Slow Cooker Jalapeno Popper Chili

We liked this soup- very flavorful, and you can make it as spicy or as mild as you want, and you can also make it as flavorful as you want by adding more bacon, green onions, croutons, whatever garnish you want.  I love a good crockpot recipe.  You use dry beans for this, and I would highly recommend soaking them overnight first- if you don't, they may not cook enough, and there's really no harm doing it, even if they may cook through all the way if you don't soak.  So yeah, let's soak.   

Slow Cooker Jalapeno Popper Chili

adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe

1 cup chopped yellow or white onion
3 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed
1 pound chicken breasts or tenders, trimmed of fat (about 2 chicken breasts)
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
12 ounces dry white beans, rinsed and picked through, then soaked overnight
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped

1/2 cup red or yellow bell pepper, small diced
8 ounces light cream cheese, cut into cubes
1 cup frozen corn kernels
6-8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled or chopped

green onion and small pieces of bell pepper, optional

1.  Add all the ingredients except the jalapeno and bells peppers, cream cheese, corn and bacon to a 5-quart slow cooker. Cook on high for 6-9 hours. (I need to cook on High to cook my dry beans.  If your crockpot cooks hotter, you may be able to cook on Low.)   About an hour or two before eating, stir in the jalapenos and bell peppers.

3.  Next, remove the chicken and chop into pieces or shred into bite-sized pieces with two forks right in the slow cooker.  At this point, you may puree some of the beans, if desired.  I didn't do this.  Then return the chicken to the slow cooker.  

4.  Stir in the cubed cream cheese and the corn. Cover the slow cooker to let the cream cheese soften and the corn heat through, about 10-15 minutes.  Stir to combine. Add additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve topped with the crumbled bacon and optional green onion and fresh bell pepper.

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