stew

Chipotle Chicken Stew

Leave a comment

I absolutely love chipotle flavors with chicken, and this recipe was invented out of my wondering what it might be like if I could turn a chipotle chicken bowl into a stew. The fresh red onion and cilantro at the end really kick it up giving it an amazing fresh taste, but you could leave out the cilantro if that’s not your jam. I am so glad I followed my wacky whim to see how this would shape up, as it’s become a family favorite and is SO different from anything else. Super hearty and layered with flavor for days, you’re going to be glad you have leftovers – like most soups/stews, it just gets better each day, and if you don’t get to it all in time, it freezes well too. ~Robin

Ingredients:

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, chopped (pretty small pieces – about ¾ to 1 inch chunks) 

2 tsp. olive oil 

1 T. diced chipotle peppers in Adobo sauce (I use a La Costeña)*

¾ tsp. chipotle chili powder 

½ tsp. cumin 

1 tsp. jarred, minced garlic 

1 1/2 tsp. salt (divided – 1 tsp. for cooking chicken, another ½ tsp. added to soup) 

1 jalapeño, seeded and minced

½ white onion, diced

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed 

1 (11 oz.) can shoe peg corn 

32 oz. chicken broth

½ tsp. chicken bullion 

1/4-1/3 c. red onion depending on preference – I love the fresh kick of the red onion, so I use 1/3 

1 can original Rotel (can use mild if prefer less heat) 

2 c. cooked minute rice

½ – ¾ bunch cilantro (depending on how much you love it) 

juice of 2 limes (I usually just add a touch more to my bowl when I serve it up but see what works for you) 

½ tsp. garlic powder 

Instructions:

Add two teaspoons of olive oil to a large stock pot and heat to medium-high heat. Add chicken, minced garlic, chipotle peppers, onions, jalapeño, chipotle chili powder, cumin, & 1 tsp. salt.  

Cook minute rice according to directions on the box while your chicken is cooking. 

Once chicken is fully cooked (will no longer have any translucency or pinkness), add chicken broth, chicken bouillon, black beans, corn, Rotel, garlic powder, and salt if desired (may not need this salt if chicken broth isn’t low-sodium).  

Cook on medium heat, stirring often to avoid sticking, for about 10 minutes.  

Add cooked rice, red onion, cilantro, and fresh lime juice and continue to simmer for about 5 more minutes or until heated throughout and flavors have a chance to mingle a bit more.  

WW Info:  Makes 11 filling 1-cup servings at 3 points/serving on the green plan; 2 points/serving on blue and purple. 

*This recipe will not use more than a bit of the can; however, I freeze mine in ice trays so I can grab a serving size as needed for cooking later.  To do this, fill ice trays about ¾ of the way full with chopped peppers and sauce, then cover the top with plastic wrap.  Once the cubes are frozen after about 24 hours, I dump them into an airtight freezer-safe storage container. They can last up to six months in the freezer this way. Don’t worry if it’s a little messy; they don’t freeze quite as hard as other things, but they’ll stay good & fresh like this for the next time you need some chipotle in your life.     

French Onion Stew

Leave a comment

When my younger son was in grade school he started ordering French onion soup in restaurants like Panera Bread.  He’s always been a fairly adventurous eater, but that one surprised even me.  I decided that if he was going to eat it, I’d learn to make it….but, I must make a confession, I’m not a fan of plain French Onion soup. It tastes so much like onion (go figure).  So, I experimented with several components of soup that I do like and came up with this recipe.  It has turned into a meal that we can all agree is the perfectly indulgent meal. ~Tracy

FrenchOnionStew

Ingredients:
  • 3.5 oz. Shiitake mushrooms (usually one small container), chopped
  • 8 oz. baby Portabella mushrooms (chopped)
  • 1 ½ to 2 medium yellow onions, halved and sliced
  • 2 t. freshly grated ginger
  • 4 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 ½ tsp. black pepper
  • 1 ½ c. shredded beef, such as a rump roast cooked in this method
  • 2 c. fat free beef broth
  • 1 10 ½ can beef consume (such as Campbell’s)
  • 3 T. low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 ½ – 2 c. water (adjust as needed if stew is too thick when barley cooks)
  • 1 c. uncooked barley

Instructions: 

  1. Place chopped mushrooms into a bowl.
  2. Cover with boiling water and let stand approximately 30 minutes.
  3. Spray the bottom of a large stock pot with cooking spray.
  4. Saute onions, garlic, and ginger in sprayed approximately 10 minutes or until softened and just beginning to brown.
  5. Add mushrooms, beef, and a tablespoon or so of the mushroom liquid to aide in the saute process.
  6. Continue to saute for another 5 minutes.
  7. Add soy, consume, broth, water, and barley.
  8. Simmer 30 minutes until barley is tender.
  9. Transfer servings of stew to oven-safe bowls.
  10. Top with your favorite cheese such as grated parmesan, or swiss.
  11. Place bowls under the broiler for only a couple of minutes until cheese melts and begins to lightly brown.
  12. Carefully remove bowls from oven and serve with your favorite bread.

WW Freestyle Info.: This soup makes approximately 10 one-cup servings. Each serving is 3 points each without cheese.

 

 

Slow-Cooker Hobo Stew

8 Comments

We affectionately call this hobo stew because it’s not fancy food and, to us, that’s the best kind.  My son loves this stew so much he requested it for his birthday dinner last year.  What kind of 7-year-old requests beef and vegetable stew for his birthday?!  Mine apparently.  He eats salads without being forced, as well.  He’s a good eater, that kid.

salt_20180908_193945_519I love to prep this at night and put it in the crockpot in the morning before work.  Nothing like walking in the door to have a home-cooked meal waiting for us.

My slow-cooker (this one!) has a stovetop setting, which is nice because I can brown the meat in the slow-cooker itself.  No extra dirty pans!

My favorite way to serve this is with cornbread crumbled and stirred right in.  If you’re a purist, it’s also good all by itself!  Enjoy!  ~Erin

Ingredients:
  • 1 ½ lb. 96% lean ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced
  • 1 T. minced garlic
  • 1 ½ lb. peeled and diced potatoes
  • 12 oz. baby carrots, roughly chopped
  • 1 (15 or 16 oz.) can whole kernel sweet corn
  • 2 (15 or 16 oz. each) cans cut green beans
  • 32 oz. box of fat free beef stock
  • 2 T. beef bouillon granules
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 T. flour
  • ½ T. cornstarch
  • 1 envelope (about 4 T.) dry Lipton Onion Soup Mix
  • 1 T. Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ to 1 T. seasoned salt
  • 1 tsp. black pepper

Ingredients: 

  1. Brown the beef with the diced onion over medium heat.
  2. When the meat is no longer pink, add garlic and cook until fragrant (just about 30 seconds).
  3. Add the flour and cornstarch to the beef mixture; stir until combined.
  4. Remove from heat and transfer to the pot of your slow cooker, if needed.*
  5. Add the rest of the ingredients to the crockpot: potatoes, carrots, corn, green beans, spices and soup mix, beef stock, bouillon, and water.
  6. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
  7. Serve with cornbread or crackers, if desired.

*You can also cook this in a large pot on the stove. Simply bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat and simmer (stirring occasionally) until the carrots and potatoes are fork-tender.

WW Freestyle Info: This recipe makes approximately 12 servings. Each 10 oz. serving (1 ¼ cups) is 5 points.

Click to view Ninja 3-in-1 Cooking System on Amazon

 

This post contains affiliate links.  If you purchase the Ninja Cooking System through our link, we receive a small commission.  Don’t worry, we only endorse products we love!

African Sweet Potato Stew

4 Comments

SweetPotatoStewLogo

Are you all still using up Thanksgiving leftovers?  I know I am!  If you have extra sweet potatoes still in your pantry, this is the recipe for you.  My husband brought this recipe home from work one day years ago.  I was skeptical at first because… peanut butter in stew?!  Too weird!  But he assured me it was good so I tried it.  He was right! (Don’t tell him I said that.)  The flavors in this are different than anything I’d ever had, for sure, but they all complement each other so well.  The peanut butter just adds creaminess and a nutty background to the spicy stew.  Garnished with some chopped peanuts (if you like the extra salty crunch) and hit with the juice of a lime wedge, it’s a seriously delicious flavor profile!  ~Erin

Ingredients:

  • 1 ¼ lbs. (4 to 5 cups) peeled and cubed sweet potatoes
  • 2 (10 oz. each) cans diced tomatoes & green chiles (I use one regular and one mild, Ro-Tel brand.)
  • 1 (16 oz.) can red beans, drained & rinsed
  • 1 (14.5 oz.) vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
  • ½ c. water
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
  • 1 tsp. fresh ginger or ginger paste OR ½ tsp. ground ginger
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. cumin
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper
  • 3 T. creamy peanut butter
  • Optional garnishes (but highly recommended):  chopped dry roasted peanuts, lime wedges, chopped green onions

Instructions:

Combine first 12 ingredients (all except peanut butter) in a slow cooker.

Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4 hours, until vegetables are tender.

Spoon ½ cup cooked stew liquid into a small bowl.  Add peanut butter to liquid and whisk until well combined.  Stir mixture into the stew.

Garnish each serving with chopped dry roasted peanuts (trust me on this – it’s good!) and lime  (also good!).

WW Freestyle Info.:  Recipe makes 8 servings at 9 ounces (about a cup) per serving.  Each serving is 4 points.