CHICKEN CHILI RECIPE (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Sherri · This post may contain affiliate links · 24 Comments

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This White Bean Chicken Chili Recipe is spectacular! It’s packed with fresh ingredients as well as 2 secret ingredients that the flavors extra special.

CHICKEN CHILI RECIPE (1)

As the cold weather is rolling in, it’s a great time to whip up those big batches of chili and soups. We also love this Cincinnati Chili and this Easy White Chicken Chili.

This White Bean Chicken Chili Recipe is seriously one of the best I have ever had! I got the recipe from a childhood friend’s grandmother’s personal cookbook. I love thinking where some of my favorite recipes come from.

It’s a colorful blend of veggies and 2 special, secret ingredients that just make the flavor extra special! It reminds me of a Mexican Mole sauce kind of.

You can actually make this in the slow cooker as well! place the vegetables on the bottom and then place chicken on top. Place all other ingredients in next and cook for 4 hours on high.

How to Make This Chicken Chili Recipe

Bake Chicken Breasts in 2 tablespoon of Olive Oil at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until no longer pink inside.

Heat 3 tablespoon of olive oil in a cooking pot. Add the onion and garlic and saute about 10 minutes.

Add the bell peppers and jalapeno peppers and saute another 10 minutes.

CHICKEN CHILI RECIPE (2)

Stir in Chili powder, cumin, cinnamon and pepper.

CHICKEN CHILI RECIPE (3)

When chicken is done, shred or cut into 1-inch pieces.

Add the chicken, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, beans, and beer to the pot and stir to combine.

Simmer over medium heat for about 20-30 minutes.

Stir in grated chocolate.

CHICKEN CHILI RECIPE (4)

Garnish with your favorite toppings.

ENJOY!

What are Chicken Chili toppings

Seriously my go-to topping for any chili shredded cheddar cheese and a little plain greek yogurt (or sour cream of course)! But there are several other great options like avocado, scallions, olives, shredded lettuce, and even crushed up tortillas chips

CHICKEN CHILI RECIPE (5)

CHICKEN CHILI RECIPE (6)

Chicken Chili Recipe

This Chicken Chili Recipe is a specular version packed with fresh ingredients along with 2 secret ingredients that make for extra special flavors!

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 403kcal

Author: Sherri Hagymas

Ingredients

  • 3 chicken breasts boneless, skinless
  • 5 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 medium sweet red bell peppers or 1 Red and one Yellow, seeded, cored and diced.
  • 2 jalapeno pepper seeded and minced
  • 3 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • teaspoon cinnamon *secret ingredient #1
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 28 ounces crushed tomatoes one large can or 2 smaller cans
  • 14 ounces diced tomatoes one can
  • 30 ounces northern white beans, low sodium preferably (2) 15 ounce cans
  • 1 cup beer
  • ¼ cup grated unsweetened chocolate *secret ingredient #2

Instructions

  • Bake Chicken Breasts in 2 tablespoon of Olive Oil at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until no longer pink inside.

  • Heat 3 tablespoon of olive oil in cooking pot. Add the onion and garlic and saute about 10 minutes.

  • Add the bell peppers and jalapeno peppers and saute another 10 minutes.

  • Stir in Chili powder, cumin, cinnamon and pepper.

  • When chicken is done, shred or cut into 1 inch pieces.

  • Add the chicken, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, beans and beer to the pot and stir to combine.

  • Simmer over medium heat for about 20-30 minutes.

  • Stir in grated chocolate.

  • Garnish with your favorite toppings.

Notes

Additional optional garnishes:

Light Sour Cream or Plain Greek Yogurt

Grated Cheddar Cheese

Sliced Scallions

Diced Avocado

Nutritional information does not include optional garnishes. Adjust for those additions.

Nutrition

Calories: 403kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 290mg | Potassium: 1324mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2155IU | Vitamin C: 60.2mg | Calcium: 152mg | Iron: 6mg

Nutritional Disclosure

Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

Tried this recipe?Mention @ToSimplyInspire or tag #ToSimplyInspire!

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More Soups and Stews Recipes

  • Pork Stew
  • Gnocchi Soup
  • Tuscan Chicken Soup
  • Manhattan Clam Chowder

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stacey

    FYI…Recipe does not tell you what step to add the beans

    Reply

    • Sherri

      I’m so sorry that was left out!! You add it with the tomatoes. -) Thanks for letting me know!

      Reply

  2. suzanne

    CHICKEN CHILI RECIPE (11)
    I made this last night and it was fantastic! A lot of chopping but it was so worth the effort. I did not add jalapenos as my husband can’t tolerate them.

    Reply

  3. Nicole

    Mole is one of the dishes that I would love to try, so thanks for sharing this. 🙂 They say Mole is an acquired taste, so it’ll be interesting to try this one.

    Btw, thanks for linking to Let’s Get Real Party! 🙂

    Reply

  4. Diane Balch

    Really healthy combination of ingredients. Thanks for bringing your chili to foodie friday.

    Reply

  5. Nicky

    Cinnamon and chocolate add a great flavor to chili. You don’t need to add much to get the flavors either. Thanks for sharing this with us at the Let’s Get Real Friday Link Party. I hope you’ll join us again this week.

    Reply

  6. Michelle

    Sounds delicious. Love the addition of chocolate. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday!

    Reply

  7. Miz Helen

    Your Chicken Chili looks awesome! Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday today, it is great to have you at the party. Hope you have a very special week and come back soon!
    Miz Helen

    Reply

  8. Joanne T Ferguson

    Great recipe to share at the Foodie Friends Friday Copycat Recipes Party
    Cheers! Joanne

    Reply

  9. Camille

    That looks so good. I’m going to have to try the 2 secret ingredients! Its going to be cold again here Sunday so that just might be the perfect time to try this! Thanks! Pinned it too!

    Reply

    • Sherri

      It is so yummy! 🙂 Perfect for a cooler day. We are getting cold and rainy Tuesday. I am planning on making it myself! Thanks so much for the pin!

      Reply

  10. Felecia

    Hi Sherri! Thanks for sharing your version of chicken chili! It looks delicious! I can hardly wait to make some! Blessings from Bama!

    Reply

  11. Beverly

    I love chili. I have made it with ground chicken but not with actual pieces of chicken. I am going to try this.
    Have a great weekend,
    Bev

    Reply

  12. Donella @ Productive WAHM

    It looks delicious. I like a pinch of cinnamon in my chili, too. I’ll pin this one!

    Reply

  13. Robyn @ simply fresh dinners

    Wow, with that list of ingredients, it’s got to be one perfect bowl of chili! Looks delicious and healthy and ready to eat! Thanks for sharing, Sherri.

    Reply

  14. jan

    That looks real yummy and easy too! 🙂 Love the secret ingredients 😉 … hopping over from In & Out of the Kitchen!

    Reply

    • Sherri

      It is so yummy!! Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂

      Reply

  15. Cindy @ Hun... What's for Dinner?

    I’d love to sit down to a big bowl of this chili. Great secret ingredients! Thank you for sharing at Simple Supper Tuesday.

    Reply

  16. Heidi

    Can you leave out the beer??

    Reply

    • Sherri

      I am you could 🙂 I would use chicken broth maybe for richer flavor but water would probably be fine as well.

      Reply

  17. Angela Parker

    Great looking recipe! I pinned it to try soon : )

    Reply

    • Sherri

      Thanks! It is one of my favorite’s 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply

CHICKEN CHILI RECIPE (2024)

FAQs

How to make homemade chili more flavorful? ›

If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.

Does chicken broth work in chili? ›

Chicken Broth: I like the depth of flavor from using chicken broth as it adds a nice contrast to the beef, but feel free to use beef broth or a combination of both. You'll want to drain the kidney beans, but rinsing them is optional. Doing so will reduce the amount of sodium that gets carried into the dish.

What secret ingredient will deepen the flavor of your chili? ›

Stir some puréed pumpkin into your chili just after sautéing your aromatics (onions, garlic, etc...) and before adding any liquid. This will deepen and sweeten its flavor, making it a great balance for all the chile peppers and heat.

What not to put in chili? ›

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

What is the best liquid for chili? ›

Chili cooks low and slow, so you need enough liquid to tenderize the meat and keep everything from drying out. That liquid should also add flavor to the chili, so use chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, or beer.

Does chili need tomato paste? ›

Tomato paste may come in a small can (or tube), but it packs a powerful punch and is an essential flavor building block for dishes like chili and beef stew.

Should I saute onions before adding to chili? ›

Sautéing onions, garlic, and other veggies first coaxes maximum flavor out of them. So make sure your onions, for example, are soft and translucent before you add your liquid.

Why do you put celery in chili? ›

Stirring it in with the spices, onion, celery, and garlic ensures it breaks up as it cooks slowly. There's yet another slow step in this recipe, coming after the tomatoes, tomato sauce, peppers and beans have been added: make sure to stir your pot every so often over the next two hours.

Why do you put lime juice in chili? ›

Crushed Tomatoes and Tomato Paste: Adds a rich tomato flavor and contributes to the chili's thick texture. Molasses: Offers a touch of sweetness to balance the heat and spices. Lime Juice: Adds a hint of acidity and brightness to the chili's flavor profile.

What brings out the flavor in chili? ›

Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

What makes the best chili meat? ›

The best chili meat is a combination of meats, often a mix of ground chuck, ground sirloin, brisket, diced tri-tip, and/or some bacon or sausage. Do your best to mix smaller pieces with larger pieces to stack textures and make it your own! Happy cooking!

Why doesn't my chili taste good? ›

Not Cooking It Long Enough

A low and slow cook time—at least an hour total—is key for drawing out the most flavor in a pot of chili.

What makes a good competition chili? ›

It contains NO beans or other “fillers”. Finely cut meat seems to be preferred to ground meat (although some cookoffs advertise as ground meat only). The chili contains very little or no grease. Winning chili must look good, smell good and taste good.

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