Crockpot Chicken Chili

By Lee Funke

11/13/2023

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.

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

Ingredients1x2x3x

▢ 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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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