Southwest Chicken with Rice ( Slow-Cooked*)

John and I both enjoy Mexican food, so I'm often on the look out for new recipes to try in this ethnic group. John likes spicy foods, though, where as the kids and I don't. So finding ones that have enough flavor and pizazz, yet not so much that the kids wont eat it can be difficult! I like that this recipe can be easily spiced up by adding chipotle powder, hot salsa or hot sauce to it. I did add a few things to it that I will list in red and mark optional in the ingredients. *The biggest change I did was to cook it over the stove top instead of in the slow cooker as the recipe stated. It could be done in a slow cooker for 6-7 hours on low if you prefer. I will include both methods in the directions. I really liked the rice base this goes over. It made for a nice change and turned out a lot tastier than I thought it would!

FROM: Taste of Home
CATEGORY: Main Dish
SERVINGS 5-6
TIME: 15mins prep/approx 1hr &15mins cook time/ or 6-7 hr slow-cooked

INGREDIENTS:

1 to 2 cans(15 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (14.5 oz.) reduced sodium chicken broth ( I used half can for stove top method)
1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes w/mild green chilies, undrained
4 med. size chicken breast
1 jar (8 oz.) chunky salsa
1 cup frozen corn
1 Tbsp. dried parsley flakes
1 to 2 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 sm. can chopped black olives (optional)
1 Tbsp taco seasoning (optional)
5-6 cups hot cooked rice (I used brown rice)

Toppings
Mexican blend shredded cheese, or shredded colby-jack
Sour cream

DIRECTIONS:

Stove top method- Boil chicken in water for 25mins (longer if frozen) or no longer pink in center. Drain and chop chicken into small stripes. Add all remaining ingredients except rice. Bring to boil, then simmer on low for 40mins. Serve over rice and top with cheese and sour cream.


Slow-cooker method- Add all ingredients except rice to crock pot. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or until chicken shreds easily with two forks. Shred chicken and heat through. Serve over rice and top with cheese and sour cream.

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