Looking for a classic red chili with big, bold flavor but don’t want to spend all day at the stove? This easy chicken chili comes together in no time, making it perfect for last-minute dinner, game day, or whenever you’re craving a hearty bowl of chili with a lighter twist!
There are few dishes more disappointing than a bowl of chili that looks promising but tastes like tomato sauce with beans in it. This chicken chili is far from that; it’s complex, just thick enough, and full of texture and pizzazz.
What I love most is that it has the depth of a chili that’s been simmering all afternoon, without actually requiring you to spend all day at the stove. It’s hearty without being heavy, and the ground chicken keeps it lighter than your typical beef chili without missing out on anything.
It comes together in one pot, tastes even better as leftovers, and is easy to adjust depending on how spicy you like things. Low effort never tasted this good!
Have turkey on hand instead? Make Turkey Chili! Prefer a white chili? Don’t miss my White Bean Chicken Chili either!
Why This Chicken Chili Is the Best
- Big flavor: this chili is flavorful without requiring tons of different spices and ingredients!
- Hearty yet lean: it’s oh-so delicious yet nutritious.
- Easy to make: everything comes together in one pot, in less than one hour.
- Customizable: make it mild or spicy, use ground or shredded chicken, etc.
- Great as leftovers: believe it or not, this chili is even better the next day!
Ingredients
- Ground chicken – choose however lean ground chicken you’d like! Prefer shredded chicken? Go ahead and use rotisserie chicken or Baked Chicken Thighs or Baked Chicken Breasts that you shred yourself!
- Chicken broth – to thin out the chili, low-sodium chicken broth is the best option. Make your own Homemade Chicken Broth if you’re feeling it!
- Bell peppers – I like a red and green bell pepper to add texture, color, and sweetness.
- Sweet onion – sweet onion adds mild sweet onion flavor.
- Garlic cloves – garlic makes everything better!
- Black beans – a can of black beans add pops of creaminess. Feel free to use red kidney or pinto beans instead.
- Petite diced tomatoes – a can of petite diced tomatoes adds tomatoey undertones with pops of juicy acidity.
- Masa flour – masa flour is the secret ingredient; it makes all the difference! Mix with water to create a slurry and add to chili for a touch of velvety creaminess and a subtle corn flavor.
- Chili powder – chili powder is a blend of all the classic chili spices, including toasted chili peppers, cumin, oregano, paprika, garlic, etc. Using chili powder takes the work out of blending your own spices. I love McCormick (this is not an ad). It has great flavor and only a touch of heat.
- Chipotle powder – chipotle powder adds smokiness with moderate spiciness. A little goes a long way! For a no-heat option, use smoked paprika.
- Extra virgin olive oil – olive oil helps sauté the veggies.
- Cayenne pepper (optional) – if you like it hot, add cayenne!
How to Make Chicken Chili
Let’s make the best chicken chili in just a few easy steps! For the full recipe, see the recipe card below (this is an outline).
Cook chicken. In a large pot, add the ground chicken. Toss and crumble over medium heat until completely cooked.
Add veggies. Add peppers, onions, garlic, and olive oil and increase heat to medium-high. Sauté for 4-5 minutes.
Add everything else. Add broth, beans, tomatoes with juices, chili powder, chipotle powder, salt, and cayenne. Stir.
Thicken it. In a small bowl, mix together water and masa flour. Add to the pot. Mix well.
Simmer and serve! Cover pot, and bring to a simmer. Let simmer for at least 20 minutes before serving!
Best Toppings for Chicken Chili
Whether you decide to enjoy chili with just one topping or with a load of different ones, here are my favorite chicken chili toppings to inspire you!
- Shredded Mexican cheese blend or cheddar
- Green onions
- Sour cream
- Avocado
- Cilantro
- Pickled or fresh jalapeños
- Tortilla strips or Homemade Tortilla Chips
- Lime wedges
Recipe Variations
- White Bean Chicken Chili
- Turkey Chili or classic beef chili
- Vegetarian: skip the meat and add in 2 more cans of drained and rinsed beans!
- Spicy: add a chopped jalapeño or a heavy dash of cayenne
- Creamy: add in ½ block cream cheese or ⅓ cup heavy cream
- Crockpot: add all the ingredients to the slow cooker (including uncooked chicken in bite-sized pieces), and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.
My Pro Tips
Tips & Tricks
- Don’t skip the masa flour. it thickens the chili and adds a touch of creaminess, while adding a subtle corn flavor!
- Let it simmer. chicken chili gets better as the flavors simmer together. Chili is also even better the next day, making great leftovers!
- For thicker chili: let it simmer uncovered, or add a little extra masa slurry.
- For thinner chili: add a splash of chicken broth until it reaches your preferred consistency.
Serving Suggestions
Snacks & Side Dishes
Mexican Street Corn Recipe
Snacks & Side Dishes
Homemade Tortilla Chips (Baked!)
Breakfast
Easy Buttermilk Drop Biscuits
Snacks & Side Dishes
BEST Flour Tortilla Recipe
Snacks & Side Dishes
BEST Moist Cornbread Recipe
Snacks & Side Dishes
Best Mexican Coleslaw
Storage and Reheating
Store: store leftover chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Let it cool slightly before refrigerating.
Reheat: Reheat chicken chili gently on the stovetop, covered over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through. You can also microwave individual portions in 60–90 second intervals, stirring between each.
Freeze: Let the chili cool completely, then freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
More Stew and Soup recipes You’ll Love!
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If you’ve tried this Chicken Chili Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please let me know in the comments below. I love hearing from you. Please consider leaving a 🌟 star rating while you are here!
Easy Chicken Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground chicken, however lean you’d like
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 medium bell peppers, chopped (I like red and green)
- 1 large sweet onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can black beans, (15.5 ounces) drained and rinsed
- 1 can petite diced tomatoes, (14.5 ounces)
- ⅓ cup water
- ¼ cup masa flour, also called masa harina
- ⅓ cup chili powder, I love McCormick’s (this is not an ad)
- ½ teaspoon chipotle powder
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Cayenne pepper, optional for spiciness
Instructions
- In a large pot, add ground chicken (no oil needed). Toss and crumble over medium heat until completely cooked.
- Add peppers, onions, garlic, and olive oil to the chicken and increase heat to medium-high. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until fragrant and par-cooked.
- Add broth, beans, tomatoes with juices, chili powder, chipotle powder, salt, and cayenne if desired. Stir well.
- In a small bowl, mix together water and masa flour. Add flour slurry to the pot. Mix well.
- Cover pot, and bring to a simmer (medium-low heat). Let simmer for at least 20 minutes (or up to an hour), stirring occasionally, before servings with toppings of choice!
Video
Notes
- Chili powder varies in spiciness (it’s a blend of all the traditional spices found in chili). I like McCormick because it’s flavorful with mild heat. This is not an ad.
- Chipotle powder is usually a bit spicy. For a no-heat alternative, use smoked paprika.
- Prefer shredded chicken? Use rotisserie chicken or shredded Baked Chicken Thighs or Baked Chicken Breasts instead!
- Can’t find masa flour (AKA masa harina)? You can skip this step. Masa flour adds a touch of creaminess and complexity which is highly recommended. Masa flour tastes like ground corn tortillas and can usually be found in the baking aisle or with other Mexican foods.
- Chicken chili is just as good or better as leftovers!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I love this chili recipe! Since there’s only two of us I think we’ll at least get a couple meals out of it. soup season baby!