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Delicious Big Batch Chicken Chili with cornbread and fresh cilantro

Classic Big Batch Chicken Chili

A hearty and flavorful classic big batch chicken chili, packed with tender chicken, a trio of beans, savory tomatoes, and aromatic spices, perfect for feeding a crowd or for meal prepping.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 400 kcal

Equipment

  • Large Pot or Dutch Oven

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
  • 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
  • 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes or pureed tomatoes
  • 1 15-ounce can black beans rinsed and drained
  • 1 15-ounce can kidney beans rinsed and drained
  • 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans rinsed and drained
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 2 bell peppers (any color) chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional, for heat
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Optional Additions

  • 1 cup corn fresh or frozen
  • 1 4-ounce can diced green chiles

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Chop the onion and bell peppers, mince the garlic, and dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces.

Cooking

  • Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven, then sauté onion and bell peppers for 5-7 minutes until soft; add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  • Add the diced chicken to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is no longer pink.
  • Stir in chili powder, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper (if using); cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, until the spices are fragrant.
  • Pour in the diced and crushed/pureed tomatoes, all rinsed and drained beans, and chicken broth; stir in the corn and green chiles if using.
  • Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 30-45 minutes (or up to 2 hours), stirring occasionally to deepen flavors and thicken the chili.

Finishing

  • Taste the chili and season with salt and black pepper as needed.

Notes

This chili's flavors deepen significantly with time, so consider making it a day ahead for the best taste. Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper to suit your preferred level of heat.