This post has been updated with new photos and tips.
Healthy chicken chili in the slow cooker is a hearty, comforting dish everyone will love that takes just 10 minutes to throw together. This rich and flavorful crockpot chili is filled with juicy white chicken, black beans, black-eyed peas, chili beans, hominy, and green chilis, in a warm and zesty tomato sauce. Easy enough for weeknight dinners and special enough for weekend get-togethers.
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You’re going to love this
Easy. This is a true set-and-forget slow cooker chili recipe. You don’t need to brown any meat ahead of time. Just dump everything in and walk away. Really. If you can open cans, you can make this chicken chili recipe.
Healthy chicken chili. White chicken stays super juicy in the crockpot, especially when it’s soaking up all the saucy goodness from the tomatoes and warm spices. And the mixture of beans adds even more protein, a ton of flavor, and interesting texture.
Hearty. This easy chicken chili is also a stick-to-your-ribs kind of dish with big chunks of chicken and tons of beans to fill you up and warm your soul.
Comfort food classic. When the weather starts to cool and comfort food is on your mind, that’s when you know it’s time to make this chili recipe. The warm spices are zesty and soothing. Plus, making chili is an automatic reason to make cornbread. In our house, we slather it with butter and honey (and sometimes blueberry jam -- yes, even with chili) -- and what could be more comforting than that?
Chicken chili. If your family is used to having ground beef in their chili, I bet they won’t mind having big chunks of juicy white chicken in their chili instead.
Easy slow cooker chili. What can be better than throwing everything in the slow cooker and then walking away? Some slow cooker chili recipes require fussy browning of things first. Not this one. Just dump it in and get on with your day.
How to Make Healthy Chicken Chili in the Slow Cooker
Spray your crockpot with cooking spray to save yourself some clean-up hassle later on.
Place 4 thawed chicken breasts in the bottom of your slow cooker.
Drain and rinse the hominy and beans (except for the one in sauce), and add the green chilis (or jalapenos, if you’re a spicy one!), the 28 oz. can of diced tomatoes (do not drain), chili powder, garlic powder, and cumin.
Lightly stir to combine the beans, tomatoes, and seasonings.
Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
After four hours on high or eight on low, add the 14 ounce can of tomatoes and the can of tomato paste, stirring to combine.
If you’re wondering why, here’s what’s up. I think chili should be thick and chunky. And most chili recipes are too thin and soupy. After 4 hours on high in the crockpot, the tomatoes have cooked down. So this can of tomatoes ensures big chunks of tomatoes. And the tomato paste thickens it up.
Turn heat to low and cook for one more hour.
Use a pair of tongs to break up the chicken into big, delicious chunks. It should just fall apart. Stir to combine, so everyone gets plenty of chicken in their bowl.
Chili Fixings
Serve your healthy chicken chili with all the toppings you love. Here are some of our favorites!
- Green onions
- Diced red onions
- Chopped tomatoes
- Sliced avocado
- Fresh corn
- Sliced jalapenos
- Shredded cheese
- Crumbled cotija cheese
- Chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
- Sour cream
- Hot sauce
- Cornbread
- Tortilla chips
Healthy Chicken Chili (Slow Cooker)
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1 can black beans
- 1 can black eyed peas
- 1 can chili beans in spicy sauce
- 1 can hominy
- 1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
- 1 4.5 oz can green chiles or jalapenos
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
- 1 6 oz. can tomato paste
Instructions
- Spray slow cooker with cooking spray. Lay thawed chicken breasts on the bottom.
- Drain and rinse any beans that are not in sauce and add to slow cooker. Top with large can of tomatoes, green chiles or jalapenos, chili powder, garlic powder, and cumin. Gently stir to mix the tomatoes, beans, chiles, and spices together.
- Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours. Add 14.5 oz. can of tomatoes and tomato paste. Stir and cook on low for one more hour.
- Top with shredded cheese and sour cream.
Nutrition
Hungry for More Healthy, Hearty Dinner Recipes?
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My Recipe Essentials
6-Quart Crockpot
This 6-quart Crock-Pot is the perfect size for this chili recipe. And the locking handles are convenient for taking your creations on the road.
8-Inch Strainer
For straining beans, this strainer from OXO is a champ. It's large enough to hold a few cans at a time and the handle is durable enough not to buckle under pressure.
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