I knew a western would be a good pairing with this vegan verde chicken chili, so I went with one of my favorites: “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.”

This vegan, gluten-free slow cooker recipe makes 4-6 “servings.”

Ingredients
6 cups vegan broth
1 16-ounce jar verde salsa
1 7-ounce can green chiles
16 ounces vegan “chicken” pieces (make sure it’s also gluten-free if you’re following that)

Instructions
Pour all of the ingredients into your slow cooker.

I used vegan “chicken-flavored” broth, but regular veggie broth also works.

Cook the chili, occasionally stirring, for at least 4 hours on high heat.

Serve and enjoy with “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.”

The Easy Route
You might be able to find a premade mix, but this is honestly probably one of the easiest ways to make this recipe. If you buy vegan chicken in pieces like I did, that is also an easier step than buying larger cuts that you have to chop.

Know of a restaurant that serves or brand that makes vegan verde chicken chili? Please share those details in the comments.

The Pairing
When “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward of Robert Ford” came out in 2007, I was intrigued by the idea of one of the most famous Missourians (Jesse James) being played by another famous Missourian (Brad Pitt). On top of that, I took an elective “Wild West” class when I was in elementary school (in Missouri), which developed a deep curiosity about those figures in me.

While all of those things got me in the seat, the mastery of the art of filmmaking in front of and behind the camera combined to tell a story that goes well beyond the tropes of classic westerns.

The mood and atmosphere is set with gorgeous cinematography and a beautiful score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis that has been a staple of my repeat listens for nearly 20 years now.

Those base layers serve as a sturdy foundation for a great story filled out by a fantastic ensemble. Pitt is pitch-perfect as the stoic James, Casey Affleck is brilliant casting as the titular sniveling Robert Ford.

The rest of the cast is impeccable, whether they have two scenes or a dozen, including Sam Shepard, Mary-Louise Parker, Sam Rockwell, Paul Schneider, Garret Dillahunt, Zooey Deschanel and Jeremy Renner.

I cannot recommend this movie enough. It is more than just a perfect western, it is a great example of cinematic storytelling.

If you decide to make verde chicken chili and/or watch “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,” let us know! Tag us in your Instagram posts & stories, threads, TikToks and/or tweets: @veg_out_recipes. We’re also on Bluesky as @vegoutrecipes.bsky.social.