Southwestern Chili

Time :6 hours 15 minutes
Yield :5 servings

Recipe Background

Southwestern Chili gets to the heart of what a great chili should be: hearty, meaty, spicy, and intensely flavorful. The broth is packed with herbs and zest, and the chicken thighs are succulent and tender. Oh, and let's not forget all the hot-off-the-bone ham stirred into this fragrant, filling stew. Yes indeed, Southwestern Chili is a trail-blazingly delicious meal!
Southwestern Chili gets to the heart of what a great chili should be: hearty, meaty, spicy, and intensely flavorful. The broth is packed with herbs and zest, and the chicken thighs are succulent and tender. Oh, and let's not forget all the hot-off-the-bone ham stirred into this fragrant, filling stew. Yes indeed, Southwestern Chili is a trail-blazingly delicious meal!

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 1/2 pounds chicken thighs boneless and skinless, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 pounds ham hock
  • 1 (15.5-ounce) can great northern beans rinsed and drained
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can chicken broth
  • 1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chiles
  • 1/4 cup onion chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro minced
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • sour cream optional, to taste, for topping
  • jalapeño optional, sliced, to taste, for topping

Directions

  • In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat.
  • Add the chicken thighs to the hot oil and brown them, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Transfer the chicken to a 3-quart slow cooker.
  • Add the ham hock, the beans, the broth, the chiles, the onion, the cilantro, the garlic powder, the cumin, the oregano, and the red pepper flakes.
  • Cover and cook on low until the ham is tender, about 6-8 hours.
  • Transfer the ham bone from the slow cooker.
  • When cool enough to handle, remove the meat from the bone and discard the bone.
  • Cut the ham meat into bite-sized pieces and return it to the slow cooker.
  • Top the chili with the sour cream and the sliced jalapeño.
  • Serve.
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