Looking for a delicious, easy, and healthy meal? This keto chicken chili recipe is the perfect solution for busy weeknights. It's a fuss-free, flavorful chili that allows you to enjoy a hearty bowl of goodness while staying on a low-carb diet.
Why This Keto Chicken Chili Recipe Works
This recipe offers a multitude of benefits:
- Convenience: Making keto chicken chili in a slow cooker simplifies the cooking process. Just set everything in the slow cooker in the morning and let it cook all day long.
- Flavor: This keto chicken chili is packed with flavor and makes a thick, hearty bowl of goodness.
- Freezer-Friendly: As an added bonus, this recipe also freezes well for future enjoyment.
- Customizable: This recipe is versatile and can be adapted to your preferences.
Ingredients You'll Need
Here's a list of the ingredients you'll need to make this keto shredded chicken chili:
- Chicken (boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs)
- Garlic cloves
- Chopped onion
- Canned crushed tomatoes
- Water
- Dry spices (oregano, cumin, salt, black pepper, chili powder, cayenne pepper optional)
- Cream cheese
- Optional toppings: shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, green onions, jalapenos, avocado, cilantro
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Slice the boneless chicken into ½ inch strips.
- Combine Ingredients: Place the slices of chicken into a 7-quart slow cooker. Then add to the pot the garlic cloves, chopped onion, canned crushed tomatoes, water, and dry spices. Give the pot a good stir to combine all the ingredients.
- Cook: Cover and cook the chicken chili on the low setting for about 6 hours or on high for 3.5 hours.
- Shred Chicken and Add Cream Cheese: Once the chicken is cooked and shreds easily when stirred, you'll add the 6 ounces of cream cheese to the pot.
- Incorporate: Stir the chili well making sure the chicken is fully shredded and the cream cheese is well incorporated.
- Keep Warm: Then set the slow cooker to the warm setting until ready to serve.
- Serve: Optional: Top your keto chicken chili with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, green onions, and jalapenos.
Stovetop Option
This recipe can also be made in a 6-quart pan rather than a slow cooker.
- Sauté: To do so, saute the slices of chicken in a large pot along with the onions and garlic.
- Simmer: Then add the rest of the ingredients minus the cream cheese to the pot and allow the chicken chili to simmer on a low boil for about 30 minutes or until the chicken is opaque and shreds easily when stirred.
- Incorporate: Once the chicken is cooked, add the cream cheese and stir until melted and well combined.
Using Leftover Rotisserie Chicken
You can use a whole small rotisserie chicken in place of the raw chicken in this recipe. Just keep in mind that the chili will be ready in half the time if using precooked chicken.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
For Ground Chicken Or Ground Turkey
Use ground chicken or turkey using 1 ½ pounds and brown the meat before adding it to the crock pot. It can also be made on the stovetop; look for the instructions above.
Dairy-Free Option
Using coconut milk keeps this dish dairy-free and Whole30-compatible. Canned coconut milk with full fat doesn’t need conversions and can be substituted one-to-one for whole milk or half and half.
Variations and Additions
- Chicken: While white meat is preferred, you can use chicken thighs in place of breasts if you prefer.
- Vegetables: Bell peppers are delicious in this soup.
- Spice: For those who like a little heat, add a small jar of green chiles.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your keto chicken chili with slices of avocado, jalapeno, and loads of cilantro. For children and others not doing keto, this is delicious topped with crushed tortilla chips.
Storage Instructions
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days or freezer for up to 2 months. This soup can be stored inside an airtight container with lid up to 4 days in the fridge.
- Freeze: Allow the soup to cool completely. Pour into freezer bags and lay flat. You can use freezer containers but bags take up less space since they can be stacked. This is a great way to meal prep for quick meals during the week.
Tips for the Best Keto Chicken Chili
- Cream Cheese: The cream cheese needs to be at room temperature before adding to the soup. The softer the cream cheese is the quicker and better it will melt into the soup. Use the microwave to soften until it's nearly fully melted.
- Thickening: You can use xanthum gum to quickly thicken the chili. It does not take much and it goes a long way. If you prefer a thinner consistency, skip this step. Just remember to not use much because it truly only takes a small amount.
- Cheese: Feel free to use the type of cheese you prefer. It is best to hand shred the cheese though. The bags of shredded cheese have fillers and don’t melt as easily.
Common Questions
- How many carbs are in white chicken chili? Conventional white chicken chili typically contains white beans, corn, and other high carb ingredients. And it can have 35g of carbs or more per serving. But this Keto White Chicken Chili recipe has only 8.1g total carbs and 2.6g fiber per serving. So it has only 5.5g net carbs per bowl!
- Can you thicken white chicken chili? A great way to thicken white chicken chili without adding carbs is to add cauliflower. You can use fresh or frozen cauliflower, and simply blend it up with the rest of the ingredients.
A Word of Caution
Please note that this recipe is not intended as medical advice. Consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should be independently calculated for accuracy.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
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