Crack Chicken Chili
This crack chicken chili recipe is cheesy, creamy, savory, and seriously addicting! A family-friendly comfort food, it’s loaded with protein and comes together with minimal effort, making it a game-changer for meal prep and weeknights.
Looking for more chili recipes? Try our one-pot spicy chili and easy pumpkin chili!
Our entire team loves this recipe! Sammi’s family requests it for weeknight dinners, Shyanne’s husband packs it for work, and Brittany uses it to feed her entire crew. We guarantee your family will enjoy it as much as we do.
After all, who can resist a creamy, cheesy broth? Picky eaters don’t even realize we add veggies and beans! Even better, the crock pot does all the work. We just combine the ingredients and let it do its thing. Shred the chicken, finish it up, and the dish comes together in minutes. Add your favorite toppings, and you can’t go wrong!
Ingredients and Notes
Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the complete details!
- Veggies – Onion, red bell pepper, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, fire-roasted green chiles, frozen corn, and garlic form the bulk of the chili.
- Beans – We use canned black beans, making sure to rinse and drain them first. If you aren’t a fan, you can skip them. Or, use kidney beans or even chickpeas instead.
- Broth – We almost always have homemade chicken broth on hand, but store-bought is totally fine. Look for low-sodium varieties to prevent the chili from tasting too salty!
- Ranch Seasoning – Use homemade ranch seasoning, or pick up a packet from your local grocery store.
- Spices – Ground chili powder and cumin add extra depth and a touch of warmth.
- Chicken – We always use boneless skinless chicken breast, but boneless skinless chicken thighs work well, too, if that’s what you prefer.
- Greek Yogurt – This creates the thick, creamy consistency. Use plain Greek yogurt; any fat percentage is fine! Substitute a dairy-free yogurt if needed.
- Cheese – Use shredded cheddar cheese, or substitute a plant-based cheese to keep your crack chicken chili dairy-free.
How to Make Crack Chicken Chili in the Crock Pot
- Combine. Add the veggies, beans, broth, and seasonings to a crock pot. Once combined, submerge the chicken in the liquid. Then, cover, and cook until it’s tender and shreds easily.
2. Shred the chicken. Transfer the cooked chicken to a bowl or plate, and shred it into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
3. Add the remaining ingredients. Whisk the Greek yogurt with a scoop of the hot chili. Return the shredded chicken to the crock pot set to warm or low, followed by the cheese and yogurt mixture.
4. Serve. Season to taste, and enjoy!
Stovetop Option
No crock pot? No worries! Combine all the ingredients (except the yogurt and cheese) in a large pot or Dutch oven, and bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and is easy to shred.
Remove the chicken, shred it on a plate, and create the tempered yogurt mixture. Then, add all the ingredients back to the pot, stirring in the cheese until it’s completely melted.
Topping Ideas and Serving Suggestions
The toppings are non-negotiable, okay? Seriously, they add so much flavor! Before serving, top your chili with cooked bacon, shredded cheese, and chives, green onion, or fresh cilantro.
Then, add a side of jalapeno cheddar cornbread, healthy maple cornbread, or garlic cheddar biscuits, and dig in!
More Soups and Stews
Crack Chicken Chili Recipe
Equipment
- 1 knife
Ingredients
Soup
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 15 ounce can black beans, undrained
- 10 ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
- 4 ounce can fire roasted green chiles, undrained
- 1½ cups frozen corn
- 1 cup chicken broth (or beef broth)
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 3 Tablespoons ranch seasoning mix (or 1 ounce packet)
- 1 Tablespoon ground chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 3-4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 lbs)
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Toppings
- 8 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- chives, green onion and/or cilantro (choose your favorite or use all three!)
Instructions
- In a 6 quart slow cooker, stir together the onion, bell pepper, black beans, diced tomatoes, green chiles, corn, broth, garlic, and seasonings until combined. Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker and submerge under the liquid.1 onion, diced, 1 red bell pepper, diced, 15 ounce can black beans, undrained, 10 ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained, 4 ounce can fire roasted green chiles, undrained, 1½ cups frozen corn, 1 cup chicken broth, 2 teaspoons minced garlic, 3 Tablespoons ranch seasoning mix, 1 Tablespoon ground chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 3-4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 lbs)
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 3–5 hours (ours is ready at 4 hours) or LOW for 5–8 hours, until the chicken is tender and shreds easily.
- Transfer the chicken to a bowl and use two forks to shred it into bite-size pieces. Set aside. Set the slow cooker to WARM or LOW.
- Place the Greek yogurt in a small mixing bowl or 2-cup liquid measuring cup. Using a ladle, slowly whisk in ½-¾ cup hot chili until combined (see notes). Set aside.1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- Return the shredded chicken, shredded cheese, and tempered yogurt to the chili. Stir until the cheese is melted and all ingredients are incorporated.1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary. If the chili is lacking saltiness, remember the toppings (bacon and shredded cheese) will add salt and flavor.
- Turn off the slow cooker and ladle the chili into bowls and garnish with the toppings.8 slices cooked bacon, crumbled, 1 cup shredded cheese, chives, green onion and/or cilantro (choose your favorite or use all three!)
- Store the chili in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Did you make and enjoy this Crack Chicken Chili Recipe? We would love for you to leave a comment and rating, if so! And don’t forget to follow and tag us in your creations on Instagram! We can’t wait to connect.
This crack chicken chili is truly a crowd pleaser. Everybody loves it! It’s filled with wholesome ingredients and packed with flavor. And whatever you do, don’t forget the extra cheese and bacon on top!