Chicken chili was on the menu in September when we had a cold snap, and I was working on the recipe. Sometimes you just want something hot and filling, thick and richly flavored, a stick to your ribs kind of meal. The best news for my gluten-free readers is you can eat this! I didn’t do anything special, the recipe is naturally gluten free, thickened by pureeing some of the beans. The green chilies are mild, yet full of flavor. There is an axiom among chili enthusiasts that “if you know beans about chili, you know chili has no beans.” But I am going to say it doesn’t apply to chicken chili, right?
Economical too, it starts the night before with dried white beans. I like the Great Northern beans for this as they let the chicken flavor shine. Place the dried beans in a large pot, cover with water and bring to a boil. Boil 2 minutes, then transfer to a bowl. Don’t use your cooking pot for soaking, it will impart a metallic taste.
Cover the bowl and let the beans soak until the next day.
Drain the beans, and put back in the pot. Add onion and black pepper.
Cover with water and bring to a boil. Then turn down the heat and simmer for 1-1/2 to 2 hours, until tender. Do not add any salt at this time as it will make the bean skins tough.
When the beans are done, drain beans and return to pot. In a blender, place half a can of low-sodium, low-fat chicken broth and about half the beans.
Blend until smooth, and add to beans in pot.
With the remaining broth, blend with green chilies and add to pot.
Bring heat up to medium to return to a simmer.
Meanwhile, in a small skillet, heat olive oil. Add onion and chicken, saute on high heat until lightly browned, turning chicken as needed. Don’t move it around too much, developing good browning and flavor takes a bit of time. The chicken starting to stick to the pan makes the best fond. Any boneless chicken will do here, white meat tenders or boneless thighs, or a mixture of both.
The better the chicken is browned, the more flavor the dish will have, so take your time with this part.
When nicely browned, add chicken-onion mixture to beans. Chicken will not be done, but will finish cooking in the soup.
Add salt and pepper. Simmer soup for 15 minutes more to be sure the chicken is cooked through. It can hold on low heat for an hour or more after that.
Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or sour cream if desired.
If you like your chili spicier, add a few drops of hot sauce, or some dried red pepper flakes to the final simmer.
Thick and creamy, without any flour. Gluten Free!
But if you can have bread, it is lovely to add a piece of garlic bread, or a thick slice of French sourdough. Yum!
It is so good, I made it again just last week. Of course, I had to be sure the recipe was right. That’s my story and I am sticking to it.
Tasty the next day as well, just a cup finished it off for lunch.
Chicken Chili
2 cups dried great northern beans
Water
1 thick slice of onion,separated into rings
2 large cloves garlic, smashed
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 4-ounce can green chilies
1 15-ounce can chicken broth
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
16 ounces boneless chicken,cut into bite size pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Optional – few sprigs of fresh parsley
Optional – dollop of sour cream
Bring 6 cups of water to a boil, add beans and boil 2 minutes. Pour into a stoneware or glass bowl, cover and leave overnight to soak on the counter.
The next day, drain beans. Place in a large pot and cover with water. Add onion, garlic and pepper, bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1-1/2-2 hours. Do not add any salt at this time as it will make the bean skins tough. Drain beans and return to pot. In a blender, place half the can of broth and about half the beans and blend until smooth. Pour over beans in pot. With the remaining broth, blend with green chilies and add to pot.
In a small skillet, heat olive oil. Add onion and chicken, saute on high heat until lightly browned, turning chicken as needed. When nicely browned, add to beans. Chicken will not be done, but will finish cooking in the soup. Add salt and pepper. Simmer soup for 15 minutes more, then it can hold on low heat for an hour or more. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or sour cream if desired. Enjoy! (update – serves 8 right away, or 4 large servings, or 2 with leftovers)
Download a pdf of the recipe – Chicken Chili
Enjoy!!
Do you enjoy a bowl of chili on a cold day? Ever had a Chicken Chili?
From My Carolina Home 
This sounds/looks delicious! I have another recipe for chicken chili, but will try this & perhaps combine some facets, we’ll see! I often try new recipes from magazines, pinterest, etc., & like to know how many servings, as there are just 2 of us. If we like it, I’ll make a note & double it for the freezer or guests, etc., but often half the recipe “just in case”. I’m guessing this serves 4, since there is a pound of chicken (using the rule “1/4 lb. per person”) + beans. Is there a better trick you have for figuring yield when a new recipe doesn’t state how many are served? Thanks!
Sorry about that! Totally forgot to state the yield. With the beans too, it will serve 8 with soup mug servings of chili, or 4 if you have big bowls. DH and I ate it in two days, having bowls of chili for dinner, then the leftovers for lunch the next day.
that chili recipe is just a little different then some I have seen for chicken – most call for cilantro which hubby and I do not like
Loved reading about your chicken chili. It’s one of our favorites! Best thing for a cold winter’s day. Guess what I’ll be cooking this weekend. Yum!
I’ve made chicken chili but the spices were different and then the bowls were topped Monterrey Jack or Jalapeno Jack cheese. I like trying different versions of recipes and the PDF has been saved. Thank you!
One of my favorites!
I might get away with this if I didn’t call it chili. John doesn’t eat chili. He would like the taste of your recipe.
That looks wonderful! Your recipes are always so much fun to read and try. I did your pumpkin bread last weekend and everyone loved it. Plus I had several loaves to share: one to my gals quilting bee, another to the crew at my office!
Yes and yes. Your photos are so beautiful and colorful, you could make a plain PB&J look fantastic! Your chicken chili recipe sounds and looks terrific. :o)
This sounds amazing, Carole!!! I’m going to pin this to try on a snowy day!!
Hi Carole,
Boy, this chili looks delicious! I am going to make this next week – going to the grocery store tomorrow so I can pick up the ingredients. Yum! Thanks for sharing with us. ~smile~ Roseanne
Do you think this would work in a slow cooker? I know the chicken would still have to be browned. Could I use an immersion blender with the beans? Love the idea that it is gluten free- husband needs that.
Yes, to both questions, bon appetit!
Carole, your recipe reminded my of my homemade baked beans recipe. Oh so tasty and because I am controlling the ingredients, I can control the salt content. Best of all—it is completely meat free–a great Jewish and Vegan recipe–and it freezes very well! This sounds delicious especially with winter just around the corner.
Yes, white chicken chili is very fun especially on chilly days!!
I agree with Anne M….my honey doesn’t eat ‘chili’ either. I’ll have to call it something else…am very glad you like to cook and figure out these yummy looking/tasting recipes for the rest of us!
Oooo Carole, I love beans. Full of vitamins and fiber and white beans are so sweet. That means lots of carbs and who doesn’t want that in the Fall??? I do I do! Thanks for the visually pretty post too. Makes me want to come to your Carolina House for lunch! LeeAnna
Recipe sounds yummy. I will give it a try. (Carole, ask Santa for an immersion blender for Christmas, it is a great kitchen tool.)
I used to have one, and I didn’t care for it. For me it just made a mess and you couldn’t control how much of a recipe was pureed. For this recipe, I want at least half the beans to be intact.
I have eaten chicken chili. Your chili looks tempting, so I downloaded the recipe. Thanks!
This sounds yummy! Perfect for our weather in Arkansas. I learned something about soaking beans in glass, not metal. Thanks. I have some Hatch chiles in freezer, which will be perfect.