Chicken and black bean chili
Easy Dinner Recipe for the Busy Mom
Do you have a few easy go-to recipes? You know the kind . . . maybe you had to work late, or someone was confused about whose turn it was to cook, so you have to throw something together. These recipes would include ingredients which you tend to keep in your pantry or fridge, of course. Some of my go-to recipes are "breakfast for dinner" (eggs, sausage, pancakes), egg salad, chicken salad, or CHICKEN AND BLACK BEAN CHILI. I'm going to share my "secrets" for easy chicken and black bean chili here. It's so easy!(For image info, scroll down.)
Ingredients
2 cans of canned chicken breast1 can of black beansabout 1/2 of a small white onion, chopped (can use frozen chopped onion, too)olive oilchili powdersalt and pepper
Stock your pantry with these ingredients.
Chili pepper, canned chicken breast, and black beans are the staples I keep in my pantry so that I will be ready to make this. If you have a Sam's Club or Costco membership, you can stock up on their brands of canned chicken, like we do. We also always have black beans because my husband grew up in Miami with a Panamanian grandmother, and black beans were a staple at her house!
I serve mine over rice, but that's optional.
How to make it:
1. Pour about 1-2 tablespoons olive oil into the bottom of a pot and set to about medium heat.2. Add chopped onion to it to brown the onion. (Frozen chopped onion would work, too, but I happen to always keep fresh onions, so that is what I use.)3. After onions are browned, turn down the heat and add the 2 cans of chicken. Stir well.4. Sprinkle liberally with chili powder. Stir well.5. Add black beans and stir well. Add salt and pepper to taste.5. Simmer for at least 30 minutes. Stir every so often.Add more chili powder, if you like. The longer you cook it, the better it will taste. I find that when the aromas begin coming out in the air and smelling delicious, it's time to serve. I usually cook for about 45 mins to an hour, but sometimes we can't wait that long.I like to serve it over rice, but that's optional.
You could add canned corn to it, as well!
Also optional. We don't usually have canned corn in the house, so I don't use it. But it surely would be good!
Do you have easy go-to recipes for when you are in a pinch?
Do you have one or more recipes that you can throw together at the last minute?
I am a lazy cook, so I love this recipe!
I am not a gourmet chef. I don't have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen, so over the years that I have been married, I have significantly pared down some recipes that I used to take an hour or more preparing. You have to learn what works and what doesn't, take shortcuts where you can, and streamline your process.One reason I love this recipe is that it is super easy and doesn't require a lot of time in the kitchen. All I'm doing that takes any prep work is chopping onion, and as I mentioned, you can actually use frozen chopped onion, if you choose. But we always have onions in the fridge, so that's what works for me.So, short of chopping onion, I am just opening cans, shakers, and a bottle of olive oil. I can come and go from the kitchen, stirring as needed. Super easy!!