Our healthy chicken chili recipe has lots of fresh vegetables and clean tasting. The freshness of this chicken chili recipe really comes through!

Healthy chicken chili recipe in a bowl

Healthy Chicken Chili with Chicken Breast

This easy chicken chili recipe is one of those year round dishes that we rarely ever get tired of. When the weather is cold, a warm bowl of chili always satisfies a hearty appetite. For summer parties or football game days, variations on our chili rocks the menu: chicken chili quesadillas, chicken chili nachos and chicken chili cheese fries. This recipe is one of those dishes which taste better the next day and is a rock star leftover dish that always keeps on giving. Don’t you love dishes like chili which can be re-purposed in many different ways and you can never get tired of it? This is why we adore this fresh and healthy chili recipe so much.

Watch Video for Fresh & Healthy Chicken Chili Recipe

Healthy chicken chili recipe and such an easy chicken chili in a cooking pan with a wooden spatula

Fresh Vegetables in Healthy Chicken Chili

We love our fresh chicken chili version because it’s full of fresh vegetables, flavor and texture. Our goal was to create a quick and easy chicken chili recipe that used as many fresh ingredients as possible. Because we wanted a recipe without sacrificing the rich flavor of what makes chili so wonderful. Fresh chicken instead of leftover chicken, fresh tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, celery and spices are the base to both a healthy and tasty chili.

Can you use brown meat (chicken thighs)? Leftover roast chicken?

What makes this chicken chili recipe even healthier is using chicken white breast meat. But please feel free to use what ever cut of chicken you like and appreciate all the wonderful  vegetables that make this so delicious. Using chicken thigh meat will add a deeper, richer chicken flavor if that’s what you’re craving. Make sure to use boneless, skinless chicken thigh meat. If you want to make this even easier, buy a pre-cooked roast chicken and use that! Cooking time will be much quicker because the roast chicken meat is already cooked.

Healthy Chicken Chili Recipe with Fresh Ingredients step by step

Make-Ahead Chicken Chili: Can You Freeze This?

Yes, you can definitely freeze this chicken chili for an easy make-ahead meal. Just make sure that the chili is cooled completely, then store it in a freezer safe, air tight plastic bag or container. After thawing, it might be a little less juicy. Add a little extra water or tomato sauce to make the chili a little more saucy to your preferred consistency.

Healthy chicken chili recipe and such an easy chicken chili @bestrecipebox

Healthy Chicken Chili

Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Make the consistency of the chili as thick as you want. Simmering the chili on low for 20-30 minutes will really bring out the flavors, but it will be on the thick side. So add additional water during the simmer to the thickness that you want.
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Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
  • 1 medium onion , minced
  • 3 cloves garlic , minced
  • 3/4 lb. (340 g) chicken breast or cutlets , cut into small bite sized pieces
  • 1 lb. (454 g) fresh tomatoes , diced
  • 3 ounces (85 g) tomato paste
  • 1 cup (240 ml) water
  • 2 Tablespoons (30 ml) chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons (10 ml) ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) kosher salt , or more to taste
  • 15 ounces (425 g) canned black beans , drained
  • 2 stalks celery , diced
  • 1 large bell pepper , diced

Instructions 

  • Heat a large pan, add oil, minced onions and garlic. Cook until softened and lightly golden, about 1 minute..
  • Add chicken, cook chicken until it becomes white on the outside. Add fresh tomatoes, tomato paste, water, chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, and salt. Stir to combine well, then allow to come to simmer. Cook for about 2 minutes.
  • Add black beans, celery, and bell pepper. Stir to combine well. If it's too thick, add a little more water. Bring to a boil, then immediately lower heat and bring to a low simmer.
  • Continue simmering the chili for about 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, for the flavors to combine. Keep cooking the chili until it becomes your desired consistency.

Video

YouTube video

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 170kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 14g, Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 27mg, Sodium: 675mg, Potassium: 710mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 2055IU, Vitamin C: 39.9mg, Calcium: 54mg, Iron: 2.5mg
Course: Main Course, Sauces, Side Dish, Soup
Cuisine: American
Calories: 170

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