White Bean Chicken Chili

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 (4-ounce) cans chopped green chiles, undrained

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1½ teaspoons dried oregano

¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

3 (16-ounce) cans great cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

6 cups chicken stock

3 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese

Salt and pepper, to taste

4 cups cooked chicken, shredded*

Sour cream and additional cheese for garnish

Heat olive oil in large pot over medium high heat. Add onions and saute until translucent, about 10 minutes. Stir in garlic and chilies.  Add cumin, oregano, and cayenne and saute 2 minutes. Add drained beans and stock and bring to a boil.  Taste for seasonings, and add salt and pepper to taste.   At this point, you can transfer the soup to a slow cooker or refrigerate until you are ready to serve it.

Ten minutes before you’re ready to serve, add the cooked chicken and the cheese.  Heat until the soup is hot and bubbly.  Ladle into bowls and garnish with sour cream and additional cheese.

TIP *I like to cook boneless, skinless, frozen chicken breasts in the slow cooker with just a little bit of salt and pepper. Cook on low for 4-5 hours, take out the chicken, throw it in the mixer, and shred it easily that way.