Chicken Chili with Black Beans Recipe

Recipe updated: April 2nd, 2024

This is a tasty chicken chili with black beans recipe that takes only minutes to prepare. Life gets busy sometimes, but now there’s no reason to skimp on a hearty and delicious dinner for the whole family.

The next time you are looking for a simple recipe to make, you must try this easy chicken chili with black beans. It is similar to our sweet and spicy ground beef chili, but easier to make because you don’t need to have ground beef on hand. What’s convenient is that canned chicken can be stored in bulk alongside the rest of the ingredients, making it a go-to meal when you have nothing else to cook.

🥄 Key Ingredients

This is a double batch of chicken chili so we can have leftovers the next night for dinner. You may need to cut the recipe in half if you have a smaller family, or if you don’t want leftovers. The beans listed in this recipe can be changed out for any other varieties. It doesn’t have to be exactly the same selection of beans.

• 3 cans Costco Kirkland Signature chicken breast – 12.5 ounces each
• 1 can petite diced tomatoes – 28 ounces
• 1 can black beans – 15.5 ounces
• 1 can black chili beans – 15.5 ounces
• 1 can pinto chili beans – 15.5 ounces
• 1 can light red kidney beans – 15.5 ounces
• 1 can dark red kidney beans – 15.5 ounces
• 1 can chili ready tomatoes – 14.5 ounces
• 1 can petite diced tomatoes – 14.5 ounces
• 1/2 cup of water
• 1/4 cup chili powder
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil – for the Instant Pot
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

👩‍🍳 How to Make Chicken Chili with Black Beans

These step-by-step instructions are accompanied by detailed photos for enhanced clarity and guidance.

Step 1. Prepare the Instant Pot

The first step is to drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil in the bottom of the Instant Pot.

Note: We are using an Instant Pot for this recipe, but if you don’t have one, this can be easily made in a slow cooker or a large pot.

Step 2. Sauté the Chunk Chicken Breasts

Push the sauté button on the Instant Pot. Open the three cans of chunk chicken breasts, then drain the liquid from each can. Dump the cans of chunk chicken breasts in the Instant Pot with the olive oil. Using a wooden spatula or any spatula turner, break apart the chicken into pieces, but not too small. After that, sauté the shredded chicken in the Instant Pot for two to three minutes.

Step 3. Add the Beans and Tomatoes

Turn off the sauté function on the Instant Pot. Open a 15.5 ounce can of black beans, a 15.5 ounce can of light red kidney beans, and a 15.5 ounce can of the dark red kidney beans. Drain each can, then pour the beans into the Instant Pot with the sautéed chicken.

Then open the cans of black chili beans, pinto chili beans, petite diced tomatoes, and the chili ready tomatoes, but do not drain them. Pour each can into the Instant Pot, then mix altogether with the rest of the ingredients.

Step 4. Put the Seasonings in the Instant Pot

Add 1/4 cup chili powder, 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder together with the chicken chili in the Instant Pot. Mix until thoroughly blended.

Step 5. Pour in the Water

Add 1/2 cup of tap water to the chili mixture, but do not mix it with the rest of the ingredients at this time.

Note: The chili needs a layer of water on top of the chili ingredients before setting the Instant Pot to manual mode, which is the next step. If there’s not enough liquid, your Instant Pot won’t be able to create enough steam to build pressure.

Step 6. Set Instant Pot on Manual for Ten Minutes

Put the lid on the Instant Pot while making sure the top knob is set to seal. Then, set the manual button for 10 minutes. After the cooking time is complete, do a slow release. After the slow release is finished, remove the lid.

Step 7. Give the Chicken Chili a Good Stir, then Serve

After you have removed the lid, stir the chicken chili before serving. This chili can be served with sharp cheddar cheese sprinkled on top, or any of your favorite toppings, along with a side salad, tortilla chips, or corn chips. Hot buttered cornbread is also a great side dish with chili.

✨ Recipe Variations

• Dice a few red or yellow bell peppers into small pieces and add them to the black bean chicken chili recipe.
• We use canned chicken breast, but you can prepare your own chicken such as boneless skinless chicken breasts, or chicken thighs for this recipe. You can even shred up a rotisserie chicken.
• Add any of your favorite herbs or seasonings to this chicken chili such as fresh cilantro, ground black pepper, onion powder, salt, ground cumin, or diced garlic gloves.
• Add extra beans to the prepared chili. For example, regular pinto beans or cannellini beans (white beans shaped like kidney beans) tastes delicious in chili.
• Add about two pounds of ground turkey or lean ground beef to this recipe instead of the canned chicken breast.
• Dice a white onion or a yellow onion and add it to the chili when you add the beans and tomatoes.
• Add any extra chili seasoning you prefer.
• Add red pepper flakes to your serving of chicken chili.

❓ FAQs for Chicken Chili with Black Beans

💡 Final Thoughts

Chicken chili with black beans is rich in chili flavor with a touch of cayenne pepper for that extra hot and spicy warmth, making this chili a delightful, satisfying meal.

When you want something comforting, delicious, and flavorful, yet quick to fix for dinner, this chicken chili with black beans recipe is just what you may be looking for. It’s the perfect meal to warm up your tummy on a chilly day, or any day for that matter. Enjoy!

📂 Recipe Card

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