Healthy Chicken Chili
- By Amy Dong
- Updated Oct. 17, 2025
This healthy chicken chili is ready in about 30 minutes; it’s easy, flavorful, and perfect for meal prep. It quickly became a weeknight favorite in my home; I hope you love it.
In This Article
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Amy’s Notes
This healthy chicken chili is my cold-weather comfort food when I want something nourishing without spending hours in the kitchen.
- Rich, Flavorful Broth: The combo of fire-roasted tomatoes, spices, and chicken broth builds deep flavor fast.
- Quick and Easy: Everything comes together in one pot in about 30 minutes. It’s perfect for busy weeknights when you want real comfort food without the cleanup, a lot like our Instant Pot Chili.
- Loaded with Goodness: Packed with protein, veggies, and fiber, this chili is as filling as it is wholesome.
- Perfect for Leftovers: Like our Stovetop Chili, the flavor gets even better the next day, making it ideal for meal prep. I love having it ready to reheat for lunches or lazy nights.
- Family Favorite: Everyone digs into this one. It’s mild enough for the kids but flavorful enough for adults. A sprinkle of cheese and a few chips on top seal the deal.
Key Recipe Ingredients
- Onions & Garlic – These aromatic staples create the foundation of flavor and bring out the best in the chili spices.
- Bell Peppers – A colorful mix adds sweetness, freshness, and texture to balance the hearty ingredients.
- Chili Powder, Cumin, & Paprika – This trio builds the bold, warm, and slightly smoky chili flavor that makes each bite rich and satisfying.
- Granulated Sugar – A touch of sweetness rounds out the acidity of the tomatoes and spices without making the chili taste sweet.
- Crushed Tomatoes – Use the full can with juices to create a flavorful, rich tomato base for the chili to simmer in.
- Rotisserie Chicken – Shredded, cooked chicken makes this recipe quick, filling, and packed with protein.
- White Beans – Mild and creamy, these add extra substance and fiber while soaking up the chili flavors beautifully.
- Chicken Broth – Helps loosen the chili to the perfect consistency and deepens the savory flavor.
Substitutions And Variations
Here are some of our favorite substitutions and variations:
- Protein Options: Rotisserie chicken keeps this recipe easy and flavorful, but you can swap in shredded turkey, cooked ground chicken, beef, or sausage.
- Tomatoes: Crushed tomatoes provide a thick, rich texture. You can substitute diced or fire-roasted tomatoes for a chunkier, slightly smoky version.
- Beans: White beans add creaminess, but feel free to use black beans, kidney beans, or chickpeas. Mixing two types of beans also adds a nice variety of texture and flavor.
Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
- Start by sautéing the onions, garlic, and bell peppers in olive oil until tender. This creates a flavorful base and gives the vegetables a head start before adding the rest of the ingredients.
- Add the spices, crushed tomatoes, chicken, beans, and broth. Using fire-roasted tomatoes and rotisserie chicken layers in deep flavor with minimal effort.
- Let everything simmer gently for about 10 minutes. This quick simmer allows the flavors to meld while keeping the veggies tender and the chicken juicy.
- Serve warm with your favorite toppings like cilantro, shredded cheese, or tortilla chips. It’s hearty, comforting, and even better the next day.
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
How To Prep Ahead
Take a look at our best prep-ahead strategies for this recipe:
- Prep Veggies Ahead: You can chop the onions and bell peppers 1–2 days ahead and store them in airtight containers in the fridge. I sometimes prep a big batch and freeze extras for quick use in soups and stews.
- Make Entirely Ahead: This chili is perfect for making ahead – it tastes even better the next day. Cook the full batch, cool completely, and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
What To Serve with Healthy Chicken Chili
Breads
- We love serving this Healthy Chicken Chili with warm, golden Easy Dinner Rolls or buttery Pull-Apart Rolls straight from the oven.
For a sweeter pairing, try it with Sweet Honey Cornbread or even Pumpkin Cornbread – both add the perfect balance of richness to every spoonful.
Rice and Grains
- For a heartier bowl, spoon this chili over Instant Pot Jasmine Rice or fluffy Wild Rice Pilaf to soak up all that smoky sauce.
- It’s also fantastic layered with buttered egg noodles or nutty Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice for an easy, satisfying dinner.
Healthy Chicken Chili
This Healthy Chicken Chili takes only 30 minutes to cook and tastes like a cool-weather dream! Whatever the season, everyone you serve this chili to will be going back for seconds.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 6 cloves garlic, chopped
- 4 bell peppers, any color, seeded/chopped
- 2 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 ½ teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, from can, with all juices
- 3-4 cups cooked shredded chicken, from whole rotisserie chicken
- 15 ounces white beans, from can, drained
- 2 cups chicken broth
- chopped cilantro , or parsley, shredded cheese, corn tortilla chips (optional for serving)
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat oil until hot. Add onions and garlic. Stir on medium-high heat 3 minutes or until tender.
- Add bell peppers, salt, chili powder, sugar, cumin, and paprika; stir 2 minutes on medium-high heat.
- Increase to high heat and stir in crushed tomatoes with juices, shredded chicken, beans, and broth.
- Bring to a rapid boil. Immediately cover and reduce heat to simmer for 10 minutes.
- Serve with optional toppings, as desired. Chili keeps well covered and chilled for several days.
Notes
- You can also try cooked, shredded turkey in place of the chicken. Or, quickly cook up a pound of ground meat (turkey, beef, or sausage) and use it as the main protein.
- If using cooked ground beef, feel free to use beef broth in place of chicken broth.
- We love using fire roasted tomatoes whenever possible, which provide extra boost of flavors.
- Feel free to add your choice of beans: chickpeas, black beans, or Northern beans work well.
- Add beans at the same time as the tomatoes and broth so they absorb some of the flavors as they heat through. If they simmer too long, they may get mushy.
- This recipe is part of our Healthy 30-Minute Dinner Recipes Collection.
- Try serving with Sweet Honey Cornbread or Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice for a delicious family meal.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 14.4g | Protein: 7.2g | Fat: 7.3g | Saturated Fat: 1.2g | Cholesterol: 14.4mg | Sodium: 774.8mg | Fiber: 3.7g | Sugar: 8.4g
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of chicken works best for this recipe?
Rotisserie chicken is the easiest option because it’s already cooked and super flavorful. But you can also use shredded leftover chicken or boil a few chicken breasts or thighs in advance.
How spicy is this chili?
This version is mild as written, but you can easily add heat with a pinch of cayenne, diced jalapeños, or a dash of hot sauce. Taste and adjust before simmering if you want more kick.
Can I make this vegetarian?
Yes! Just skip the chicken and use vegetable broth. You can add more beans or toss in chopped zucchini, corn, or sweet potatoes for a hearty veggie version.
How long does it keep?
This chili keeps well for up to 3-4 days in the fridge. The flavor deepens over time, so it’s even better the next day.
More to Cook and Eat
- White Chicken Chili Recipe (Crockpot) – Rich and creamy, this is without a doubt the best white chicken chili you’ll ever dip your spoon into.
- The Best Vegetarian Chili – Made with all the flavor and texture you look for in a chili recipe but none of the meat, this is the ultimate crowd-pleasing dish.
- Hearty, Chunky Chili – Thick and delicious, comfort food doesn’t get better than this!
- Crockpot Chili – A set-it-and-forget-it meal, this easy chili is great for weeknight dinners, gameday feasts, and everything in between.