Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 lb thick-cut bacon, crisped and crumbled
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 30 oz canned black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 15 oz canned sweet corn, drained
  • 20 oz diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained
  • 1 small white onion, finely diced
  • 8 oz full-fat cream cheese, cubed and softened
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly shredded
  • 1 oz dry ranch seasoning packet
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 0.5 tsp cumin

Instructions:

  1. Lay the foundation. Place those 2 lbs of chicken thighs at the bottom of the slow cooker. Note: This ensures the meat gets the most direct heat.
  2. Season the meat. Sprinkle the ranch seasoning, 1 tsp smoked paprika, and 0.5 tsp cumin directly over the chicken.
  3. Layer the aromatics. Add your diced white onion, 30 oz rinsed black beans, 15 oz corn, and the 20 oz of undrained tomatoes.
  4. Pour the liquid. Gently pour 2 cups of chicken broth over everything. Do not stir! Note: Keeping the layers separate helps the chicken cook more evenly.
  5. Set and forget. Cover and cook on Low for 4 hours (or High for 2-3 if you're in a rush) until the chicken reaches 165°F.
  6. Shred the protein. Take the chicken out, put it in a bowl, and pull it apart with two forks. It should fall apart effortlessly.
  7. Melt the cheese. Drop the 8 oz of cubed cream cheese and 2 cups of cheddar into the hot liquid.
  8. Whisk for gold. Whisk vigorously until the cheese is completely smooth and the sauce looks like liquid gold.
  9. Combine and rest. Fold the shredded chicken and half the crumbled bacon back in.
  10. Final thickening. Let it sit on the 'Warm' setting for 10 minutes until it looks velvety and thick. At the four hour mark, when you take the lid off, you should be greeted by a deep, savory aroma that is heavy on the cumin and smoke. If the sauce looks a little thin at first, don't panic. The 10 minute rest at the end is crucial; that's when the starches in the beans and the proteins in the cheese really start to tighten up. Liquid Gold Homemade Chicken Glace Naturelle — Unlock intense flavour with my Chicken Glace Naturelle recipe A concentrated ...Best Homemade Chicken Parmesan Recipe Panko Crispy Cutlets — Master this classic ItalianAmerican staple Our simple Chicken Parmesan recipe...Chicken Soup for the Soul Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup — Feeling under the weather This homemade chicken noodle soup is like a hug in ... $img_2$