Crockpot Chicken Chili
Published 11/13/2023
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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.
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!)
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.
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.
Check it out!
6 Crockpot Chicken Recipes
Looking for more crockpot chicken recipes? Look no further! Check out 6 similar recipes below. And for an added bonus, check out our Crockpot Freezer Meals post where we teach you how to turn all of these slow cooker recipes into freezer meals.
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.
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
Easy Chicken Chili (Crock Pot)
Ingredients
- 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts , we used 2 large breasts
- 12 oz. salsa, any kind
- 15 oz. canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 15 oz. canned white northern beans, drained and rinsed
- 15 oz. canned diced tomatoes
- 4 oz. canned diced green chiles
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Place all ingredients minus the chicken breasts into your slow cooker. Mix until combined. Then, place chicken breasts on top and cover.
- 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.
- 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
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Super yummy! The whole family loved! I used some leftover rotisserie chicken and it worked great, would just recommend decreasing the cook time if going that route.
Loved it. I added sweet peppers and they were a great addition. Perfect for the rainy days 😊
This recipe was amazing. I’ll confess to slight mods due to on-hand ingredients. Used two can of black beans, one can mild Rotel tomatoes, and 16 ounces mild Herdez salsa. Other than that, everything else according to recipe. Yummy! (Oops, I forgot, I threw in a handful of quinoa as it was cooking – my hubby never knew!). Also topped with dollop of non-fat Greek yogurt.
It would taste great to put red and yellow bell peppers if you wanted. Something I might try in the future.
Delicious and very easy to make! I didn’t have Chilli peppers, so I substituted a green pepper and I added an onion!
I’ve made this recipe twice. I always have the ingredients on hand, because it is such a classic, cozy meal for these frigid minnesota winters.
Very easy and delicious recipe.
Will definitely make again.
Love this, gotta try it! I’m also struggling for a healthier me, I’ve even start running with SportMe marathon training app and I can say I’m on the right track now. Nutrition is an important part of my losing weight plan, and your blog posts are a true inspiration!