Slow Cooker Series: White Meat & Bean Chili

As I have mentioned repeatedly in many of my posts, most Walmart stores will price match their competitors grocery ads. Each individual store is different, some allow you to purchase meats and poultry at these reduced prices, others will not. A month or so ago we were able to purchase chicken breast for $1.69lb (regular price was $3.24lb, a 52% savings). One of the recipes I like to make when I am able to get chicken breast at a reasonable price is a 'White Meat and Bean Chili.' Now, I say white meat because this recipe is readily adaptable to using rabbit meat (which is all white meat) and turkey breast as well. This recipe makes 96 ounces of chili.

6 cups of water or rabbit, chicken, or turkey stock

1 ½ pounds white meat (chicken, turkey or rabbit)

1 ½ cups navy beans, dried

1 (7.8 ounce) Salsa Verde (Green Mexican salsa)

1 onion, minced

2 tablespoons chicken bullion

1 teaspoon cilantro

½ teaspoon cumin

½ teaspoon black pepper

Sort though and remove any small rocks you may find. Yes, I said small rocks, as you may find some, but they are not as prevalent in Navy beans as they are in pinto beans, and you really do not want to break a tooth. Add the navy beans to the crock and cover with 2 to 3 inches of water, then soak the dried beans overnight.

In the morning drain the water (pour it in your houseplants or garden, why waste it) and add 6 cups of fresh water or stock to the slow cooker (if you are using chicken stock, omit the powdered chicken bullion). Add the remaining ingredients (except the onions and any raw meat) and set your slow cooker on high.

While the slow cooker is heating up, saute your onion until it starts to become a golden brown. If you are using raw chicken as we are in this recipe, brown (saute) the meat as well to enhance the flavor and texture of the chicken. 

If your meat is already cooked (such as that removed from the bones of a chicken, turkey, or rabbit) chop or shred the meat to the desired size and add it to the slow cooker. Once you have completed sauteing the onions and the white meat add them to your slow cooker and leave it on high for one hour.

The only decision left to make is to determine when you want your chili to be ready. If you want to be able to eat the chili within the next 3 to 4 hours then continue to cook it on high for another 3 or 4 hours. If however you are wanting to cook the chili over night, or you want it took cook while you are at the office or running errands, then reduce the heat to low and cook for 8 to 10 hours. Remember the only thing not cooked in this recipe are the beans. So if you over cook them they may dissolve and become part of the liquid making the dish more like a soup than chili, but it will still taste great.

Cost Benefit Ratio:

So lets look at the actual cost of our homemade chili versus that of three of the most popular commercially prepared chili's available on supermarket shelves here in Texas. I realize that in other parts of the country there may be different brands and prices may very, but the following prices are pertinent as of 11/2014 here in East Texas.

Hormel White Chicken Chili with Beans $1.98 for 15oz can (0.13 cents per ounce)
Wolf Brand Chili, Texas Recipe No Beans $1.83 for 15oz can (0.12 cents per ounce)
Stag Ranch House Chicken Chili with Beans $1.86 for 15oz can (0.12 cents per ounce)
Campbell's Southwest-Style Chicken Chili with beans $2,98 for 15.7oz can (0.19 per ounce)

Slow Cooker Chili $5.38 for 96 ounces (0.5 cents per ounce) A 50% Savings over store bought!

This Recipe:

1 ½ pounds chicken breast cubed (1.5lb x $1.68lb = $2.52)

1 ½ cups navy beans, dried (12oz x $0.08 per oz = $1.00)

1 (7.8 ounce) Salsa Verde (Green Mexican salsa) $.078 per can

1 onion, minced (3/4lb x $0.20lb = $0,15)

Misc Spices Listed Below ($.50)

2 tablespoons chicken bullion

1 teaspoon cilantro

½ teaspoon cumin

½ teaspoon black pepper

Conclusion:

This low fat white meat chili recipe is not only healthy, but delicious, and at 0.5 cents per ounce it is 50% cheaper than store bought chili's of similar ingredients. This chili can even be made at a lower cost if you use the meat removed from chicken. turkey or rabbit bones when making soup stock. Not only do you get a great homemade stock, any meat removed from the bones when the stock is strained is essentially free. And everyone likes free, Right? Anyway, I hope your family enjoys this recipe as much as mine does.