September is a busy month for many people with the new school year starting up. This means new schedules, extra-curricular activities, sports, car pools, homework, and other work and family events, which can leave little time for cooking dinner. This creamy salsa chicken is a meal that you can get on the table quickly, using only one pot and a healthy mix of protein, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates. I find that adding a ton of beans and veggies to a dish stretches it out, making it possible to feed a large crowd and still have enough for leftovers. Use the leftover creamy salsa chicken as a delicious filling for a salad or a taco the next day. Ingredients: 1½ - 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes 2 plum tomatoes, seeds removed, chopped 1 small onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 large green bell pepper, seeds removed, chopped 1 15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed 1 cup salsa 4 oz. Neufchatel (low-fat) cream cheese 1 tsp. cumin ½ tsp. chili powder ½ tsp. paprika ¼ tsp. black pepper 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper 1 cup frozen roasted corn kernels 2 Tbsp. reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese, plus more for topping (optional) Directions: 1. Prep the chicken and vegetables: Wash the produce, chop the veggies, drain and rinse the beans, and cut up the chicken. 2. Spray a large pot or Dutch oven with cooking spray, and sauté the onion, garlic, and green peppers over medium heat for about 5 minutes. 3. Add the chicken, tomatoes, black beans, cumin, chili powder, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper, stir everything together, and continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes. 4. Add the salsa and cream cheese, turn the heat to medium-high, and stir for a minute or two to break up the cream cheese and combine all of the ingredients. When the mixture comes to a boil, turn down the heat setting to low, put a lid on the pot, and simmer for 10 minutes. 5. Take off the lid, and add the frozen corn (you don’t have to thaw it first). Stir again, put the lid back on, and continue to cook for another 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. 6. Add the shredded cheese to the pot, stir, and serve. The flavors are so delicious that this is a perfect stand-alone meal, no toppings needed, but you could add a little more cheese or an extra spoonful of salsa if desired.
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