Best Lean Green Chicken Chili Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S GREEN CHICKEN CHILI

Steps:

• Season chicken thighs with salt on both sides.
• Transfer 1/2 the chicken to a dry, nonstick skillet over high heat. Cook until browned, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a bowl. Brown the rest of the chicken. Let cool to room temperature before cutting.
• Combine salsa verde, green chilies, garlic, jalapeno, and cilantro in a blender. Blend, starting on low and finishing on high, until sauce is very smooth and bright green.
• Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and transfer back into the bowl. Combine chicken pieces, accumulated juices, and the green sauce into a pot. Season with cumin, chipotle pepper, black pepper, oregano, and salt.
• Rinse out blender with a splash of water and pour into the pot. Mix together and set heat to medium-high. Bring to a simmer; reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until chicken is tender, depending on size of chicken pieces, about 1 hour. Stir in kidney beans and simmer until thickened, about 15 minutes.

GREEN CHICKEN CHILI

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground chicken and use a wooden spoon to break up the meat as it browns. Remove the chicken to a plate and set aside.
• Add the remaining tablespoon olive oil to the Dutch oven and reduce the heat to medium. Add the onion and jalapeño. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are translucent and tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the garlic, cumin and coriander and cook until the spices are fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the chicken broth, shredded chicken, cooked ground chicken, salsa verde, salt and pepper and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Bring to a low boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and let simmer, stirring occasionally, 1 hour. Stir in the beans and half-and-half and continue to simmer, uncovered, until the liquid has reduced and the chili is thick, about 30 minutes.
• Serve with cheese skulls, tortilla chips, sour cream, cilantro and scallions.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place a 6-count skull mold on a baking sheet.
• Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese into each skull mold. Bake until the cheese has melted and the edges just begin to brown slightly, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Allow the skulls to cool for 2 minutes, then remove from the pan. Serve on top of a warm bowl of chili. Cheese Skull recipe courtesy of The Kitchen.

QUICK AND EASY GREEN CHILE CHICKEN ENCHILADA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a medium baking dish.
• Season chicken with garlic salt. Arrange in the prepared baking dish. Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until no longer pink and juices run clear. Cool, shred, and set aside.
• With metal tongs, char each tortilla half over the open flame of a gas stove burner for about 1 minute, until lightly puffed.
• Pour about 1/2 inch enchilada sauce in the bottom of a medium baking dish, and arrange 6 tortillas in a single layer. Top with 1/2 the chicken, 1/3 cheese, 1/2 the sour cream, and 1/3 of the remaining enchilada sauce. Repeat. Coat remaining tortillas thoroughly with remaining enchilada sauce, and arrange on top of the layers. Sprinkle with remaining cheese, and top with any remaining enchilada sauce
• Cover, and bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool slightly before serving.