Buena Mexi Chicken Chowder Mix

Ingredients: Dehydrated potatoes, Chicken Base (Real Salt™, onion, dried chicken, rosemary, garlic, tapioca, carrot, turmeric, ground rice hulls, hawthorn berry, cumin, thyme, black pepper, celery), carrot, onion, tapioca starch, celery, bell pepper, garlic, cumin, jalapeno, cilantro, black pepper, spices 

Whenever possible, we source our ingredients from Pacific Northwest farmers and processors. We believe local sourcing means fresher ingredients, fewer transportation miles, and stronger relationships with the people behind our food.

SMALL SIZE You will need

• 1/2 chicken breast, cubed
• 3 cups water
• 1 cup half and half or other milk substitute
• optional: 2 pieces chopped bacon

LARGE SIZE You will need

• 1 chicken breast, cubed
• 6 cups water
• 2 cups half and half or other milk substitute
• optional: 1/4 pound bacon

Stove Top Directions: 

1. Open the package with scissors
2. Brown the meat in a 4-quart saucepan. Once browned, drain any excess fat.
3. Add water to the meat and bring to a boil. Once boiling, stir in the potato mixture. Cover the pot, reduce the heat, and simmer.
4. Let the mixture simmer for 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are soft. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
5. Once the potatoes are tender, add your choice of milk. Heat through, but do not allow it to boil.
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy!

Crock pot Directions: Add water, the entire soup mix and meat to the slow cooker.  Cook on low for 2 to 6 hours. Add milk right before serving. Enjoy!

Instant Pot Directions: Reduce water by 1/2 cup for the small size or 1 cup for the large. Add water and soup mix to Instant Pot. Lock the lid and seal the valve, set to Soup Mode, or High Pressure.  Cook for 10 minutes, manually let the steam off. Add milk right before serving.

Cashew Milk Substitute: Blend 1 ½ cups water with ½ cup raw cashews until smooth and creamy. Measure out 2 cups to use as a dairy-free alternative. 

Creamy & Tangy: Stir in ½ cup sour cream when adding the milk or top each bowl with a dollop of sour cream and smoked paprika.

Switch Up the Meat: Add ham, sausage, or chorizo for a smoky twist. Brown and stir in before simmering. Top with fried onions or chili flakes.

Cheesy & Comforting: Top with cheddar and chives. For an indulgent touch, add crumbled bacon or a drizzle of garlic butter.

Add Some Wine: Stir in ½ cup white wine in place of ½ cup water. Garnish with a lime wedge for brightness.

Veggie Packed: Add your favorite vegetables—carrots, summer squash, or leeks. Finish with a handful of roasted pumpkin seeds.

Fun Fact:  In 18th century France, Antoine Parmentier struggled to convince people of the potato’s benefits. To change minds, he planted potatoes on a guarded plot of land. When the guard left at night, peasants, believing the crop must be valuable, secretly took some for themselves.

Since the beginning, we've named our soups after real places throughout Washington and the surrounding Northwest. From small towns and mountain peaks to rivers, canyons, and historic landmarks, each name was chosen because it means something to us and the region we call home. Each soup has a story, and so does the place that gave it its name.

Buena, Washington, is a small but important junction in the lower Yakima Valley. The Buena interchange connects I-82 to Highway 22, leading south toward Toppenish, a city known for its extensive collection of western-themed murals that attract visitors year-round.

The surrounding region is a major agricultural hub, with fertile fields, vineyards, and orchards throughout the valley. During World War II, labor shortages led to significant changes in the agricultural workforce. With many young Americans serving in the military or working in defense industries, the federal government established the Bracero Program, allowing Mexican laborers to temporarily enter the United States for seasonal agricultural work. Many families continue to contribute to the region’s agricultural economy today, helping harvest crops such as hay, hops, fruits, and vegetables.

The landscape along nearby Highway 97 is especially diverse. South of Buena, the road offers views of snow-capped Mount Adams and winds through open sagebrush and grasslands of the Yakama Nation. It then climbs and descends through the Simcoe Mountains and over Satus Pass before opening into the wide agricultural plains near Goldendale, Washington.

Travelers along Highway 97 can also visit landmarks such as the Maryhill Stonehenge Memorial, the Maryhill Museum of Art, and nearby Maryhill State Park along the Columbia River—offering a mix of history, art, and scenic recreation.