Southwest Three Bean Chicken Chili is healthy, light and satisfying! Lean ground chicken is cooked with onions, garlic, three beans, fire-roasted tomatoes and southwest spices. Serves 6 in under an hour!
I promise you there’s chili under all those toppings.
The most incredible, simple, light and healthy chili! I made this recipe all winter long last year. Perfecting it until I got it right and then I sat on it until this fall. Months of waiting to share this colorful and flavor-packed chili.
Like most recipes, it starts with onions and garlic, but instead of beef, I’m using ground chicken and then I punch up the flavor with my homemade southwest seasoning, fire-roasted tomatoes and three kinds of beans. You know, just to keep things interesting.
It’s ridiculous how simple this chili is. Which only means it’s great for football Sunday or any day of the week.
To Make This Southwest Three Bean Chicken Chili You Will Need:
- olive oil spray
- yellow onion
- fresh garlic
- kosher salt
- lean ground chicken (or turkey)
- black beans
- pink kidney beans
- pinto beans
- southwest seasoning
- fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
- tomato sauce
For Toppings You Will Need:
- plain nonfat greek yogurt or sour cream
- charred corn
- diced red onion
- avocado
- cilantro
- sliced radish
- any other toppings of your choice
Drain and rinse the black, pink kidney and pinto beans. Using canned beans saves SO much time, however I have a tutorial on how to soak/cook dry beans. Times may vary if you go this route.
Start the chili by spraying a dutch oven with olive oil spray. Add in 1 diced yellow onion and 2 minced cloves of garlic with a pinch of kosher salt. Cook until the onions are soft and translucent, stirring occasionally. About 5 to 8 minutes.
Next, add in 2 pounds lean ground chicken. Use a spatula to break it up and cook until the chicken is no longer pink. About 10 minutes or so.
Add in all of the drained beans with 3 tablespoons southwest seasoning.
Pour in 1 (28 ounce) crushed fire-roasted tomatoes, 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce and add 1/4 cup water to a can, swirl it (and I add it to the second can and do the same thing) to catch any excess tomato product and pour it into the chili.
Stir everything together, cover and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and continue simmering for 30 minutes. In the meantime I prep the toppings.
To quickly char the corn, lightly spray a small cast iron skillet and preheat on medium-high heat. Once hot, add a cup or so of fresh or thawed sweet corn, stir occasionally until deeply golden in spots. Remove off of the heat once charred.
I love a chili with a plethora of toppings!
Feel free to top with any thing you like: plain nonfat greek yogurt, charred corn, sliced radish, avocado and cilantro are just the beginning!
Serve with tortilla chips and devour! I love serving this southwest three bean chicken chili with sweet potato tortilla chips. They add a delicious salty sweetness that I adore.
This chili is so simple and comforting. The flavors are incredible and with the addition of allthetoppings you have such a satisfying, soul warming meal that will no doubt warm you up on a chilly fall or winter day.
How To Freeze Chili And Reheat Later:
- COOL: make sure the chili is completely cool before freezing. Never place hot or very warm items in the freezer (or fridge!) as it can thaw and negatively affect the nearby food.
- PORTION: when cool, divide chili into portions. Whether it’s a single serving, two or four, portion the cooled chili into either freezer safe bags or air-tight containers. I prefer using freezer safe bags and removing as much air as possible, this helps with storing.
- FLATTEN: once portioned, lay flat on a rimmed baking sheet and freeze for a few hours. Like in this post.
- STORE: stack the flat frozen chili portions vertically or horizontally saving so much freezer space. Store chili in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- REHEAT: I prefer to thaw frozen chili overnight in the fridge. However you can soak in a sink of lukewarm water for 20 to 30 minutes – flip every so often and change out the water at least once or twice. You can also defrost in the microwave until thawed. Lastly, add thawed chili to saucepan or dutch oven and heat until thoroughly heated throughout.
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Enjoy! And if you give this Southwest Three Bean Chicken Chili recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!
Southwest Three Bean Chicken Chili
Ingredients
- olive oil spray
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 pounds lean ground chicken, or turkey
- 3 tablespoons southwest seasoning
- 28 ounces canned crushed fire-roasted tomatoes
- 15 ounces canned tomato sauce
- 15 ounces canned black beans, rinsed and drained
- 15 ounces canned light red or pink kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 15 ounces canned pinto beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup water
TOPPINGS:
- sweet corn, charred
- avocado, diced
- red onion, diced
- radish, sliced
- cilantro, chopped
- plain nonfat greek yogurt, or sour cream
- lime wedges
- tortilla chips
Instructions
- Spray the bottom of your dutch oven with olive oil spray.
- Add the onion and garlic with a pinch of kosher salt. Sauté for 5 to 8 minutes until the onions are soft and translucent.
- To that, add in the ground chicken (or turkey) and cook until no longer pink. About 10 minutes.
- Next add in the three beans, southwest seasoning, crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Pour water into the can, swirl and add to the chili.
- Stir to combine, bring to a simmer and cook for 30 mintues.
- Ladel into bowls and top with the toppings as desired.
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