Green Chicken Chili

Super fresh tasting chicken chili the whole family will love. Comes together in minutes, you can alternatively use a slow cooker or instant pot. All result in a delicious meal.  

Green Chicken (or turkey) Chili, this meal is so versatile you’re gonna wonder where it’s been all your life.

What kind of chicken, any type of chicken will work in this recipe, chicken breast, chicken thighs, rotisserie chicken, ground chicken, and don’t forget turkey perfect for leftover Thanksgiving turkey, ground turkey. You may even like it made with pork, oh the options are endless.

This is one of my family’s FAVORITE recipes, it gets requested often!

This gene chicken chili recipe takes minutes to make and is full of great flavor. Choose your cooking method, you can cook it on the stove, you can even put all the ingredients in an oven save pot or casserole dish and bake it in the oven 350° for 30-40 minutes (time depending if using precooked chicken or raw, cut raw chicken into bite-sized pieces to cook quicker).

I just love dinners like this and you will too.

There is fresh lime and cilantro flavors really bring what might be an ordinary meal a bright fresh flavor that everyone finds irresistible. 

This is one of our go-to meals when the weather starts to cool off and is perfect to warm everyone up, but is equally delicious to make anytime, can be kept warm in a crock pot, is perfect for meal prep, bringing a friend a meal, plenty of servings to feed your family and someone else’s too.

So take out a pot, turn on the heat, and get COOKIN’…

This recipe is really delicious and has such a great flavor without being overly spicy. Adjust the spice according to what you prefer. I make it for even people who don’t like any spice and they don’t think it’s spicy, if you have someone eating it that may find it spicy, add a dollop of sour cream.

It’s a real crowd pleaser and takes a look below the recipe box, and see it in a SLOW COOKER!!!

Essentially this is white chili, but since the broth turns green with the addition of green chilis, jalapenos if using them, and cilantro I call it green chili and it gives a nice Mexican-inspired flavor.

The addition of white beans or pinto beans add great protein making this a hearty meal, it takes minimal ingredients and comes together quick and the result is tender delicious juicy chicken whether using raw or precooked chicken.

Can I make this in an instant pot?

Yes, I usually add raw chicken (this is a great meal with chicken breast or thighs) I add a cup of chicken broth, diced green chilis (or roasted hatch chilis) 1/2 diced onion, and 3-5 cloves garlic. Turn on the pressure cooker to high for 10 minutes with raw chicken, allow a slow release, add the beans and give it a stir, and cover for 2 minutes, the hot broth will heat the beans, if you waited longer and need to heat the broth again turn the instant pot to saute and heat it, then add chopped cilantro and lime juice stir and allow the flavors to meld for a couple of minutes or saute or while it’s in the warm mode. 

Serve with cooked Mexican Rice or  White Rice if you’re looking for a heartier meal.

My favorite salsa is Salsa Verde (green salsa) with a similar flavor profile, you can call this green chili or white chili and both would be correct. Grab some chips make some salsa and enjoy.

OTHER flavor options to add to this recipe:

• If you’d like a sweeter flavor in this recipe, add a 1-lb bag of frozen white corn.
• If you want a buttery flavor, add a couple of tablespoons of butter.
• If you prefer a smokey flavor you can add some cooked diced bacon.
• If you want more spice add a diced jalapeno or two.
• If you want it creamier add some milk or heavy cream.
• Top with sour cream for a fun tangy creaminess
• and finally if you want this dish cheesy add some white cheddar, Mexican Cotija cheese, or some Parmesan or Romano Cheese.

I decided to meal prep this recipe and we enjoyed them so much, I froze some and anytime we reheated them, it reminded us how much we LOVE this recipe! I put the green chicken chili over rice and thickened the sauce so the rice held a great texture. This will be on meal prep repeat!!!

Print Recipe

Green Chicken Chili (or turkey)

A delicious and easy chicken strew type of chili recipe everyone will enjoy! This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled.

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: 8 servings

Author: Diane Schmidt - createdbydiane.com

Ingredients

• 2-3 lbs chicken or turkey (raw or cooked) *great recipe for turkey leftovers or cooked chicken. alternatively cut chicken into small pieces and cook in skillet, slow cooker, pressure cooker until fully cooked I use at least 2lbs of chicken for this recipe.
• 2 Tablespoons oil
• 1/2 medium onion diced
• 2 jalapeño peppers seeded and diced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 2 cups water or chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon
• 2 15 oz. cans cannellini beans drained and rinsed.
• 1 4 oz. can diced green chilies
• 1/2 lime juiced
• 1 bunch cilantro chopped at least 1/4 cup chopped

Instructions

• Cook onion and garlic in oil over medium heat, add jalapeno.
• Once tender add the water, chicken flavor, beans, chilies and cooked chicken or turkey.
• Add lime juice and cilantro and season with salt and pepper.
• Heat thoroughly.
• *remember if you are not using pre-cooked chicken to cook the chicken first to 165 degrees, if you cook the chicken in the same pot as the rest of the j gradients cut chicken to 1-2” cubes, and do not boil it on high or chicken will not be tender. Simmer it on a medium low temperature for best result for about 40 minutes to ensure the chicken is tender. Or use a slow cooker, or pressure cooker for tender chicken. Alternatively cook the chicken in broth on a low temperature, then add the remaining ingredients. More instructions for other cooking methods are in the post.

  You can cook this recipe in a slow cooker, pressure cooker, put it in a pot or casserole and bake it in the oven 350° 30-40 minutes, cooking time on all recipe will depend if you are using precooked chicken or raw.

  Use chicken, turkey or pork, white meat, dark meat, or ground.
• Garnish with additional cilantro, lime, avocado, sour cream, or cheese (cotija cheese is my favorite)

I’ve updated this post to show it made in a crock pot… beautifully!

I used the same recipe: but added 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, and cooked it on high for 4 hours, then added in the cilantro and lime juice.

I served it over rice and it was fantastic!

Here are some other recipes I use leftover turkey or chicken in you may like:

• Pasta Fagioli
• Cornbread waffle with turkey sandwich with Cranberry Aioli 
• Thanksgiving leftover turkey pizza with roasted cranberries
• 
• Turkey and Stuffing Waffles