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White Chicken Poblano Chili

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Creamy White Chicken Poblano Chili with hearty beans, flavorful poblano and bits of sweet corn is a comforting change from the classic beef chili.

Creamy White Chicken Poblano Chili with hearty beans, flavorful poblano and bits of sweet corn is a comforting change from the classic beef chili.

Everyone makes the classic beef chili, but how about trying this White Chicken Poblano Chili? Inspired from our most recent visit to Costco where we wove our way through the samples. My daughter had one bite and loved it, wanting to take some home. But, of course, I had to tell her that I’ll make it a home. The phrase she is all too familiar with. I knew I had to create a recipe for this cold weather comfort food right away.

This comforting chili starts off with big flavor from browning the chicken thighs in bacon fat then transferring to the oven and roasted for even more depth of flavor. I like to use chicken thighs because they retain moisture, but if you prefer, you can substitute for white meat.

Tips:

Whenever you can – buy dried beans. You not only save money, but I have to believe that they are better for you having not been sitting in the can for months on the shelf. If you’re in a hurry, use rotisserie chicken. Just stir in some of the juices at the bottom of the container.

Serving Suggestions:

  • Dollop of sour cream
  • Diced avocado
  • Crunchy tortilla chips
  • Chopped cilantro

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White Chicken Poblano Chili

Creamy White Chicken Poblano Chili with hearty beans, flavorful poblano and bits of sweet corn.
Course Main Course, Soup
Cuisine Chicken
Keyword Chicken Recipes, Hearty Soup
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Soaking beans 1 day
Servings 8

Ingredients

  • 2 lb skin on chicken thighs
  • 1 tbsp bacon fat or vegetable oil
  • 1 yellow onion diced
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 1 serrano pepper minced
  • 1/2 cup corn
  • 4 poblano peppers roasted, skin/seeds removed and sliced (can sub canned green chilies)
  • 1 lb dried navy beans, soaked overnight or about 4 cans navy beans, drained
  • 6 cups good chicken broth I use Better than Bouillon
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 can Muir Glen diced tomatoes
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped

Instructions

  • Brown chicken thighs in bacon fat or vegetable oil over medium high heat in your large soup pot. Transfer chicken to sheet pan and finish cooking in the oven at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes or until cooked through.
  • Saute onion, serrano pepper and red bell pepper in the same pot with the chicken drippings for 2 minutes.
  • Add remaining ingredients and simmer until chicken is cooked, about 45 minutes.
  • Removed chicken thighs from oven, remove skin and shred. Add shredded chicken to soup pot OR serve as a topping along with sour cream, avocado, tortilla chips and more fresh cilantro.

Hot Chicken Sandwich with Jalapeno Buttermilk Sauce

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Crispy, Hot Chicken Sandwich with Jalapeno Buttermilk Sauce is a spicy fried chicken breast tossed in spicy honey sauce, drizzled with jalapeno buttermilk then topped with fresh sliced mango.

Hello….. Summer Sandwiches

My hot chicken sandwich  just got an ooey gooey upgrade. You’re  going to need to break out the stack of napkins on this baby.

It starts with a spicy buttermilk soak, gets double dredged in spicy flour and fried to golden perfection. Then drizzled in the most amazing spicy Cajun honey and topped with creamy jalapeño buttermilk, fresh mango and cilantro. Its the perfect mouthful of heaven.

I found thin sliced chicken breasts at my local grocery. If you can’t find thin sliced, just grab regular chicken breasts and slice thin at home. Lay one chicken breast flat on the cutting board, place the palm of your hand over the top and press down firmly while slicing through lengthwise with a very sharp knife.

**The key to this is to continue pressing firmly with a very flat hand.

Jalapeno Buttermilk Dressing

This creamy dressing is so easy to make with rich buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, cilantro and a whole jalapeño whirled in the blender.

Save the leftover dressing in a Mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Jalapeno Buttermilk Dressing is a great addition to your classic taco salad, just drizzle over the top for an added creamy zest. And if you love it over your taco salad, you will definitely want to try it in your burrito.

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Hot Chicken Sandwich with Jalapeno Buttermilk & Fresh Mango

Crispy, spicy fried chicken breast tossed in spicy honey sauce, drizzled with jalapeno buttermilk then topped with fresh sliced mango
Course Main Course
Cuisine Burgers, Sandwiches, Pizza, Chicken
Keyword Hot Chicken Sandwich
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 4 chicken breasts, thin sliced
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning such as Zatarains
  • 2 large eggs whisked
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1/3 cup Cajun seasoning such as Zatarains

Spicy Honey Drizzle

  • 3/4 cup honey warmed
  • 3 tsp Tabasco hot sauce
  • 1 tsp Cajun seasoning such as Zatarains

Jalapeno Buttermilk Dressing

  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 jalapeno whole with seeds
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro

Fresh Mango

  • 1 mango peeled, sliced
  • 1/2 lime juiced
  • 1 tsp cilantro

Other Ingredients

  • 2-4 cups vegetable oil for frying
  • 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
  • 4 Brioche hamburger buns
  • 1 handful cilantro for garnish

Instructions

Chicken

  • Combine 3/4 cup buttermilk, 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning and 2 blended eggs in a large dish. Soak chicken breasts in mixture while you prepare Spicy Honey Drizzle and Jalapeno Buttermilk Dressing.
  • In a large Ziplock bag, combine 3 cups flour and 1/3 cup Cajun seasoning.
  • Place chicken breast, one at a time, in Ziplock bag and shake it up. Remove from Ziplock bag and place back in buttermilk mixture. Then one more time in the Ziplock bag until all chicken breasts have been double coated.
  • Heat vegetable oil in a large , wide rimmed pan, to about 350 degrees. I set my stove top to medium – medium high. You want enough oil to nearly cover the chicken. This is not deep frying, but rather pan frying.
  • Fry chicken breast, turning as each side browns, until fully cooked through. Times will vary depending on thickness of chicken breasts. Internal temp should read 165 degrees.
  • Remove chicken to wire rack and season with more Cajun seasoning right away.
  • Assemble Hot Chicken Sandwiches: Place a spoonful of Jalapeno Buttermilk Dressing on bottom bun, then fried chicken breast, then Spicy Honey Drizzle, then Jalapeno Buttermilk Dressing and finish with sliced mango, cilantro and the top bun.

Spicy Honey Drizzle

  • Combine warmed honey, Tabasco and Cajun seasoning.

Jalapeno Buttermilk Dressing

  • Place buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, jalapeno and cilantro in a blender and pulse until smooth and creamy.

Sliced Mango

  • Toss sliced mango with lime juice and cilantro.

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Thai Party Wings

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Lemongrass infused Thai Party Wings are grilled and tossed with a blend of sweet and spicy Thai inspired ingredients that really pack in the flavor!

My family has a thing for chicken wings. Every so often, I like to switch up the flavor profile like these Thai inspired party wings. For me, wings have to be crispy on the outside, tender on the inside and packed with flavor. It’s a three part process consisting of marinading, grilling/frying/baking and finishing off with a toss in the bowl with desired sauce.

It’s ALL ABOUT the Lemongrass

Lemongrass is the key ingredient for infusing these wings with out of this world flavor. The lemony flavor really lifts these wings to another level, together with fresh ginger and lots of garlic. You can usually find lemongrass stalks in your grocery store. It’s next to ginger root in the produce section. Often when you get the stalks from the grocery, they have a hard woody exterior. Remove a few of the outer layers until you get down to a softer inner core. This is an important step as lemongrass stalks are fibrous and the outer layers are inedible.

Instagram

If you’re following on Instagram, you may see these recipes in action. I like to share photos of what the food looks like as I’m preparing it and often show this in my Instagram Stories @theherbalistandthecarnivore

So, if you’re not sure what lemongrass looks like OR if the sauce should be packed with that many herbs and spices…check my stories and see!

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Thai Party Wings

Lemongrass infused Thai Party Wings are grilled and tossed with a blend of sweet and spicy Thai inspired ingredients that really pack in the flavor!
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine Chicken
Keyword Chicken Wings
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 24 party wings

Thai Party Wing Sauce

  • 2 tbsp garlic powder
  • 2 tbsp fresh ginger grated
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemongrass minced
  • 1/2 cup rice vinegar
  • 1 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 6 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp red chili flakes
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp fresh chives minced
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil

Instructions

  • Combine all Thai Party Wings Sauce ingredients in a bowl. Coat the party wings in 1/2 of the mixture and let sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
  • Fire up the grill. If using charcoal, make an indirect heat area so you don't burn your wings.
  • Grill party wings, turning occasionally, until internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
  • Remove to a large bowl and toss with remaining Thai Party Wing Sauce.

Grilled Chicken Caesar Spears

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Perfect for a summer soiree, these light and fresh Grilled Chicken Caesar Spears are bite size and packed with flavor. Grill your own chicken breast or use pre-grilled bite size chicken from your local grocery.

Light and fresh Grilled Chicken Caesar Spears are packed with flavor

These Grilled Chicken Caesar Spears are SUPER FUN to eat! Chicken breast gets coated in mayonnaise and my favorite spicy seasoning then grilled up to perfection on my Weber charcoal grill. Of course, you could make this even easier by purchasing pre-grilled chicken bites at your local grocery.

I know I’m always looking for quick and easy recipes during the hot Summer months. Recipes that get you away from the kitchen and outside where all the fun is at. These would be the perfect addition to any picnic at the park, especially if you buy the pre-grilled chicken. Just package everything up in your basket and assembly is a cinch when you get to your destination. Or how about on your Summer camping trip? I always welcome anything fresh while I’m camping. In fact, I CRAVE IT!

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I would love to hear from you! If you make my recipe, stop back by and leave a comment. Not only would it totally make my day, feedback helps me deliver the best content on my blog.

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Grilled Chicken Caesar Spears

Light and fresh Grilled Chicken Caesar Spears are bite size and packed with flavor
Course Main Course, Salad
Cuisine Chicken
Keyword 15 minute meals, Bite Size
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 12 romaine lettuce leaves
  • 3 thin chicken breast fillets
  • 1 tsp Zatarain’s cajun seasoning or your favorite seasoning
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise
  • ½ cup Marie’s Caesar dressing
  • 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup parmesan fresh grated
  • ½ cup croutons chopped
  • Lemon slices for serving

Instructions

  • Prepare grill
  • Coat chicken with mayonnaise and seasoning
  • Grill chicken getting nice charred grill lines
  • Remove chicken and let sit for 5 minutes
  • Mix together in a ziplock bag dressing and olive oil, cut tip of bag to create a “piping” bag
  • Cut chicken into cubes
  • Lay out all the romaine lettuce leaves
  • Using the ziplock “piping” bag squeeze a line of dressing on each romaine leaf
  • Arrange about ¼ cup chicken cubes on romaine (how much chicken depends on size of romaine leaf)
  • Using “piping” bag squeeze another line of dressing (I like zig-zag pattern over chicken)
  • Top with chopped croutons and parmesan
  • Serve with lemon wedge
  • * Ingredients are approximate and may need to be increased if using larger romaine lettuce leaves

Chicken Skewers with Apricot, Blueberries & Basil

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Farmer’s market finds turn grilled chicken skewers into a delightful summer dish with apricots, blueberries & basil. Drizzled in a basil honey vinaigrette and served along side grilled lemon halves. This dish belongs outside on the patio with a nice glass of vino.

One of my favorite things to do is visit our local farmer’s market. I like to go before I do my weekly grocery trip and see what fresh produce I can find, then I base my weekly menu off of these seasonal ingredients. This week it was ALL ABOUT the apricots. Fresh apricots from Eastern Washington and they are Oh-So-Tasty!

I really wanted to celebrate their fresh natural state and thought, paired with blueberries and basil, and drizzled with a honey basil vinaigrette would be perfect. That sweet and tangy vinaigrette drips down through the apricots and onto the grilled chicken skewers for extra flavor.

This recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes because…duh it’s SUMMERTIME and we want to play/relax/enjoy, right? Here’s a few more recipes that are perfect for your #summerpicnic and will leave you with time to soak up the last bit of sunshine.

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And don’t forget to leave me a comment….It would make my day!

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Chicken Skewers with Apricot, Blueberries & Basil

Course Main Course
Cuisine Chicken
Keyword 30 Minute Dinner, Farmer’s Market Meal, Summer Picnic
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 4

Equipment

  • Skewers

Ingredients

Chicken Skewers

  • 8 chicken tenderloins
  • 1/2 cup Marie's Basil Pesto Vinaigrette

Honey Basil Vinaigrette

  • 1 tbsp shallot minced
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp fresh basil chiffonade
  • salt and pepper to taste

Other

  • 2 apricots sliced
  • 1/2 cup blueberries
  • 1 lemon halved

Instructions

Chicken Skewers

  • Marinade chicken tenderloins in Marie's Basil Pesto Vinaigrette while you heat up the grill.
  • Thread two tenderloins on each skewer. Grill until opaque in center and juices run clear (165 degrees internal temp) Grill lemon halves flesh side down until charred.
  • Dress chicken skewers with Apricot, Blueberries & Basil mixture.

Honey Basil Vinaigrette

  • Combine all ingredients together and drizzle over apricot, blueberries, basil and chicken skewers.