Looking for an easy chicken chili recipe? You’ve found it here and our chicken chili is a crowd favorite! The hardest part is going out to buy a cooked roast chicken. But if you can get to Costco for the roast chicken, then this is even more budget friendly! Our recipe has been a reader favorite since 2016.

Roast Chicken Chili Recipe in bowl with spoon

Easy Chicken Chili Recipe

Our last Fresh Chicken Chili recipe is our stand-by favorite and though it takes more time to prepare, the rewards are worth it. But often times we come home late and exhausted from work with craving for chili and don’t have the energy to wait long to prepare a fresh version. So we have our own version of an easy and quick chicken chili that’s still wonderfully delicious without sacrificing flavor. Sometimes a quick and easy recipe doesn’t mean that it’s less flavorful, less healthy or that you’re cheating on quality. There are times when everyone is short on time, but still want to have a great home-cooked meal. This easy chicken chili recipe is one great example of a dish that’s as good as our fresh recipe , but helpful to those on time constraints or with a super busy schedule.

Video: Easy Chicken Chili with Roast Chicken:


 

Roast Chicken in casserole dish

Tomato, beans, bell peppers, chicken, onion, and chilies on a cutting board

Using Leftover Roast Chicken is Great

This quick chicken chili is even quicker when made with leftover roast chicken. We always love planning our meals around roast chicken and in doing so, will roast about two chickens at the beginning of the week and use the leftovers for many other recipes. It’s one way to enjoy great roast chicken throughout the week in different ways. And this easy chicken chili is one of those recipes that we always look forward to making with the leftover oven roasted chickens or even with poached chicken.

Easy Chicken Chili with Roast Chicken

Yield: 4 servings
Total Time: 45 minutes
This is our to-go chicken chili recipe during our roast chicken week. We’ll roast whole chickens in the oven and save the leftovers for recipes such as this one. It’s a great way to use up all the leftover chicken breast or even chicken thigh meat. Enjoy!
4.58 from 7 votes

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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons (20 ml) Cooking Oil
  • 1 Onion , chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic , minced or crushed
  • 15 oz. (425 g) crushed Tomatoes (@ 2 cups)
  • 7 oz. (198 g) canned diced Green Chilies
  • 1 1/2 cups (210 g) (about) leftover Roast Chicken , chopped
  • 15 oz. (425 g) canned Beans (Chili, Black, or Pinto, or whichever you prefer)
  • 1 Red Bell Pepper , chopped
  • 1 teaspoon (2.5 ml) ground Oregano
  • 2 teaspoons (10 ml) ground Cumin
  • 2 Tablespoons (30 ml) chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) paprika
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) water (about) , or to desired chili thickness
  • Salt , to taste
  • fresh cracked Black Pepper , to taste

optional sides

  • sour cream, grated cheese, diced tomatoes, sliced green onions
  • bread, corn bread

Instructions 

  • Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and add oil. Add onions and garlic and cook until slightly translucent, about 2 minutes.
  • Add tomatoes and green chilies and cook for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add chicken, beans, bell pepper, oregano, ground cumin, chili powder, paprika. Add water to your desired thickness (usually about 1/2 to 1 cup).
  • Bring to a simmer then reduce heat and cook for 20-30 minutes.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste. For gluten free, do not serve with bread or corn bread.

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 306kcal, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 39mg, Sodium: 687mg, Potassium: 907mg, Fiber: 12g, Sugar: 11g, Vitamin A: 2503IU, Vitamin C: 57mg, Calcium: 109mg, Iron: 5mg
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: Stove Top
Calories: 306
Chicken Chili in bowl with spoon

Chili Recipes for All Year Long