Aggie's Kitchen

Red Chicken and Two-Bean Chili

Red Chicken and Two-Bean Chili – a hearty but light chicken chili simmered with spices and vegetables. Healthy comfort food! This recipe was created in partnership with Bush’s Beans.
bowl of chicken chili topped with sour cream and cilantro with two spoons on the side

Fall and chili just go hand in hand together don’t they? I crave a good chili pretty much all year long, but something about fall just screams chili, especially when the nights start to cool down a bit (it’s finally starting to happen here in FL!). It’s perfect to put together for nights when you have family and friends in your home with fall activities planned like pumpkin carving, watching football (or basketball) and even as a pre-trick-or-treating meal.

Halloween 2012 Collage

Halloween 2012

I’ve made this “red” version of chicken chili a few times in the last few months already, and each time I’ve made (and shared) it with my family it’s received rave reviews. I always think of white based chili recipes when I think of adding chicken to chili, but I decided to go traditionally red this time but keeping things light and lean by adding whole chicken breasts to it while cooking, making it easy to shred up later on. My chili is usually based on the same formula – lean protein, lots of veggies and lots of beans – and of course perfectly seasoned with chili powder, garlic and cumin. Chili fixins’ are also essential in my opinion – I love to have a variety of chopped cilantro, regular or green onion, Greek yogurt (or sour cream), shredded cheddar and some hot sauce for those of us seeking some extra kick.

two cans of Bush's pinto beans, can of Bush's kidney beans, can of Publix tomato sauce, container of chicken stock, and a blue dutch oven

With our new little guy now here, my mom has been spending a lot of time at our house helping out with the kids and such (lifesaver, so thankful). Her next visit will be this Thursday for Halloween and I’m already planning on fixing up a nice pot of this chili for all of us to have for an easy dinner before we hit the neighborhood for trick-or-treating with the kids. My family didn’t make a lot of chili (ever) growing up so when she tried this Red Chicken and Two-Bean Chili recipe last month when she was here she loved it. I’m excited to make this for her again – I know she’ll enjoy it for sure. Now, if the weather will just stay cool for us this Halloween…

Halloween 2011

Halloween 2011

Halloween 2011

Now this guy, this guy makes my heart throb. ๐Ÿ˜‰

Speaking of Halloween…do you dress up? I was never a huge Halloween person as an adult, until I had kids. Now I find myself rummaging through my closet on the day of and putting together whatever crazy get up I can find. My kids think it’s funny – or maybe a little weird actually. Since my husband is the Halloween lover of the two of us, we have a nice collection of interesting wigs and costume accessories and pieces that have accumulated over the 12 years we’ve been together. This year might be a challenge for me…considering most of our stuff is still unorganized or packed up in boxes from our move. I should probably start digging around and thinking of something now… ๐Ÿ˜‰

bowl of chicken chili topped with sour cream and cilantro with two spoons on the side

Dig in and enjoy.

Print

Red Chicken and Two-Bean Chili

  • Author: Aggie's Kitchen
  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
  • Category: Chicken
  • Method: Stovetop

Red Chicken and Two-Bean Chili – a hearty but light chicken chili simmered with spices and vegetables. Healthy comfort food! This recipe was created in partnership with Bush’s Beans.


Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 large red or green bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 lbs chicken breasts
  • 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
  • 1/4 cup of water (I use water to rinse out the leftover tomatoes in cans)
  • 1 can Bush’s Red Kidney Beans
  • 2 cans Bush’s Pinto Beans
  • 4 cups low sodium chicken broth

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, combine chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic, onion powder, and salt. Set aside.
  2. Add oil to a large heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. Add onions, pepper and celery to pot and start to saute until slightly soft, about 5 minutes. Add chili seasoning to vegetables and stir. Add whole chicken breasts, diced tomatoes, beans, sauce, water and chicken broth to pot. Bring to a slow boil.
  3. Once brought to a boil, let cook for about 20 minutes, stirring. Let chicken breasts fully cook, then carefully pull out onto a cutting board and using two forks, shred the chicken meat (or chop with knife). Add chicken back into chili and bring down to a simmer. Simmer over low-medium heat for 40 minutes uncovered until thick.
  4. Serve chili with shredded cheese, Greek yogurt or sour cream, tortilla chips and chopped cilantro if desired.

Disclosure: I have an ongoing relationship with Bush’s Beans and am being compensated for creating this recipe and post. As always, my opinions are my own.

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22 comments on “Red Chicken and Two-Bean Chili”

  1. YUM! I love chili. I recently made a version with chunks of chicken and am in love. I think I’ll be making this version soon. When Kay was born, we started the tradition of doing a family themed costume. We did mickey/minnie her first year, an Eagles team last year, and this year we plan to be bugs. I still need to get antennas for Josh and i! whoops

  2. I love your costumes!!!!! Can’t wait to see what the bambino is this year!!

  3. Chili looks amazing and I am loving the Halloween pictures!!

  4. This chili looks amazing!

  5. Mmmm!!! This looks delish and perfect for fall!!! Love the pics, Aggie!!!

  6. Love the photos. We are traveling this Halloween and I already but a pig costume for Olivia. So bummed that she won’t be able to wear it out.

  7. Nothing beats a great bowl of chili and those photos are just adorable!

  8. That picture made me so hungry! I need me some red chicken chili!

    We are pretty bonkers about Halloween around here. It’s such a fun holiday. Love the family photos..you all look awesome ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. Aggie, this looks so good! I’d like to cozy up by the fire with a bowl of this chili. Yum.

  10. Delicious-looking chili, Aggie! Love seeing you guys’ Halloween costumes! ๐Ÿ™‚

  11. This chili sounds like so perfect for fall! I’ll be making a southwestern chicken soup on Halloween for the same reason – gotta have something warm and delicious to come home to after trick-or-treating!

  12. I love a good bowl of chili on a cool evening and those Halloween photos are adorable!

  13. This looks soooo good, Aggie!!

  14. That bowl of chili is making my mouth water all over the place!! My husband and I just love a good bowl of chili, saving this recipe!

  15. Can you tell me how many this feeds?

  16. Made this, but with shredded chicken because that’s what I had in hand. I was actually looking for a normal chili recipe that substituted chicken for beef because its less expensive. I also used ground chicken and used black beans instead of pinto. This turned out great, really rich chili. Will be using this recipe again. Thank you!ย 






  17. I made this recipe for my partner last night – with a few substitutions. Instead of chili powder I minced 2 dried chile de arbol, added in about 1.5 tablespoons of minced garlic with the spices, used a 2 carrots instead of a bell pepper, added 3 canned chipotles, subbed black beans for pinto, and used Rotel tomatoes instead of normal diced ones. Basically I just made it work with what I had in my pantry, plus the canned chipotles! I can hands down say this is one of the best meals I’ve ever made, and honestly probably the best chili I’ve ever had! My partner agreed. Thank you for this recipe, it’s bomb!!






    • I love how you made it with what you had, that’s the joy of cooking! Great subs and now I’m ready to try your version. Thanks so much for commenting and letting me know. Have a great day!

  18. Have made this dish quite often, Everyone goes crazy. I bring it to my boss she is in love with it she keeps asking me when I am making this again. The only difference that I do is cheating, I get a package od Chicken white chili and use that for the seasoning.

    Hands up on the Recipe.

    Thanks LINDA FROM lONG iSLAND NY