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A bowl of Southwest Chicken Chili made in a Crock Pot with toppings.
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5 from 5 votes

Southwest Chicken Chili - Slow Cooker

Southwest Chicken Chili is the perfect EASY slow cooker comfort food! Super hearty with lots of veggies, black beans, corn, slow cooked shredded chicken, finished with fresh lime juice and cilantro for that southwest flavor and topped with all the fixings! Prepped in just 10 minutes!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time8 hours
Total Time8 hours 10 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 8
Calories: 92kcal

Equipment

  • slow cooker

Ingredients

  • 1 28 oz can crushed tomato
  • 1 28 oz can whole peeled tomato chopped on a cutting board (add all juice)
  • 1 6 oz can tomato paste plus 1 can water
  • 1 15 oz can black beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 15 oz can kidney beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1 small onion chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 1 red bell pepper chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 3 to 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 Tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 Tablespoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 8 grinds fresh black pepper
  • ½ to 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (1 to 2 breasts, depending on size)
  • ½ juice of a lime Optional - either squeezed into the pot of chili just before serving, or sliced wedges on the side as a topping
  • cup chopped cilantro Optional - either added to the pot of chili just before serving, or served on the side as a topping
  • Toppings - shredded cheddar, fresh cilantro, scallions, lime wedges, avocado or guacamole, plain yogurt or sour cream, and tortilla or fritos chips

Instructions

  • Add canned tomatoes to a slow cooker. For the whole peeled tomatoes, drain the juice into the slow cooker, then roughly chop the whole tomatoes on a cutting board before adding them.
  • Add beans, veggies and spices and stir well to combine.
  • Nestle in the chicken breasts so they are fully submerged. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or on LOW for 6 to 8 hours.
  • Remove chicken to a cutting board with tongs and shred with 2 forks. Add it back to the chili and stir. If the chicken isn't done, you won't be able to shred it, return it to continue cooking.
  • Either add a big squeeze of lime juice and a handful of chopped cilantro to the pot of chili just before serving, or leave them on the side as an optional topping.
  • Serve with your favorite toppings!

Notes

  • Storage Instructions - Great for meal prep!  Store leftover chili in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or cool first and freeze for up to 4 months.
  • Use any cut of chicken - Chicken that is bone-in or skin-on will work fine!  Throw it in the slow cooker and remove the bones and skin when you pull the chicken out to shred at the end.  You could also use leftover cooked or rotisserie chicken.  You would not need to cook the chili as long since the majority of the cooking time is just to cook the raw chicken.  Half the cooking time would be enough.

Nutrition

Calories: 92kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Trans Fat: 0.004g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 383mg | Potassium: 508mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1459IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 2mg