This is the Most Popular Southern Living Fall Recipe of All Time
No doubt about it – fall is finally here! It is time to put out the pumpkins and mums, pull out the sweaters and thick socks, and go for long, leisurely hikes in the woods. For those who enjoy cooking, now is also the time to thumb through all the earmarked pages of Southern Living cookbooks to find those favorite cool weather recipes. There are a lot of them, from seasonal cakes and pies, fresh breads, quick weeknight meal ideas, and soups and stews. While it may be impossible to determine the “all-time most popular Southern Living fall recipe,” here is why this recipe for White Chicken Chili deserves a spot in the top ten.
It is Made in a Slow Cooker
You can “fix-it and forget-it” or “set-it and forget-it.” What these cute and trendy nicknames mean is that you can prepare this tasty chili in your slow cooker and not worry about it until mealtime. Set it up before heading out to work and come home to a warm weeknight meal. For a game day option, you can plan ahead and have this slow-cooker chili ready for half-time. The chili will cook on HIGH for 5 to 6 hours or LOW for 8 to 10 hours. You know it is ready when the beans are tender. Whenever you plan to serve it, this convenient slow-cooker recipe will be ready when you are.
It Uses Budget-Friendly Ingredients
Superior cuts such as rib eye steaks and leg of lamb are usually reserved for holidays or special occasions, but you don’t need to buy expensive pieces of meat in order to create a tasty meal. This chili uses inexpensive and easy to find ingredients: dried beans and chicken thighs. At first glance, you may think these two items, cooked together, would create a pretty bland dish. When combined with onions, cumin, chiles, garlic, and other seasonings, however, you get a pot of hearty chili that delights your taste buds and warms your soul – no small feat for a budget-friendly meal. As with other chilis, personalize this one with your favorite toppings, such as sour cream, avocado, cilantro, cheese, lime, and corn chips – and don’t forget a bake a sizzling hot skillet of cornbread.
It is Pure and Simple Comfort Food
When it comes to determining if a recipe qualifies as comfort food, this one checks all the boxes. Quite frankly, a delicious comfort food is anything that makes you feel warm and happy when you eat it, evokes fond memories of people, places, or past experiences, and is a recipe you return to time and time again. If this recipe isn’t already in your arsenal of fall comfort foods, make it this weekend and your family will insist that you find a spot for it in your recipe box.
