Tag Archives: Chili

Living in MN, I think there is a short window of time to use your smoker for “hearty” meals.  You can use it year-round for various kinds of meats or perhaps vegetables, but if you are making something traditionally enjoyed during winter months or that is much more filling, you don’t have much time.  That is why I took advantage of the mild winter and slightly warmer than usual temperatures lately to make a batch of Smoked Chili with Ground Beef.  I chose this time of year for a couple of reasons.  1) winter is too cold for me to want to smoke food and I would spend too much time trying to keep the temperature consistent, and 2) I wanted to make something hearty that could be enjoyed while it was still cold out.  That’s why this time of year was perfect (for me).  The smoker was able to … Continue reading

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The weather has been so weird lately; it is still winter?  Did spring come early?  Who knows!  But winter is a time for chili so regardless of the outside temps, I was going to make chili.  I ended up with a Chili Cornbread Skillet.  It might look and sound complicated but it’s actually quite easy to make and doesn’t need to cook in a slow cooker all day.  It a delicious comfort food that packs a little heat (but isn’t too spicy) and has great texture.  There is a good ratio of meat to beans to tomatoes in each bite too, with neither ingredient overpowering another.  And the cornbread topping is a nice addition if I do say so myself.  It’s hefty and makes the dish extra savory since the cornbread is part of the dish vs being served on the side. The recipe can be found here. Start by making the chili.  You’ll want to use a Dutch oven or large … Continue reading

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We were craving chili this week and decided to try making Chicken Jalapeno Popper Chili.  It’s incredibly flavorful without being too spicy.  It’s loaded with tender chicken, beans, salty bacon, and creamy/brothy goodness.  And it comes together so quickly!  No slow cooking all day or simmering on the stove.  You basically combine all ingredients in a large pot or Dutch oven, simmer for a short while, and dig in.  It’s perfect when you want a warm and hearty meal but don’t have a lot of time.  It also makes great leftovers to enjoy the next day or to freeze for a future meal. The recipe can be found here. Start by prepping your ingredients.  This makes cooking go much faster and you are prepared to add ingredients when the recipe calls for them.  Remove the rotisserie chicken from the bones and shred.  You should have about 4 cups of chicken, which is the perfect amount for this recipe.  Cook the bacon … Continue reading

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With the low temperatures we’ve had lately I want to hunker down and have a hot meal after work.  Chicken Apple Chili is my new favorite go-to meal!  It’s a bit non-traditional but is very easy to assemble, is light and refreshing, and is the perfect fall meal.  Plus, it comes together in just a few hours (set it and forget it) so you aren’t waiting 4-8 hours like traditional chili. The recipe can be found here. You need a slow cooker for this one-pot recipe.  Add all ingredients to the bowl of the slow cooker, except the apples, and stir together.  Cover and cook on high for 2 hours.  Serve with chopped apples on top.  Easy peasy! The only real effort you need to put into this recipe is chopping the veggies. I also like to use rotisserie chicken in this recipe.  It’s pre-cooked and reduced the amount of … Continue reading

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Is anyone else questioning why they live in MN with the weather we are having this week?  If you are looking for a quick 30-minute meal, that is also warm and hearty, to get you through the cold weather I have the perfect solution.  It’s Chicken Taco Soup. The soup is loaded with chicken, beans, corn, and tomatoes, and is packed full of flavor.  Most of the item you probably already have in your pantry, so it’s easy to whip together during the week.  It’s the perfect hot meal on a cold winter night! The recipe can be found here. I like to turn this into a one-pot meal (who wants to do more dishes?) so I use a large soup pot for all ingredients.  Start by cooking the ground chicken until done.  Drain any excess water.  I like to use a paper towel to absorb some of the water.  … Continue reading

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My new favorite slow cooker chili recipe is for Buffalo Chicken Chili.  It has the perfect amount of spice, a creamy base, tender chicken in every bite, and only take about 10 minutes to assemble.  Then…set it and forget it!  There is so much flavor packed into this recipe, you’re sure to like it! The recipe can be found here. Start by adding the chicken to the base of the crock pot, then layer all other ingredients on top – beans, corn, tomatoes, chicken broth, Ranch dressing mix, buffalo wing sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, celery salt, dried cilantro, and salt. Stir to combine all ingredients.  Then place the brick of cream cheese on top. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours.  Once 4 hours have passed, remove the chicken and either shred or cube, and put back into the crock pot.  Stir and cook for another 30 minutes. … Continue reading

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Winter is the best time of year to have chili!  It’s hearty, delicious, keeps you warm on a cold day, and is super easy to make.  One thing I love about chili is the “set it and forget it” mentality.  Once you combine the ingredients and set the timer, the slow cooker does all the work and you have a wonderful meal 4-8 hours later.  I personally like this on busy weekends because we don’t have to worry about dinner, spend time planning and cooking, etc. but still get to enjoy a nice meal.  I have two different chicken chili options to share with you.  I like a bit of heat/spice in my chili and think both recipes have the perfect amount.  You get an amazing combination of chicken, veggies, and spices without it being too overwhelming.  If you are anything like Andrew and love spicy food, you can always … Continue reading

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The cool and crisp fall weather has arrived much too soon but it’s perfect weather to begin cooking hearty soups and stews with fragrant herbs for your family meals or prepping some chili for a crowd to watch football. This is a classic Minnesota soup made with wild rice made especially easy if you use Rotisserie chicken from our deli, moist and full of flavor our Rotisserie chickens are useful as an ingredient in many recipes (think chicken quesadillas) as well as a main course. We call our recipe Minnesota Wild Rice Soup it has lovely rich flavor and one of my favorite fall recipes. Another of our favorite soups is Hearty Italian Soup made with our very own fresh Italian Sausage – available either Hot or Mild, easy to make for a quick meal during the week, we like to serve with a fresh baked baguette. Taco Soup is all the … Continue reading

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Soup and chili feel just right for the change in seasons, a little heartier fare for cooler weather. Two of our absolute favorite soups are our Hearty Italian Sausage and Taco Soup. Try the Taco Soup with slices of avocado and fresh cilantro on top for a real treat.   We think our new Chili recipe is ingenious because it uses our own fresh Italian Sausage as well as ground beef for a rich wonderful chili. Check out our new video with “Chef” Ryan cooking up a batch. This recipe is a crowd pleaser!     If you are having people over to watch football or just for cocktails we have a simple appetizer recipe that seems just right in terms of comfort food, try this Killer Artichoke Bread recipe.   Cheers!

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