Description
This Jalapeño Popper Chili is a creamy, flavorful twist on traditional chili, combining shredded rotisserie chicken with spicy jalapeños, white beans, and corn. Enriched with cream cheese and topped with melty cheddar or pepper jack cheese, crispy bacon, and fresh cilantro, it delivers a comforting, slightly spicy dish perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow or white onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 medium jalapeño peppers, seeded, deveined, and diced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 (15-ounce) can white beans, drained
- 1 (15-ounce) can white corn kernels, drained
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
Garnishes
- Grated cheddar, pepper jack, or Mexican cheese blend (quantity to preference)
- Crumbled crisp bacon or store-bought bacon bits (quantity to preference)
- Chopped fresh cilantro (quantity to preference)
- Jalapeño peppers, thinly sliced, or pickled jalapeños (quantity to preference)
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Gather all ingredients, including the olive oil, diced onion, minced garlic, diced jalapeños, chili powder, salt, shredded rotisserie chicken, chicken broth, white beans, corn, and cream cheese as well as your garnishes.
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Once the oil shimmers, add diced onion, minced garlic, diced jalapeños, chili powder, and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 5 minutes until the onions become transparent and soft.
- Add Main Ingredients and Simmer: Stir in shredded rotisserie chicken, chicken broth, drained white beans, and drained white corn kernels. Bring mixture to a low boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 15 to 20 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Incorporate Cream Cheese: Turn off the heat and add cream cheese. Gently stir until the cream cheese is fully melted and incorporated, resulting in a creamy chili with no lumps.
- Serve and Garnish: Ladle chili into bowls and top with your choice of grated cheese, crispy bacon bits, chopped fresh cilantro, and thinly sliced or pickled jalapeños. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Adjust the quantity of jalapeños according to your preferred spice level.
- Use rotisserie chicken for convenience, but leftover cooked chicken works as well.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute chicken with plant-based protein and use vegetable broth.
- Spicy garnishes can be omitted or replaced with milder options if desired.
- Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature to ensure smooth incorporation.
