Chipotle Chicken Chunky Chili

Ok, confession- I've been withholding this one. Not because I don't want anyone else to enjoy it- and you will enjoy it! But I've been a little busy with classes and teaching and grants and...I digress. So I made this a couple weeks ago, loved it, planned to share it, but didn't. Then tonight I pulled out the frozen half of the batch and had some for dinner- and here I am deciding that the dissertation grant can wait, this is too good not to share! Like pumpkin spice latte good! Like Hershey's dark chocolate Kisses good!

What I used:

• 3 slices turkey bacon
• olive oil
• 1 lb chicken thighs, cut into bite sized pieces (I suppose you could use chicken breasts, but thighs are cheaper and flavorful!)
• 2 garlic cloves, diced
• cumin, salt, pepper
• white cooking wine
• 1/3 white onion, diced (less if you are not a big onion fan)
• about 1/3 cup diced green pepper
• 1 15oz can chicken broth
• 1 15 oz can white beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 15 oz can creamed corn
• 1 cup diced potatoes
• McCormick White Chicken Chili packet
• McCormick Chipotle Grilling marinade (ok, its something like that)
• flour (optional)

What I did:

In a large stock/soup pot (i.e. what you typically make chili in) cook turkey bacon until crispy (or as crispy as turkey bacon gets). Remove and set bacon aside, but do not rinse pan...there won't be much fat but you want whats there. Add just about 1 tsp-1Tbsp of olive oil (more or less depending on the fat in the pan). Add chicken and garlic, salt and pepper (err on the side of too little seasoning) the chicken, then cook until chicken appears cooked but not brown on the outside. Add peppers and onions and continue to cook adding about 1/2 cup of wine before the chicken gets browned- you want it juicy! Add broth, fill the can with water and add that. Bring to a boil and add potatoes and cook until potatoes are al dente, adding water if needed. Reduce heat to low simmer and add 1/2 the McCormick White Chicken Chili packet, 1/4 the Chipotle marinade packet, beans, cooked turkey bacon (torn into bite sized pieces) and creamed corn. If you want it thicker, mix about 1/3 c flour and 1/3c water together in a bowl, then stir into pot. Just simmer until reduced to your desired thickness. Check the flavor and you can add more of the packets or more salt and pepper as desired. It will have just a bit of a peppery kick.

This freezes and reheats well and has a very comfort food feel, but for what I typically budget for dinner in terms of WW points. I'd serve it with a salad or a fruit salad as it's pretty heavy...filling and delicious! Enjoy!