BBQ Chicken Chili
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Slow cooked chicken is fall-apart tender, infused with the melding flavors of BBQ sauce and bourbon, with beans and veggies in the mix! It’s a smoky, rich, sweet, and savory one pot dinner that is so easy to make – just throw it all in the slow cooker and come back to a warming and flavor-packed BBQ chicken chili dinner!
This delicious twist on a traditional chili recipe is an easy recipe that requires no pre-cooking. Just put everything into your slow cooker, let it simmer, and come home later to a chili that is smoky, a touch sweet, and totally delicious. It’s a steaming tomato bean situation that’s smoky, slightly sweet, and has a hint of bourbon.
Ingredients needed
Magic happens when you cook chicken chili in your crockpot. The chicken breasts become super tender pieces that wind their way around the beans and corn, mixing into the flavorful, robust chili. This is what you need:
- Chicken: Slow-cooked skinless chicken breasts (or thighs) become fall-apart tender.
- Veggies: Onions, carrots, red peppers and a pop of sweetness from frozen corn. Add celery if you’ve got it.
- Tomatoes: Canned crushed tomatoes make a rich, savory base. Diced tomatoes work but will give a thinner consistency.
- Flavors: Barbecue sauce and bourbon are a winning combination! No bourbon? Use beer (nothing hoppy!) or chicken stock.
- From the spice rack: Chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and sea salt.
- Beans: Red kidney beans are the classic choice, but black beans work too.
- Garlic cloves: Adds savory depth.
- Optional: Grated cheese, sour cream, and cilantro on top, or honey for some extra sweetness.
How to use leftover chicken chili
All of our chili recipes are amazing as leftovers so make extra for tomorrow! If you want something new, turn your leftovers into chili stuffed peppers. Or, make a version of these taco salad fries, using this chili in place of the taco meat. Or opt for indulgent chili dogs!
Can you freeze BBQ chicken chili?
Yes! This chili recipe freezes very well. Make sure that the chili has cooled to room temperature and then package it and put it into your freezer. These large stasher bags work well.
What to serve with BBQ chicken chili
Chili works as a one-pot kind of dinner – all you need is a bowl and a spoon! Mop it up with some zucchini cornbread muffins or whole wheat Irish soda bread.
Add a bed of basmati rice for a fluffy bed to soak up those delicious flavors. Round it out with a refreshing and crunchy side salad, like a simple spring mix salad or a broccoli coleslaw with lemon buttermilk dressing.
If you’re feasting, add a side of sweet potato wedges and four cheese mac and cheese.
Recipe FAQs
What kind of BBQ sauce should I use?
BBQ sauces vary widely in flavor, so it’s important that you use one you like. We enjoy our BBQ sauce for chicken, but store-bought sauces work great, too. Sweet Baby Ray’s is a popular choice!
Which bourbon should I use?
You don’t have to bust out the good stuff for this recipe, any bourbon you have on hand will be perfect. We usually reach for Jim Bean.
What toppings to put on BBQ chicken chili?
A dollop of sour cream or yogurt adds a creamy tang, grated cheddar cheese adds a sharp, cheesy bite, and cilantro adds a burst of freshness!
Add some tortilla chips on top for a bit of crunch, or some green chiles or sliced jalapeño if you’d like it hotter. Add a crack of black pepper or salt for additional seasoning.
BBQ Chicken Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion (diced)
- 2 carrots (diced)
- 2 red bell peppers (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- ½ cup BBQ sauce (homemade for refined sugar-free)
- ½ cup bourbon (can sub light beer or chicken stock)
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon Each: cumin, smoked paprika, and sea salt
- 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- Optional: 1-2 tablespoons honey (see notes)
- 3 chicken breasts (can sub 6 chicken thighs)
- 19 ounce can kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 cup frozen corn
- Optional toppings: grated cheese, sour cream, and cilantro
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients EXCEPT the chicken breasts, kidney beans, corn and honey to your crockpot and stir to mix well. Taste the chili and add the honey if you would like it to be sweeter.1 medium onion, 2 carrots, 2 red bell peppers, 3 cloves garlic, ½ cup BBQ sauce, ½ cup bourbon, 3 tablespoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon Each: cumin, smoked paprika, and sea salt, 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes, Optional: 1-2 tablespoons honey
- Nestle the chicken breasts on the top and set your crockpot to high for 6 hours or low for 10 hours.3 chicken breasts
- Remove the chicken from the crockpot. Add the corn and beans to the pot and stir. Shred the chicken using 2 forks then stir it back into the chili. Taste and season with sea salt then let the chili reheat for a few minutes before serving it. Serve topped with any or all of the toppings.19 ounce can kidney beans, 1 cup frozen corn, Optional toppings: grated cheese, sour cream, and cilantro
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
This is an easy & delicious meal. The spices are really good.
Thanks, Heather!
I have made this several times and it is amazing. I have never used carrots though I always substitute them for sweet potatoes. Would definitely Recommend
Great idea with the sweet potatoes!
Can I fix it up the night before then just start in in the morning?
You can! I’ve done that many times myself.