Crockpot Chicken Chili

4.32 from 76 votes
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This crockpot chicken chili recipe might be the easiest chili you’ve ever made! Cook the chicken breast whole in the slow cooker and in 6-8 hours, shred it and mix it all together.

Crockpot chicken chili in a bowl
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I’ve been making chili since college because it’s something my midwestern mom made for my family often growing up and if you know how to open a can and measure spices, it’s the easiest thing to make for the masses. Some of my favorites from FFF are: beef chili recipe, white bean chicken chili, and vegetarian chili.

One of the most famous chili recipes on Fit Foodie Finds is this crockpot chicken chili. It’s a mild-tasting red chili made with chicken breast, a few types of beans, diced tomatoes, and a variety of chili spices. Best part? It’s all done in the slow cooker so it’s super hands-off!

What You Need for Crockpot Chicken Chili

  • Boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • Salsa (any kind will work! we recommend using your favorite kind!)
  • Black beans
  • Great northern beans
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Green chiles
  • Minced garlic
  • Spices
  • Apple cider vinegar (if you like the heat, swap for hot sauce!)
  • Chicken broth (any kind of broth or water will do!)
Chicken Chili in a crockpot

Ingredient Swaps

Chicken: Feel free to swap boneless, skinless chicken thighs. You can even add rotisserie chicken at the end, too.

Beans: there are 2 cans of beans in this recipe, use whatever kind you want! Cannellini beans or garbanzo beans would be delicious substitutions! 

Green Chiles: hoping for something a little spicier? Swap in canned jalapeños instead.

homemade chili seasoning

We love keeping our homemade chili seasoning on hand at all times because it’s the perfect blend for chilis just like this. So, feel free to swap all of the spices in this recipe for 3-4 tablespoons of homemade chili seasoning.

Chili in crockpot

How do you make chicken chili thicker?

To make chicken chili thicker, remove about 1/4 cup of the liquid from your slow cooker. Then, dissolve about 1 tablespoon of cornstarch into the liquid by whisking.

Pour the cornstarch slurry back into the slow cooker and mix to combine. Then, let it cook on high for 10-15 more minutes to activate the cornstarch.

Chili in Crockpot

Storage

Transfer chili into a glass container and seal tightly. Refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Can you freeze chicken chili?

Let your crockpot chicken chili cool completely before transferring into a freezer-safe gallon-size bag or Tupperware. Remove as much air as possible and seal. Freeze for up to 3 months.

To reheat, let thaw on the counter and then transfer into a large pot, back into your slow cooker or microwave to heat up.

Chicken Chili in a bowl

Serving Ideas

Never skip the toppings! We love jazzing up our chili with any of the following:

  • Tortilla chips
  • Sliced avocado
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • Diced bell peppers
  • Lime wedges
4.32 from 76 votes

Easy Chicken Chili (Crock Pot)

Crockpot chicken chili comes together so easily. Add all of the ingredients into your slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Shred the chicken and enjoy!
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 4 hours
Total: 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6
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Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Place all ingredients minus the chicken breasts into your slow cooker. Mix until combined. Then, place chicken breasts on top and cover.
    A crockpot full of chili and beans with a wooden spoon.
  • Turn crockpot to high and cook for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours, stirring periodically.
  • Then, remove the chicken from the crockpot and shred using two forks. Place shredded chicken back in the crockpot and mix until combined.
    Crockpot chicken chili with a wooden spoon in it.
  • Serve with all of your favorite toppings such as shredded cheese, Greek yogurt, and avocado.

Tips & Notes

  • Spices- option to use 3-4 tablespoons homemade chili seasoning.
  • Store in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • This is an excellent freezer meal! Let cool completely and then transfer into a freezer-safe gallon-size bag and place into the freezer. Will stay for up to 3 months.
  • If you like a little bit more heat, feel free to swap hot sauce for the apple cider vinegar.

Watch It

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”QyTZbpNB” upload-date=”2020-10-19T19:44:00.000Z” name=”Crockpot Chicken Chili” description=”This Crockpot Chicken Chili is so easy to put together, and made completely in the slow cooker! Plus, this easy chicken chili recipe is packed with protein, fiber, and so much good flavor!”]

Nutrition

Calories: 275 kcal, Carbohydrates: 33 g, Protein: 27 g, Fat: 2 g, Fiber: 9 g, Sugar: 5 g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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About Lee Funke

Lee is the founder of Fit Foodie Finds and based in Minneapolis, MN. She started this website in 2010 as a way to share her love for real food and wellness. The internet has changed so much since then and so has Fit Foodie Finds. Today we're a female-run recipe website publishing hundreds of tried and true recipes developed and tested by our team.

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KAtie
KAtie
January 30, 2019 11:25 am

Any suggestions on ways to thicken up the chili? We prefer beanless and im afraid the chili will turn out soupy..

Debbie
Debbie
January 15, 2019 11:02 pm

This looks delicious. I cant wait to try it this week.
Is this made with boneless breast chicken or bone in chicken breast?

Natalie
Natalie
January 13, 2019 10:03 am
Recipe Rating :
     

5 stars
This is seriously the best chili Iโ€™ve ever had! Homemade or in a restaurant, I highly recommend it!

Kate
Kate
November 26, 2018 1:08 pm

did you update the recipe? where can I find the old one with the milk??? I loved it and made it lots of times!!

Andrea
Andrea
December 10, 2018 4:24 pm
Reply to  Kate

The old recipie was a family favorite. I went ahead and tried this new version and it was not bad, but not a hit. Is there somewhere I can find the old way? Please ๐Ÿ™???

Cristy
Cristy
July 18, 2019 4:44 pm
Reply to  Andrea

Here’s the old recipe:

CrockยญPot Chicken Chili

Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 4 hours
Total time: 4 hours 15 mins

Ingredients
2 large chicken breasts, thawed
1 cup salsa, mild
1 cup water
1 15 oz. can black beans
1 15 oz. can white northern beans
1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
2 tablespoons canned/fresh jalapeรฑos, diced (or more if you like it spicy!)
2 tablespoons chili powder
1โ„2 tablespoon cumin powder
1โ„2 tablespoon garlic powder
1โ„2 tablespoon onion powder
1โ„2 tablespoon smoked paprika
1โ„2 tablespoon lemon or ground black pepper
1 cup milk
1โ„4 cup flour, any kind

Instructions
1. Place all ingredients up to the black pepper into a crock pot. Make sure that the chicken breasts are the first to go in, laying flat on the surface. Place everything else on top.

2. Turn crockยญpot on high and cook for 3 hours, stirring periodically. Then, remove the chicken from the crock pot and shred using two forks (the chicken should be fully cooked by now). Place chicken back in crockยญpot.

3. Next, in a small bowl, mix 1 cup milk with 1โ„4 cup of flour. This will act as a thickening agent. Once most of the flour is dissolved, pour mixture into chili and stir.

4. Let simmer on high for an additional 30 minutes to an hour.

5. Serve warm with corn tortilla chips, Greek yogurt, sour cream, salsa, or avocado!

Recipe by Fit Foodie Finds at http://fitfoodiefinds.com/2013/09/crockยญpotยญchickenยญchili/

Sally S
Sally S
February 3, 2021 3:22 pm
Reply to  Cristy

Thank you soooo much! I love the old recipe and was disappointed that it changed.

Jen
Jen
November 24, 2018 3:05 pm

I want to make this but I donโ€™t have salsa! Do you think adding an extra can of diced tomatoes and some onion will be a good substitute?

Casey
Casey
November 23, 2018 10:55 am

Oh no, I didnโ€™t drain any of the canned items! You think it will still turn out ok?

Confiteria Collada
November 15, 2018 5:29 am

I love the chili chicken. Its my favorite plate ๐Ÿ™‚

Sam
Sam
November 14, 2018 4:18 pm
Recipe Rating :
     

1 star
What happened to the old recipe? My family and I LOVED that one! I would make it once a week and come to this website for the recipe. I’m regretting not saving it somewhere. Please repost it.

Sally
Sally
November 14, 2018 1:23 pm

Do you drain the beans or pour in the whole can of beans?

Jodi Pry
Jodi Pry
November 14, 2018 7:05 am

What is the sodium content in this recipe?

Linley Hanson
November 14, 2018 9:11 am
Reply to  Jodi Pry

Hi Jodi! Sodium content is 576mg. If you would like a lower sodium content you can use low sodium broth and beans. We used regular items. Thank you for the question!

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