The best Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili ever! This recipe is so easy to make and is the perfect dinner to feed a crowd! Loaded with veggies, fiber and protein this meal is even freezer-friendly! Gluten-free, dairy-free, & paleo-friendly!
In honor of the upcoming Super Bowl…which I don’t plan on actually watching (#threekidsixandunder), as well as the super chilly winter we’re having…I have to share this Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili recipe with you!
This is my mom’s chili recipe. She is a woman of many talents; she’s an amazing writer, has an unwaivering cheerful outlook on life, and is the best Nana in the entire universe! Something funny though, is that she has never felt completely confident in the kitchen.
My sister and I tell her that she is a great cook, but she won’t accept our praise. However, she knows that she hit a home run with this recipe. This is easily the best Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili known to mankind. It has won first place in many cook-offs, and because of this recipe my mom is currently reigning as the Chili Queen of the World {it’s an indisputable fact}.
This healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili recipe is my go-to meal for just about anything. Having a small army of people over for dinner? Make Mom’s chili. Want to take a delicious healthy meal to a friend? Bring them Mom’s chili. Feeling lazy and don’t want to cook for a week? Toss Mom’s chili in the Crockpot and let the magic begin.
A great make-ahead recipe!
This Slow Cooker Chicken Chili recipe tastes phenomenal from the first day it’s slow-cooked to perfection for up to a week in the fridge. Even after a month or two in the freezer this dish steals the show. Everyone I have made this for asks for the recipe. Everyone. You can’t go wrong, so go and make it right away!
Why this Slow Cooker Chicken Chili is so great:
Because it is easy. The Crockpot does most of the work for you.
And it’s super healthy. A pot full of protein, veggies, and fiber!
This Slow Cooker Chicken Chili is incredibly versatile. You can add any veggies, beans, flavored tomatoes, salsa, etc. and the results are always amazing. I use one can of beans because my husband is a bean-hater {I know. It KILLS me} but you can add cans of beans until your heart’s content.
It’s cost-effective! Seriously, this is an incredibly inexpensive meal to make, especially considering the number of people it can feed!
Allergy/Strict Diet Friendly
Plus, this Slow Cooker Chicken Chili is allergy/strict diet friendly. Because of my husband’s job we host dinners All.The.Time. Many people these days are on restrictive diets, which can make deciding what to cook a chore. That’s when I turn to this Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Chili. It’s gluten free, and when served naked it’s dairy free. You can omit the beans and substitute coconut sugar to make it paleo. This chili really can be all things to all people.
And of course….It’s delicious. Look at that bowl of chili, all dressed up and ready to go.
Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili: Ingredients & Substitutions
- Spice level. Something to note….I use the mildest varieties of everything {chili seasoning, salsa, and green chiles} for two reasons: 1) I am a wimp and can’t handle anything spicy. and 2) I feed three children. LOL! If you like your chili to have a kick you can choose the heat level of your ingredients to suit your needs! 😉
- Vegetables. This recipe is SO versatile! You can change up any of the veggies you like and substitute your favorites!
- Beans. The same goes for beans, pick your favorites! We usually choose black beans, kidney beans, great northern, or garbanzo! Whatever we have on hand!
- Brown sugar. Feel free to substitute coconut sugar for a refined sugar free version. Or you can leave it out entirely!
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Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs boneless/skinless chicken breasts
- 1 16 or 20 oz jar of your favorite salsa
- ½ of a medium onion about 1 cup, finely diced
- 1 green pepper diced
- 1 red pepper diced
- 1 yellow pepper diced
- 1 TBS minced garlic
- 1 TBS olive oil
- 1 packet chili seasoning mix
- 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes or 2 14 oz (don’t drain)
- 1 4 oz can mild green chilies don’t drain
- 1 4 oz can sliced black olives drained
- 1 cup frozen corn
- ½ cup frozen peas
- 1 14 oz can black beans drained
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine chicken breasts and salsa in a large slow cooker.
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours, or until chicken can be easily shredded with a fork.
- Towards the end of cooking, add onion, peppers and olive oil to a large sauté pan and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, for 5-8 minutes or until veggies are slightly soft and onions are translucent.
- Turn off heat and add chili seasoning. Mix until your peppers and onions are evenly coated.
- Shred chicken with a fork and return it to the crockpot (with the salsa).
- Add the tomatoes, chilies, black olives, corn, peas, beans, and brown sugar to the crockpot and stir to combined.
- Add the sautéed vegetable mixture and stir to combine.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Let cook on high for at least 1 hour. If you have more time turn heat to low and cook until you need to serve.
- Garnish with sour cream, green onions, cheese, chips, etc.!
Notes
**I use mild versions of everything (chili seasoning, salsa, and green chilies) because I am a wimp and I have little kids. If you want more kick you can adjust it to your tastes!
***Feel free to add or substitute any vegetables or beans you desire!
Nutrition
Question: What’s your favorite recipe from your momma? Leave a link in the comments below!
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Caroline Yeager
I make this recipe ALL THE TIME and absolutely love it. I’ve shared it with my mom and with friends, and it’s now becoming a crowd favorite! What a perfect recipe for the holiday season!
Laura
Thank you Caroline! I’m so glad you all enjoy this recipe! It’s my absolute favorite to make for a crowd or to bring to a friend who needs a meal! <3
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Meg @ With Salt and Wit
You have what everyone wants in a chili! Easy, Healthy, and most important, Delicious! I cannot wait to try this out! Best part for me is I can let my crock pot do all the cooking!
Laura
It’s a tried and true family favorite!
Sonali- The Foodie Physician
We’re totally on the same page- I have a Super Bowl chili post coming soon. This recipe looks AMAZING! I really love the black olives in there 🙂
Laura
great minds! 😉
Jessica @ Nutritioulicious
This is the perfect meal for watching the big game! I love bulking up chili with lots of veggies and beans, it’s both healthy and budget friendly!
Laura
YES! I agree! It’s a great way to get many servings of veggies!
Rebecca | NOURISHED.
So many good things all in one bowl!! And are those olives in there – that’s brilliant!! I’ve never thought to add olives to a chili before. My mom makes a mean cheesecake and she makes it every chance she gets. (Which is awesome and I am so not complaining!!)
Laura
Black olives are my favorite! OoOo cheesecake sounds awesome!
jennifer
you really made this chili look BEAUTIFUL — I want a bowl!
Laura
It’s super easy to make! Thank you Jennifer!
Sarah Schaap
I love a good chili packed with all the veggies!
Favorite meal from my mom… hmm that is a really hard one. Probably her cinnamon rolls since I still look forward to them or her Black Forest Cake which she makes different than others just chocolate cake with cherries in the batter and she dusts it with powdered sugar.
Laura
OoOo I’d take a cinnamon roll today!
Emily Kyle
I love that this is your moms recipe, I love any recipe that has a special meaning or story behind it, it just makes it that more special! Will have to try this for the Super Bowl, especially if we get all the snow they are calling for!
Laura
YES! It has been snowing here nonstop and chili definitely hits the spot!
amanda -runtothefinish
I have a healthy white chicken chili that my husband and parents love, so now I can switch things up and test this out on them! I am just so in love with my slow cooker right now!!!
Laura
OoOo yes white chicken chili is delish! I know! All these people are into the insta pot and I’m over here still in love with my slow cooker! 😉
Mona
I’ve been looking for a good slow cooker chili recipe! This one looks fantastic.
Laura
It’s seriously SO yummy and versatile!
Emily
That’s so neat that you get to host dinners, and I bet that the slow cooker is perfect especially since you have so many children! 🙂 I love that this is your mom’s recipe; she sounds like my mom. My mom is an AMAZING cook, but she doesn’t always like cooking and she doesn’t add ingredients like I do…. Which mean that she almost never makes a mistake, while I sometimes/often do. O_O This chili sounds so comforting and warm and filling for a winter night.
Laura
I love slow cooker dishes, especially when we have out of town guests coming in! You never know when a flight could be delayed (or land early) so having a meal all ready to go and be served at any time is so helpful! Fancy that, someone who actually follows a recipe?! I don’t know what that’s like….lol! 😉
rachel @ athletic avocado
There is nothing I crave more in the winter than a big bowl of chili! My Mom loves making the pumpkin chili from Skinnytaste which is really good but I think this version could top that 🙂 I don’t watch the Super Bowl either but this is perfect for it too!
Laura
OoOo I love the idea of pumpkin chili! YUM! I