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This easy chicken chili recipe is perfect for using up leftover cooked chicken. It's hearty, tasty, and very filling!
You can top it with your favorite toppings, including sour cream, shredded cheese, and jalapenos.
Don't you just love making chili in the fall and winter? Whether it's made with chicken or with beef, I find it absolutely delightful.
Steaming hot and well-seasoned, it's one of the best ways to keep oneself warm when it's bitterly cold outside (fish chowder is another one).
I've been making this chicken chili a lot ever since the weather started cooling off. We all enjoy it very much, especially The Picky Eater (and when she likes something I make it often!).
It's an excellent way to use up leftover baked chicken breast or broiled chicken breast.
Jump to:
- Ingredients
- Variations
- Chicken Chili Instructions
- Expert Tips
- Recipe FAQs
- Serving Suggestions
- Storing Leftovers
- More Chili Recipes
- Foodie Newsletter
- Recipe Card
Ingredients
Here's an overview of what you'll need to make this tasty chili. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below.
- Spices: I use kosher salt, black pepper, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, and cayenne pepper.
- Olive oil: I love cooking with this delicious oil. But if you prefer an oil with a higher smoke point, you can use avocado oil instead.
- Aromatics: Onion, garlic, and diced chiles. They add so much flavor!
- Chicken broth: I use regular broth here, not reduced sodium. I think it's more flavorful.
- Heavy cream: Half-and-half is an acceptable substitute, but I prefer the richness of heavy cream.
- Cooked chicken breast, shredded: You can also use shredded rotisserie chicken - just make sure you remove the skin.
- Garnishes: Chopped cilantro, thinly sliced seeded jalapeño, shredded cheese, and sour cream.
Variations
- Add ½ teaspoon of dried thyme to the spice mixture. It goes well with chicken.
- Use cooked turkey instead of chicken. I do that after Thanksgiving!
- A tasty garnish in addition to the other garnishes is salsa. I like using it because it adds color to the chili.
- You can also drizzle the chili with hot sauce.
- To make it dairy-free, use canned coconut milk and use non-dairy toppings such as salsa.
Chicken Chili Instructions
Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:
First, you cook the aromatics and spices in olive oil. (Photos 1-3).
Next, add chicken broth and simmer to allow the flavors to meld. (Photos 4-5).
Stir in the heavy cream and then the chicken. (Photo 6).
Cook just until heated through. The chicken is already cooked. You don't want to overcook it. (Photo 7).
Ladle the chili into bowls, add your toppings, and serve. (Photo 8).
Expert Tips
- It's always a good idea to wear gloves when handling jalapenos. They can irritate your skin.
- Since we're using cooked chicken in this recipe, it's important to cook it very briefly - all we need to do is reheat it. Overcooking will make it dry.
Recipe FAQs
How can I thicken chicken chili?
By definition, since it's made with cooked chicken pieces and no tomatoes, it's going to be thinner than traditional chili (such as no-bean chili, pumpkin chili, or turkey chili).
The best way to make it thicker is to add just enough broth to get it to a stew consistency. Don't add too much liquid and then try to reduce it. Especially in this recipe, where the chicken is already cooked. This will just dry the chicken out.
My recipe calls for 4 cups of chicken broth. If you find that it's not thick enough to your liking, try using just 3 cups next time.
If you don't mind a little cornstarch, another trick is to whisk 1 tablespoon of cornstarch into the cold heavy cream before you add it to the chili. Make sure to whisk it well.
Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Absolutely! I love using rotisserie chicken in recipes. It makes life so easy. Just make sure to remove the skin. It won't work in chili in terms of its texture.
Can I freeze this chili?
Yes. It's best to divide it into individual portions (in covered mugs or in mason jars) and freeze them. Then, you can gently reheat the individual portions in the microwave directly from the freezer.
Serving Suggestions
I usually serve this tasty chili on its own, in soup bowls. It's hearty, delicious, and very filling, so you don't really need to serve it with anything.
But if you'd like to serve it with something on the side, here are a few good options:
- Cauliflower rice - you can top the "rice" with the chili or mix the rice into the chili.
- Cheese biscuits
- Keto cornbread
- Savory cheese muffins
- Homemade pork rinds
- Slices of almond flour bread
Storing Leftovers
You can keep most cooked leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. But if you use leftover chicken, you should take into account how much time that chicken has already spent in the fridge.
More Chili Recipes
- No Bean Chili
- Pumpkin Chili
- Turkey Chili
- Keto Cornbread
Recipe Card
5 from 206 votes
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Easy Chicken Chili
Delicious and easy to make chicken chili is perfect for using up leftover cooked chicken. It's hearty, tasty, and very filling!
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time30 minutes mins
Total Time45 minutes mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 361kcal
Author: Vered DeLeeuw
Ingredients
Spices:
- ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt (use less if using fine salt)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Chili:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion diced
- ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh garlic minced
- 1 (7 oz) can diced green chilies
- 4 cups chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 24 oz cooked chicken breast shredded (5 cups)
Garnishes:
- ¼ cup cilantro chopped
- 1 jalapeño pepper seeded and thinly sliced
- ½ cup shredded cheese (I use a Mexican blend)
- ½ cup sour cream
Instructions
In a small bowl, mix together the spices. Set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes.
Add the garlic, the green chilies, and the spice mix. Cook, stirring, for 30 seconds.
Add the chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
Stir in the heavy cream, then the shredded chicken. Simmer just until heated through, for about 5 more minutes.
Garnish and serve.
Video
Notes
- It's a good idea to wear gloves when handling jalapenos. They can be quite irritating to your skin.
- Since we're using cooked chicken in this recipe, it's important to cook it very briefly in the chili - all we need to do is reheat it. Overcooking will make it dry.
- You can keep most cooked leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. But if you use leftover chicken, you should take into account how much time that chicken has already spent in the fridge.
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Nutrition per Serving
Calories: 361kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Sodium: 786mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g
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Cup measurements refer to the standard American cup, which is 240 milliliters. Most of my recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read these Terms of Use carefully before using any of my recipes.
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About the Author
Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.
Reader Interactions
Comments
Mike
This looks like a great recipe (minus the immense amount of dairy) and I'm definitely going to try it, but it is in no way a chili... there are no beans or tomato in it. This is a creamy chicken soup that looks really good.
Reply
Vered DeLeeuw
Hey Mike,
Thanks for the feedback! I respectfully disagree. 🙂 I have a fiend from Texas who won't touch chili if it has beans. Here's an interesting discussion on the subject.Reply
Dee-Dee Stewart
My entire family of seven (including the one who HATES chili and the three that complain salt is spicy) LOVES this recipe!
We do it a little different. On chili day eve, I will air-crisp two whole chickens. I use McCormick's Mojito Lime marinade packets (two per chicken) for 4+ hrs in the fridge. Then pop those birds into my Ninja Foodi on 360°F for 30 min breast down and 45 min breast up.
After dinner, I chop up the leftovers for chili the next day. We make it a bit heartier by adding a can of cannellini beans, a can of white hominy, and two juiced limes.Reply
Vered DeLeeuw
Your way of making it sounds marvelous, Dee-Dee! I'm so glad the entire family enjoys it.
Reply
