Crock pot Sweet Potato, Turkey and Quinoa Chili

Quinoa....this stuff is....different. I wanted to start cooking healthier and I started researching different grains that are better for you than others. I came across quinoa. I wasn't sure how it tasted and it was fairly new to hit popularity so not many people knew much about it. I originally tried it plain, without any seasonings or sauces because I wanted to see how it tasted. I didn't like it. But I didn't want to rule it out quite yet so I searched on Pinterest for recipes that looked good and could ease me into eating it and I came across this one for a chili where it was mixed with sweet potatoes and ground turkey and I actually really liked it. Most people may not like the initial taste of quinoa, but when you season it right and mix it with other things, it does taste pretty good. I decided to give this chili a try and tho I don't like beans I was able to omit them and still have a tasty meal. If you want the original with the beans in it like typical chili has, click on the link  http://iowagirleats.com/2014/01/13/crock-pot-sweet-potato-and-quinoa-turkey-chili/ and follow their recipe. I'm sure either version is just as good as the other.

*Note: You can buy quinoa rinsed or not, so make sure you check if it's been pre-rinsed before cooking it. The rinsed kind are a lot easier to cook with because when you have to rinse it yourself, it can make a bit of a mess because they're such small little balls, that they stick to everything. You can find bags of it at Costco or Sam's Club.

You'll need:
1 pound ground turkey
1 small onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
salt and pepper
4 cups chicken broth
1 28oz can crushed tomatoes
1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped into small chunks
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp red chili pepper flakes In a large skillet, put a little bit of olive oil to coat the pan and saute the chopped onions 5-7 minutes. Add the ground turkey and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook until no longer pink. Make sure to break up the turkey so it's in smaller crumbles as it's cooking. Add garlic and let it cook 30 seconds more. Scrape out pan into your crock pot. Add remaining ingredients and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours. Check sweet potatoes to make sure they are tender, by sticking a knife through one. Pour into bowl and top with toppings of your choice.

*I topped mine with tortilla strips, shredded cheese and avocado. Fresh cilantro would've been good too.


*Save 1 cup of chicken broth to mix in when refrigerating it so it won't be dry when you reheat it.

Crock Pot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili

I love anything with cream cheese in it. I also love anything I can put in my crock pot. This recipe is super easy and doesn't have too many ingredients in it. The best part, you dump it all into the crock pot and leave it be.

I found this recipe used often online and they were all pretty much the same, but I based mine from http://www.truelifekitchen.com/2014/01/crock-pot-cream-cheese-chicken-chile.html Theirs has black beans in it, but I omitted them since I don't like beans and used fresh chicken instead of frozen, but I'm sure either version is as good as the other.


You'll need:

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 can corn kernels, not drained
1 pkg Ranch dressing mix
1 tbsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 8oz pkg cream cheese

Put chicken in crock pot. Pour all other ingredients over top of chicken, except cream cheese, and stir. Lay cream cheese on top. Cover. Cook on low 6-8 hours or high 3-4 hours. You can stir once or twice throughout the cooking process. It will look like the ingredients separated, like you did something wrong, but don't worry. After the full time cooking, mix it well and the everything will combine correctly. Either break up the chicken or as I like to, shred the chicken.

*I like to put mine over a bed of brown rice.

2 chicken breasts, still frozen

1 can Rotel tomatoes

1 can corn kernels, do not drain

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix

1 T cumin

- See more at: http://www.truelifekitchen.com/2014/01/crock-pot-cream-cheese-chicken-chile.html#sthash.UIdpkt7g.dpuf

2 chicken breasts, still frozen

1 can Rotel tomatoes

1 can corn kernels, do not drain

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix

1 T cumin

- See more at: http://www.truelifekitchen.com/2014/01/crock-pot-cream-cheese-chicken-chile.html#sthash.UIdpkt7g.dpuf

2 chicken breasts, still frozen

1 can Rotel tomatoes

1 can corn kernels, do not drain

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix

1 T cumin

- See more at: http://www.truelifekitchen.com/2014/01/crock-pot-cream-cheese-chicken-chile.html#sthash.UIdpkt7g.dpuf

2 chicken breasts, still frozen

1 can Rotel tomatoes

1 can corn kernels, do not drain

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix

1 T cumin

- See more at: http://www.truelifekitchen.com/2014/01/crock-pot-cream-cheese-chicken-chile.html#sthash.UIdpkt7g.dpuf

2 chicken breasts, still frozen

1 can Rotel tomatoes

1 can corn kernels, do not drain

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix

1 T cumin

- See more at: http://www.truelifekitchen.com/2014/01/crock-pot-cream-cheese-chicken-chile.html#sthash.UIdpkt7g.dpuf

2 chicken breasts, still frozen

1 can Rotel tomatoes

1 can corn kernels, do not drain

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix

1 T cumin

- See more at: http://www.truelifekitchen.com/2014/01/crock-pot-cream-cheese-chicken-chile.html#sthash.UIdpkt7g.dpuf

2 chicken breasts, still frozen

1 can Rotel tomatoes

1 can corn kernels, do not drain

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix

1 T cumin

- See more at: http://www.truelifekitchen.com/2014/01/crock-pot-cream-cheese-chicken-chile.html#sthash.UIdpkt7g.dpuf

2 chicken breasts, still frozen

1 can Rotel tomatoes

1 can corn kernels, do not drain

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix

1 T cumin

- See more at: http://www.truelifekitchen.com/2014/01/crock-pot-cream-cheese-chicken-chile.html#sthash.UIdpkt7g.dpuf

2 chicken breasts, still frozen

1 can Rotel tomatoes

1 can corn kernels, do not drain

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix

1 T cumin

- See more at: http://www.truelifekitchen.com/2014/01/crock-pot-cream-cheese-chicken-chile.html#sthash.UIdpkt7g.dpuf

2 chicken breasts, still frozen

1 can Rotel tomatoes

1 can corn kernels, do not drain

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix

1 T cumin

- See more at: http://www.truelifekitchen.com/2014/01/crock-pot-cream-cheese-chicken-chile.html#sthash.UIdpkt7g.dpuf

2 chicken breasts, still frozen

1 can Rotel tomatoes

1 can corn kernels, do not drain

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix

1 T cumin

- See more at: http://www.truelifekitchen.com/2014/01/crock-pot-cream-cheese-chicken-chile.html#sthash.UIdpkt7g.dpuf

2 chicken breasts, still frozen

1 can Rotel tomatoes

1 can corn kernels, do not drain

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix

1 T cumin

1 t chili powder

1 t onion powder

1 8-oz pkg. cream cheese

- See more at: http://www.truelifekitchen.com/2014/01/crock-pot-cream-cheese-chicken-chile.html#sthash.UIdpkt7g.dpuf

2 chicken breasts, still frozen

1 can Rotel tomatoes

1 can corn kernels, do not drain

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix

1 T cumin

1 t chili powder

1 t onion powder

1 8-oz pkg. cream cheese

- See more at: http://www.truelifekitchen.com/2014/01/crock-pot-cream-cheese-chicken-chile.html#sthash.UIdpkt7g.dpuf

2 chicken breasts, still frozen

1 can Rotel tomatoes

1 can corn kernels, do not drain

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix

1 T cumin

1 t chili powder

1 t onion powder

1 8-oz pkg. cream cheese

- See more at: http://www.truelifekitchen.com/2014/01/crock-pot-cream-cheese-chicken-chile.html#sthash.UIdpkt7g.dpuf

2 chicken breasts, still frozen

1 can Rotel tomatoes

1 can corn kernels, do not drain

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix

1 T cumin

1 t chili powder

1 t onion powder

1 8-oz pkg. cream cheese

- See more at: http://www.truelifekitchen.com/2014/01/crock-pot-cream-cheese-chicken-chile.html#sthash.UIdpkt7g.dpuf