Cheddar Chicken Chowder (and Craig's all-time favorite soup)

We made dinner to take my awesome yoga instructor when she had ACL surgery on Friday, and Craig suggested Cheddar Chicken Chowder, a modified Cooking Light recipe we've made for years. It is so flavorful, total comfort, creamy, hearty, lots of veggies, with a smidge of heat from Tabasco. It's easy to prepare and can be made ahead and reheated. Try it. You'll like it. Alot.

Cheddar Chicken Chowder

Serves 7

2 bacon slices
Cooking spray
1 pound skinned, boned chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup diced red bell pepper
2 stalks celery, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups fat-free chicken broth
1 3/4 cups diced red and/or Yukon gold potatoes – do not peel
Tabasco – few shakes depending on your heat tolerance
2 1/4 cups frozen whole-kernel corn
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups 2% low-fat milk – more if it seems too thick
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Diced green onions
Minced cilantro

Cook bacon in a Dutch oven coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan. Crumble; set aside.

Add chicken to bacon fat in pan and cook until no longer pink. Remove from pan. Add onion, bell pepper, celery, carrots, and garlic to pan and sauté 5 minutes (add olive oil to sauté if need). Add broth, potatoes, and Tabasco; bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Add corn; stir well.

Place flour in a bowl. Gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until blended; add to soup. Cook over medium heat 15 minutes or until thick, stirring frequently. Stir in cheese, salt, and pepper.

Top with crumbled bacon, green onions, and cilantro.

1 comment:

  1. Craig EvansJune 16, 2010

    Do you ever read a blog that says something like "favorite" and just don't believe it? It's so true, this is my favorite and it's amazing and not too heavy - works in the summer as well as the winter. When Denise says "a few shakes" of tabasco that is before Connor walks in the kitchen. You can make ths as spicy (or not) as you'd like.

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