This Clean Eating Chicken Chili is absolutely delicious! I’ve made it twice since I originally posted, and it’s only been three weeks. I know it’s hard to find healthy ground chicken recipes that aren’t boring, but trust me when I say that this recipe does NOT disappoint. You are going to LOVE this healthy chili recipe (and the secret ingredient).
Healthy Chicken Chili Recipe
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I make a lot of chili, it’s my go to for batch cooking for healthy lunches and freezer dinners.
I’m prepping and testing out recipes for the Whole30 challenge I’ll be taking part of in January (after my Disney trip, of course – because come on, let’s be real) and this Clean Eating chicken chili is winner winner chicken dinner.
Friends coming from Pinterest: Ah! I totally forgot that beans and corn are not Whole30! So I thought, maybe Paleo? However, a lot of people don’t believe beans are so it’s now Clean Eating Chicken Chili. This post has now been updated to reflect that.
I apologized, I totally missed that. However, you can make it a Whole30 chili by forgoing the beans and corn.
Repeat: This is not Whole30 Compliant.
Want more proof I love chili? My dog’s name is Chilli, but truth be told my husband and I were going in between Chester and Billy, so we combined the two.
But let’s just pretend it’s because I love food.
My cat’s name is Carl, is it because I love The Walking Dead?
There is a secret ingredient in this clean eating chicken chili recipe, and it’s an odd one.
I used applesauce, I know right?
I was tasting the chili and thought it needed a little sweetness, and being that I was practicing a Whole30 recipe, I didn’t want to use Molasses (like in the Super Lean Chili recipe) or sugar.
I knew I had to get creative, and that’s when I saw the applesauce sitting in my fridge. It worked really well, just use the unsweetened variety to make it Whole30 and Paleo approved. Again,If you want this whole recipe to be compliant with Whole30 and Paleo – no corn or beans.
TBK’s Pro Tip: I use a ceramic pot (the one I have is a discontinued KitchenAid but this Lodge ceramic pot looks good) when I cook up this chili. It makes for an easy cleanup!
Psst –> Meal planning can be a drag, so I put together The Lazy Girls’ Eat Healthy Guide to 7 Days of Dinners. It’s a free eBook for you to download! Click here to access it. Or you can sign up for the Healthified Meal Plan service! Have a healthy meal plan delivered to your inbox every Friday for only $8.99/month!
Is Chili Healthy?
Yes! Whether it’s turkey chili, beef chili, or chicken chili, yes chili is healthy.
It’s full of fiber (thanks to the veggies and beans), proteins, and vegetables!
The high protein content, paired with the vegetables and fiber, keep you satiated (which means fuller for longer).
So eat up!
Chicken Chili Ingredients
Looking for what goes in chicken chili before you meal plan? Here’s a quick list:
To show you how easy it is to whip up this chicken chili recipe, make sure to watch the quick video below.
TBK’s Pro Tip: Save some money and instead of store bought applesauce why not try this healthy homemade applesauce recipe? It seriously takes less than a minute to prepare. All you need are apples, lemon juice, a pot, and a vegetable steamer.
Heat a large pot over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once that is heated add the ground chicken and scramble fry until it’s cooked (about 7-8 minutes). Add the onion and red bell pepper and cook for 3 minutes.
Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil.
Cover the pot and bring it down to a simmer for 50 minutes. Check on it at the 30 minute mark to give it a good stir.
Hello! I’ve made this recipe multiple times and LOVE it! It’s always a hit, and a quick easy meal that doesn’t taste like it!
Have you ever tried freezing? Wondering how it would hold up. Thanks!
Hi! I just tried this recipe on Monday and it turned out great! I just moved out of my parents home and slowly trying to get some cooking skills. This was super easy and I actually made it using our slow cooker as I didn’t need it until the next day. I cooked the chicken as per your instructions then just put the chicken with everything else into the slow cooker and cooked on high for 4 hours! Delicious and was also approved by my fiance! Will be a regular dinner in our home 🙂
Hello! I’ve made this recipe multiple times and LOVE it! It’s always a hit, and a quick easy meal that doesn’t taste like it!
Have you ever tried freezing? Wondering how it would hold up. Thanks!
Hi Kari,
I have no frozen this particular recipe but I do freeze chili often 🙂 So give it a try!
Hi! I just tried this recipe on Monday and it turned out great! I just moved out of my parents home and slowly trying to get some cooking skills. This was super easy and I actually made it using our slow cooker as I didn’t need it until the next day. I cooked the chicken as per your instructions then just put the chicken with everything else into the slow cooker and cooked on high for 4 hours! Delicious and was also approved by my fiance! Will be a regular dinner in our home 🙂
Thanks so much for leaving your feedback Kristen! I LOVE hearing successes like this 🙂 Happy cooking and exploring new recipes 😀
Would it count as a green container too for 21 day fix? Or just a red,yellow, and half a purple? Thank you!
I wouldn’t count it as a green, but if you want an extra green add some spinach or broccoli!
Why is there a purple container but no green container?
Beans and corn are not whole30
Used shredded chicken thigh meat and habanero Rotel. Fantastic! Wonderful recipe. Thanks!