room temperature cream cheese into 8 blocks.
4. Add and mix all ingredients to the slow cooker EXCEPT the chicken broth. Stir well.
5. Add chicken broth slowly until a creamy consistency is reached. You may not need all of the chicken broth. While cooking, if the chili appears too thick you can always add additional broth.
6. Cook on low 4 – 6 hours.
7. Garnish with your favorite toppings
8. Enjoy!