Description
Hearty crockpot cream cheese chicken chili delivers comfort in a bowl, blending tender chicken with creamy textures and bold southwestern spices. Weeknight dinners become effortless when slow-cooker magic melds rich flavors into one satisfying meal you can’t wait to savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 block (8 ounces / 226 grams) cream cheese
Beans and Vegetables:
- 1 (15 ounces / 425 grams) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 ounces / 425 grams) can corn, drained
- 1 (10 ounces / 283 grams) can diced tomatoes with green chilies (Rotel)
Seasonings:
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional, for extra depth)
Optional Serving Ingredients:
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped green onions
- Sour cream
- Tortilla chips or cornbread
Instructions
- Position chicken breasts as the foundational layer inside the slow cooker, ensuring even distribution across the bottom surface.
- Generously cascade black beans, corn kernels, and zesty diced tomatoes with green chilies directly over the chicken, creating a vibrant initial layer.
- Sprinkle a comprehensive blend of ranch seasoning, chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika across the ingredients to infuse deep, complex flavor profiles.
- Strategically place the entire cream cheese block atop the seasoned mixture, allowing it to melt and integrate during the cooking process.
- Secure the slow cooker lid and initiate cooking: select low temperature for 6-8 hours or high temperature for 3-4 hours, ensuring chicken reaches complete tenderness and thorough internal cooking.
- Carefully extract chicken breasts and utilize two forks to meticulously shred the meat into delicate, uniform pieces.
- Return shredded chicken to the slow cooker, vigorously stirring to guarantee cream cheese completely dissolves, creating a luxuriously smooth and creamy texture.
- Transfer the aromatic chili into serving bowls, embellishing with optional garnishes like shredded cheddar cheese, freshly chopped green onions, or a creamy sour cream dollop.
- Accompany the chili with crispy tortilla chips or warm, golden cornbread for an enhanced dining experience.
Notes
- Customize the heat level by adjusting the chili powder and choosing mild or hot diced tomatoes with green chilies.
- Opt for low-sodium beans and seasonings to control salt content for health-conscious individuals.
- Swap chicken breasts with rotisserie chicken or plant-based chicken alternatives for a quicker or vegetarian version.
- Enhance meal prep by freezing leftovers in individual portions for easy future meals.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours (on Low) or 4 hours (on High)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 292 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 623 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg