Slow Cooker Fast Lady Peas Chicken Chili

• servings: 6-8 servings

Ingredients

1 ½ to 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thighs, or a mix

½ pound Fast Lady peas (or substitute other Belden Barns beans)

1 large yellow onion, diced

2 stalks celery, diced

2 (4-ounce) cans diced green chili peppers, preferably "fire-roasted", drained

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 ½ to 2 teaspons kosher salt

½ teaspooon ground coriander

½ teaspoon dried oregano

1 bay leaf

4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

1 cup frozen corn kernels

To serve: lime wedges, sour cream, sliced avocado, chopped cilantro, crushed corn tortilla chips, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, hot sauce

Optional: serve over rice

Directions

Combine all the ingredients (except chicken stock and corn) in a 6- quart (or larger) slow cooker. Stir to make sure the spices coat everything.

Nestle the chicken into the vegetables. Pour chicken stock over top, covering the chicken and vegetables by an inch or so. Cover and cook for 8 hours on LOW.

About 30 minutes before the end of cooking, stir in the corn. Taste and add another ½ teaspoon of salt or other seasonings as desired. Cover and cook for the remaining time.

To finish: The chicken will be falling apart at the end of the cook time. You can help it along by reaching into the pot with two forks to shred it. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve with the fixings of your choice.

Notes

STOVETOP VERSION: If you don't have a slow cooker, this recipe can be made on the stovetop! Follow the same instructions, but simmer the soup in a stockpot or Dutch oven over low heat until the chicken easily shreds apart and the peas are cooked. Add more stock as needed.

FOR A SPICIER CHILI: Roast 2 poblano peppers and 2 jalapeño peppers over a gas flame or under the broiler until charred. When cool enough to handle, rub away the skin, remove the seeds and membranes (or save for an even spicier chili) and roughly chop. Add to the slow cooker along with the chicken at the beginning of cooking.

Recipe from the kitchn