Stew-pendous! Chicken and White Beans Make a Hearty Meal
I've been on a quest to find toddler-friendly dinner ideas that the whole family would enjoy since my firstborn was a baby. I was tired of having to make her food separately or having to use a food processor for her to be able to enjoy the foods we ate. So I have a few up my sleeve that we have been using for years and this is one of them.
My youngest, now sixteen months old, went through the "fussy eater stage" recently, but this white bean and chicken stew passed her test. I can now say this is a toddler-approved recipe! It has small pieces that are soft to chew and it is tasty, but it's just enough for every member of the family to enjoy it.
It's a great way to use leftover or store-bought rotisserie chicken, but you can also use uncooked cubed chicken breast. Just make sure to brown it in a bit of oil before starting the recipe.
Related: Crisp nuggets, easy tenders, and 13 more kid-friendly chicken recipes
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2/3 cup red peppers, chopped
1/2 cup green peppers, chopped
1 tomato, chopped
1 lb. cooked chicken breast, cubed
4 cups chicken broth
3 cups white beans (or 2 cans, drained and rinsed)
2 teaspoons chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Avocado slices and rice to serve
Directions:
1. Cook the onions and garlic in hot oil over medium heat until onions are translucent. Incorporate the peppers, tomato, chicken, cumin, salt and pepper and cook, stirring constantly, for another 5 minutes.
2. Add the chicken broth, beans and cilantro and cover with a lid for 30 minutes, stirring every 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Use a potato masher to mash some of the beans and chicken. This will help to thicken the stew and break the chicken into smaller pieces.
4. Let the stew simmer on low heat for another 20 minutes. Check constantly and add more water or chicken broth, if necessary.
5. The stew will be ready when everything is soft and the stew has thickened. Serve with rice and avocado slices or with a salad. Adults can even sprinkle some chili powder to their plates to add a kick of flavor. Enjoy!
- By Denisse Icaza
For 8 delicious ways to transform your salad with chicken, visit Spoonful!
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