Things I miss about winter – already:
My awesome knee high socks. Sure, no one else sees them but I love the argyle print, stripes, and awesome random prints that match my outfit every day. The moment it get’s over 60 degrees it’s time to bust out the flip flops, wedges and open toed pumps. No more knee socks until next winter.
It’s warming up, which means I have to get in the last wear of that awesome cable sweater until next season. No more of those adorable thermal prints with polar bears or those cozy long sleeve henlys. They have all gone back into hibernation until the crisp days of fall.
My crock pot. It seems I deem my crock pot a winter tool (unlike a grill which is to be utilized all year long). I am now hurried to finish out the the last of my savory crock pot recipes that I had squirreled away for the cold days.
Large hearty meals. Sure, large slabs of meat are in season all year long via grill, oven, or smoker but large birds, pot roasts (and all the heavy trimmings that come with them) and hearty stews are winter meals in this household. It’s time for the change to a juicy carne asade from the grill and pull apart briskets in the smoker.
Quick Dinner Fixins: Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Chili
Found on Sprinkled With Flour, adapted from skinnytaste
Ingredients: 
- 1 onion, diced (optional)
- 1 16-oz can black beans
- 1 16-oz can kidney beans
- 1 8-oz can tomato sauce
- 1 8-oz can corn
- 2 (14.5-oz) cans diced tomatoes w/chilies
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 tbsp chili powder (can reduce this amount for less spiciness)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 package shredded cheddar cheese
Preparation:
Combine beans, onion, corn, tomato sauce, cumin, chili powder, garlic, taco seasoning in crockpot.
Place the chicken on top and cover.
Cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 6-8 hours.
Before serving, use a fork to shred the chicken, and stir to mix.
Serve over cooked rice and top with shredded cheddar cheese.
Tip: This is also great topped with fresh cilantro, sour cream, and jalapenos. It keeps very well in the refrigerator and tastes even better the next day. For additional flavor, squeeze a little fresh lime juice (to taste) into the meat and stir.
I used 2 lbs chicken thighs. I probably will use 3 to 4 pounds of thighs when I make this dish again.
I’m glad I made this a priority before my crock pot returns to storage. I was shocked to see how simple the prep was when I went to make it hurriedly before work, amazing when the chicken thighs feel apart without much help from myself after simmering all day and more than pleased with the flavors. Nothing so spicy that you weren’t able to taste anything distinctly, and nothing so bland that it couldn’t be picked out and enjoyed on it’s own.
And sure, it may have to cook in a slow cooker for 8 to 10 hours, but it doesn’t get much easier or quicker then this when it comes to putting supper on the table.
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My name is Kita. I am a 20 something girl geek and website/graphic designer who can rock an apron like there is no tomorrow. 
This recipe looks wonderful and I LOVE the pics. I really love the bowls. I, too, will miss my crock pot!
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This recipe looks delicious; I loooooove crock pot cooking. I’ve never considered my crock pot a winter-only tool, though; I think I depend on it so much for regular cooking that I wouldn’t know what to eat if I stored it away all spring and summer. ^_^ Pretty bowls, by the way, where are they from?
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I’m so glad you tried this and enjoyed it! It is one of my husband’s favorite crockpot meals:)
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Mmmmm….there are very few crockpot dinners that appeal to me, but this is definitely one! Beautiful photos~
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Are those bowls from Anthropologie?
This chili looks great. It turned back into winter over the weekend for us here in LA so I am looking forward to spring.
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I agree and think of the crock pot as a winter tool with a couple of exceptions. We tend to have a lot of really large gatherings and I have a killer recipe for crock pot mac and cheese.
It is great to make when there are no free burners and the oven is full or when it is hot and you don’t want to heat up the house by turning on the oven.
There is something about paying a lot of money for air conditioning and heating up the house by running the oven or the cloths dryer that rubs me the wrong way.
Food for thought.
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I love my crock pot…seriously it is such a life saver sometimes. This looks amazing! I would put a slice of avocado on this for me and I would be in heaven…
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This looks so good! I’d eat it even if it was warm outside:-)
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No way jose! I am going to continue using my crockpot year round. That is one love affair I refuse to put on hold. Your chili looks delish, as always.
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Gorgeous meal. I love dishes like this, a nice small bowl is plenty….with lots of extra cheese and sour cream.
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Actually my crock pot is more of a summer tool, at least for me. Here in Arizona our summers are so incredibly hot, and a crock pot, as opposed to the stove or oven, does not heat up the kitchen. Crock pots and summer should go together.
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Most the time when I make chicken chili I keep it white, with great northern beans and no chili powder but this looks great. I want a bowl with some corn chips to dip into it.
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I read this and now I have this exact recipe (minus the corn) in my very own slow cooker right now. Thanks for sharing this! I think we have a few more months of indoor cooking left if we want but this sounds so perfect. Thank you for sharing this! I just have to get some chips to crunch on top of this!
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Looks good Kita. It’s warm here all year long so I use my slow cooker year round too.
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Love this! You rarely see a chicken chili recipe that isn’t “white.” Great post and pics! ♥- Katrina
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oh yum, a crockpot meal!! I love using my slow cooker…it only comes out a few times a year, and the meal never disappoints.
I am about to steal your adorable bowls!!
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Wowww..I love how you made this dish! So beautiful and tasty looking!! Yummy!!!!
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This is one of those recipes where my mind immediately starts going through the contents of my cupboards to see if I have what it takes to make it right away. I actually think I do. There’s even chicken in the fridge. Since the weather’s supposed to dip into the 20′s tonight, there’s no reason not to make this!
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Yummm, Mexican food and crock pots… you really can’t beat that combination! And I don’t know where you are but winter just hit us face on here in Breckenridge, we have had over 40 inches of snow in the last week!
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