Amazing Chicken Chili Recipe with Printable (2024)

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I love Autumn. It is by far my most favorite season of the year. Since I am living on the West Coast of theU.S. right now, I miss theseason of autumn. Crisp, cool air, beautifully changing leaves, cold football games, and yummy fall foods. I can’t change the fact that the leaves don’t change here, but I can definitely recreate the foods!

We spend all of the next few months baking soft pumpkin cookies and soft gingerbread cookies, eating yummy Butternut Squash ravioli, and melting fall-fragranced sprinkles in the candle warmer. And we eat a lot of soup!Nothing says autumn to me like a nice warm bowl of soup, with some toasty bread on the side.

Many years ago, my husband and I were active in a small local church and they hosted a chili cookoff. Now my husband is quite a good cook, and he wanted to bring something really good but different. So he pulled out a few cookbooks, tried a few recipes, combined a few recipes into one, and came up with this amazing Chicken Chili.

Now I know what you are thinking. “Chicken Chili is not chili.” I can almost hear you say that! No matter how many times my husband takes his Amazing Chicken Chili to a chili cookoff, he never wins. It’s not the quintessential chili recipe judges are looking for. But I will tell you a secret: Our pot isALWAYSempty when we come home. Even if he triples the recipe! This stuff is good.

Ingredients

Scale

2 TBSP Vegetable Oil
2–3 LBS Boneless Chicken ((we usually use thighs, but any chicken meat works.))
2 Medium Onions or 1 Large Onion.
1 Medium Red Bell Pepper
1 Medium Yellow or Orange Bell Pepper
1 Zucchini, (or yellow squash)
2–3 Serrano Chilis (OPTIONAL (or Jalepenos))
1 28 Ounce Cans Crushed Tomatoes (with Sauce.)
1 16 Ounce Can Tomato Sauce
1 Box Chicken Broth ((Add water as needed at the end to thin the chili according to taste.)
3 TBSP Chili Powder
2 Tsp Coarse Kosher Salt
1 Tsp Oregano
1 Tsp Cumin
1/2 Tsp Ancho Chili Powder (OPTIONAL). You can also use Chipotle Chili Powder.
1 Can Black Beans (OPTIONAL)
2 Cups Shredded Cheese (Cheddar or Pepper Jack ) For adding to each bowl.

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Instructions

Start by searing the chicken and 1 tablespoon of chili powder in 1 tablespoon of oil – directly in your soup pan.
After a few minutes, remove the chicken.
Add another tablespoon of oil to the soup pot and add the vegetables in this order: (stirring between and give each new veggie a minute or two): onions, bell peppers, zucchini, and finally any hot peppers from the optional list. Also add the remaining spices if any.
When all the veggies are ready – add all the liquids and spices.
Return the chicken to the pot.
Add more liquid (chicken broth or water) as needed. The reason it might require more liquid is because the size of your vegetables can vary.
Simmer on low for twenty minutes until the vegetables soften. Or you can cook it in the slow cooker for four to five hours or more to blend favors. In the Instant Pot, set it to 15 minutes high pressure.
Add the can of beans about 20 minutes before serving to heat through.
Taste and adjust spices as necessary.

Notes

Optional:My husband likes to add a few tablespoons of brown sugar or peanut butter (or both.) I do not. You can choose.

Serve topped with cheese.