Green Chicken Chili is a delicious twist on Chili Verde, which is traditionally made with slow roasted pork and a variety of roasted green chilis. This recipe uses shredded chicken and a jar of your favorite salsa verde or tomatillo salsa to make it come together quickly and easily.
Are you a chili lover and looking for a new recipe to try? Or maybe you have never made chili before. In either case you are in the right place! Chicken thighs, white beans, and salsa verde come together with a few other ingredients to make this incredibly healthy, flavorful, and easy chili.
If you love chili you might also want to have a look at my 3 Bean Vegetarian Chili recipe too!
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Why you will love this recipe
- It's quick and easy.
- It's nutrient rich and packed with protein and fiber.
- It freezes well so you can make a double batch to save some for later.
- It's a one-pot-and-done meal.
- You can easily swap up ingredients to customize it to your liking.
- Your whole family will love it!
🥘Ingredients and Substitutions
Here's what you will need to make this recipe.
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs - Boneless just makes it easier to shred or chop but bone-in works just as well. Chicken breasts can also be used. This recipe is perfect for using up leftover chicken or a store bought rotisserie chicken.
- White kidney beans - I love the creaminess of white kidney beans but any type of canned beans will work in this recipe.
- Salsa verde - Green chili salsa or tomatillo salsa are equally delicious here. You can find it in the Mexican section of the grocery store.
- Green bell pepper - Green peppers have a distinct flavour that adds to this chili but you can use any color bell pepper.
- Jalapeno pepper - These add another layer of flavor plus a bit of kick. Leaving in the seeds turns up the heat so add as many, or as little, as you like. Or leave the jalapenos out altogether if you don't care for the heat.
- Spanish onion - A large white or red onion can also be used.
- Corn - Fresh, frozen or canned all work. No need to thaw frozen corn or cook fresh. If you can't eat corn feel free to leave it out. Celery or zucchini would be a great addition. Celery should be added in with the onions and zucchini with the peppers.
- Fresh cilantro - Can substitute with fresh parsley.
- Olive oil - or any cooking oil.
- Chicken broth - low sodium. If using regular sodium, omit the salt in the recipe and adjust salt levels to taste.
Please refer to the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and quantities.
Optional Toppings
- Sour cream
- Avocado
- Sliced green onions
- Grated white cheddar
- Pickled jalapenos
- Hot sauce
- Guacamole
- Extra fresh lime wedges
- Fresh cilantro leaves
- Diced red onion
🔪Instructions
You can find full instructions in the recipe card below.
First fry the onions and celery until softened. Then add both peppers, spices and salt. Stir and cook until the mixture becomes aromatic. This brings out the flavors of the spices and it called "blooming".
Next add the chicken pieces to the pot. Then add the chicken broth and salsa verde. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pot and place it on a plate. Using 2 forks, pull apart and shred the chicken. Alternatively, chop the chicken into bite sized pieces. Add the chicken back to the pot along with the beans and corn. Stir and bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer gently for another 20 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in fresh squeezed lime juice and fresh cilantro. Serve topped with any of your choice of toppings.
Variations
Make it vegetarian - This recipe easily converts to a vegan or vegetarian chili by simply replacing the chicken with 1 or 2 more cans of beans and the chicken broth with vegetable broth.
Switch up the meat - This recipe would also be delicious with ground chicken, pork, or beef. You could also add in leftover pork or beef, cut into small pieces.
Make it creamy - Add 1 cup of sour cream or ½ a block of cream cheese after you remove the chili from the heat. If using cream cheese stir until melted.
Add greens - To kick up the nutritional value even more, stir in a couple of big handfuls of chopped spinach, arugula or kale in the last few minutes of cooking. Cook until the greens are tender. Times will vary depending on your chosen type of green.
Storage
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freeze in air tight container or resealable bags for up to 3 months. Be sure to cool completely before freezing.
Reheat in a pot on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave.
Pro-Tips
- Adjust the amount of chicken broth to make this chili the consistency you like. More broth will make it more soup-like and less more like a thick stew.
- Shredding the chicken rather than chopping creates a more tender bite of chicken.
Tried this recipe? I would love it if you could leave a star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and/or a comment below. You can also follow me on social media here on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
📖 Recipe
Green Chicken Chili
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Spanish onion, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 large green bell pepper, diced
- 2 jalapeno peppers, finely chopped
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ teaspoon cumin, ground
- 2 teaspoon chili powder
- 500 g (1 lb) chicken thighs, boneless, skinless
- 2 -540 ml (19oz) cans white kidney beans, drained and rinsed (4 cups)
- 2 cups chicken broth, low sodium
- 2 cups salsa verde or tomatillo salsa
- 1 ½ cups corn, fresh, frozen or canned
- ½ cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 lime, juiced
Optional toppings
- Sour cream
- Sliced avocado
- Guacamole
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Pickled jalapenos
- Hot sauce
- Cilantro leaves
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and celery and cook, occasionally stirring, for 5 minutes or until beginning to soften.
- Stir in green pepper, jalapeno peppers, garlic cumin, and chili powder. Cook and stir for 5 more minutes. Add chicken thighs, chicken broth, and salsa verde. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cover and let simmer for 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
- Remove chicken thighs and place on a plate. Shred or chop chicken into bite-sized pieces. Add chicken and accumulated juices back to the pot along with the white kidney beans and corn. Bring to a simmer and cover. Continue cooking at a gentle simmer for 20 more minutes.
- Remove from heat and add cilantro and fresh lime juice. (Optional) Top with sliced green onions, diced avocado and a dollop of sour cream.
Linda B says
My family and I love this chili! I’ve made it a few times and it’s always a hit! Thanks for the great recipe!
Adelia says
Ohmygosh. So good! Andrea’s recipes have become my go-to for delicious and healthy Sunday night dinners!
Marlene Marchand says
Another great recipe Andrea! Topped with sour cream and Avocado and it was so good!
Jenn says
Delicious! I’ve made this several times!!
Mary Muir says
Made this today already for my home and one each for my 2 daughters. Another home run Andrea.
Andrea says
Those are two lucky girls! So happy you love it! Thanks for commenting Mary
Cindy B says
I am buying the ingredients tonight to make tomorrow! Can't wait, it sounds absolutely delicious! We love chicken and chili any time of the year, luckily, it's a little cool here in Florida right now.
Andrea says
Be sure to come back and let me know how it turns out!
Vicki says
Easy and delicious!
Sharone O'Brien says
Making a double recipe for our Park’s Super Bowl gathering this weekend. Love it. 😊😊👍👍
Daisy says
Family loved this one
Jo-Ann says
After this brutally cold weekend, this recipe fit the bill! Thanks Andrea…just love your recipes with such interesting ingredients!
Marylynn says
Another great recipe, thanks for all the yummy recipes.
Sharone O’Brien says
LOVE this recipe! I have made it twice in the last month. Bought a rotisserie chicken, had it for dinner with a veggie paced salad. Next day, shredded most of the leftover chicken and made this! It is delicious!
Jean says
I made this in the crock pot ( cut the broth in half) while I caught up on holiday preparations. It was fantastic.
Andrea says
So happy to hear! Thanks for commenting Jean!
Joanne says
Made this for dinner tonight. Easy and so flavourful. Had leftover chicken from last night’s dinner so I shredded that and threw it in. Won’t last long enough to worry about freezing it. Thanks for another yummy creation.
Susan says
Oh this looks so good. Thanks Andrea for another great recipe.