This flavorful, mildly spiced, and creamy gradual cooker rooster chili is a favourite dinner recipe to make repeatedly. It freezes properly, is tremendous customizable, and leftovers maintain for days! There’s no pre-cooking or sophisticated prep required, so it’s a real “set it and neglect it” crockpot meal.
I initially revealed this recipe in 2016 and have since added new images and extra useful success suggestions.

I do know I’m not alone after I sing the praises of the gradual cooker. I particularly love and admire a tasty gradual cooker dinner recipe, the place you’ll be able to toss every part within the pot early within the day, push a button, and dinner is prepared when you’re! That’s how I make creamy rooster & corn soup, gradual cooker turkey meatballs, and honey teriyaki rooster, too.
Gradual Cooker Rooster Chili: Recipe on Repeat
I can’t even inform you what number of occasions we’ve made this simple gradual cooker rooster chili previously 9 years. Each time a member of the family, neighbor, or pal has a child, I take them a batch. (Who doesn’t discover consolation in home-cooked chili? Particularly new mother and father!) Each time we’ve associates over to observe a soccer recreation, I make this chili. And each time I need to prep freezer meals, I make one other batch. It’s on the highest of my listing of 30+ again to highschool recipes and 30 fall dinner recipes.
This simple gradual cooker rooster chili makes an enormous batch that reheats properly, making it a handy and sensible choice for busy schedules.

Right here’s Why You’ll Love It Too:
- Simple: No pre-cooking required, it is a “set it & neglect it” one-pot gradual cooker meal
- Flavorful: crammed with conventional chili flavors and a bit spice
- Satisfying: heat, cozy, and comforting
- Adaptable: swap out the rooster, beans, and veggies to fit your style
- Make-ahead & freezer pleasant: so handy!
One reader, Brigette, commented: “I’ve been on the hunt for one of the best rooster chili recipe for years. I made this at this time and I’m fairly positive I’ve discovered it! Thanks a lot for sharing! ★★★★★“
One other reader, Steve, commented: “This recipe has been in my common rotation each couple of weeks for a very long time now. Everybody in my household loves it. I tweak it a bit like most cooks do to go well with private choice, however actually this recipe works nice whilst is… and it’s easy, too. Having it tonight, really. ★★★★★“
Elements in Gradual Cooker Rooster Chili
Every little thing goes into the gradual cooker without delay. No pre-cooking!
- Canned Diced Tomatoes: Use 2 standard-size cans (or 1 giant 28-ounce can) of diced or petite-diced tomatoes. Drain out the liquid first.
- Tomato Sauce: Use plain tomato sauce as the bottom of this chili. I normally choose up two 8-ounce cans of Hunts tomato sauce, or one 15-ounce can. You should use selfmade tomato sauce, too.
- Rooster: You want about 2 giant boneless skinless rooster breasts. To make it vegetarian, skip the rooster and add one other can of beans and/or chopped candy potato.
- Rooster Broth: Use 1 cup rooster broth. I normally use the reduced-sodium form. If in case you have selfmade rooster inventory or broth, that works too!
- Onion & Bell Pepper: Let’s add a bit freshness to the one-pot dinner with flavorful onion and diced bell pepper. I like the colour distinction inexperienced pepper gives, however you should utilize purple, yellow, or orange bell pepper right here as an alternative.
- Black Beans & Corn: I really like including these as a result of the duo brings a southwestern vibe to the entire dish. You should use canned or frozen corn. In case you don’t have black beans, swap in kidney or pinto beans. Use what you take pleasure in and/or have within the pantry.
- Jalapeño: 1 jalapeño provides the right quantity of spice. Be at liberty to skip it if desired.
- Garlic, Salt, Dried Oregano, Chili Powder, & Cumin: Every ingredient provides key taste. I don’t suggest reducing any of them from the recipe. In actual fact, I normally add a bit extra of every after I style the completed chili.
- Cream Cheese: Belief me. See under!

This recipe cooks on low warmth within the gradual cooker for 7 hours. In case you’re in search of a gradual cooker and wish a advice, I’ve this one and this one, and each are unbelievable.
In case you don’t have a gradual cooker, you’ll be able to prepare dinner this chili on the range. See detailed recipe Notice under.

In addition to chopping some elements and utilizing a can opener, the one hands-on “work” is shredding the rooster.
Take away the cooked rooster breasts, shred them with two forks (it’s simple as a result of they’re so tender!), then stir the shredded rooster again into the crockpot and prepare dinner for 15 extra minutes earlier than serving.

Greatest Ingredient of All
You can also make common rooster chili or you can also make the BEST CHICKEN CHILI. Which do you favor?
Stir in a bit cream cheese whenever you add the shredded rooster. The cream cheese melts and creates a thick and creamy base for all these flavors and textures. It barely cuts the warmth, too. I’m not kidding—everybody I’ve made this chili for has requested me what my secret is—it’s the cream cheese!!
I normally add 4 ounces of cream cheese, however you should utilize the entire 8-ounce brick for those who prefer it additional creamy. You should use full-fat or reduced-fat cream cheese. Whichever you utilize, simply just remember to don’t use cream cheese unfold. Choose up an 8-ounce brick of cream cheese, like the type you utilize to make cheesecake.
After you combine within the cream cheese, the chili shall be creamy and lighter in colour. Style it. At this level you’ll be able to add extra salt, chili powder, or further spices if desired.

Is This Rooster Chili Spicy?
No. The recipe written under makes a mildly spicy chili that has simply sufficient warmth to convey taste with out burning your tastebuds. (The cream cheese helps lower the spice, too!)
However the warmth stage right here is admittedly as much as you! Add extra jalapeño for those who like your chili with a kick, or omit it totally for a really gentle chili. The kind of chili powder you utilize makes a distinction, too. Have you ever heard of the Scoville scale? It’s a measurement of how scorching/spicy totally different chili peppers are, rated in SHU (Scoville warmth models). It’s a wide array! Test the label of your chili powder for a warmth ranking. A number of the most typical ones you’ll discover within the spice aisle of the grocery retailer are ancho chili powder (gentle), chipotle chili powder (medium), and cayenne pepper (scorching). I sometimes make this gradual cooker rooster chili with a gentle chili powder.
You’ll be able to modify the spices in my pumpkin chili, candy potato turkey chili, and cornbread chili casserole, too.

Adapt & Make It Your Personal
This gradual cooker dinner recipe is infinitely adaptable. It is a handy base recipe the place you’ll be able to add/scale back just about something as a way to match your loved ones’s preferences. Pass over the corn, or add additional if you want. In case you don’t have black beans, swap in kidney or pinto beans. I’ve even turned it into gradual cooker vegetarian chili by swapping the rooster for extra beans and cubed candy potato.
For serving, toppings resembling shredded cheese, recent cilantro, avocado, and/or bitter cream pair superbly with this rooster chili. I additionally love scooping it up with tortilla chips.
Nevertheless you make it, my #1 suggestion is to serve this one-pot meal with cornbread or cornbread muffins. You gained’t remorse it!
Description
This flavorful, mildly spiced, and creamy gradual cooker rooster chili is a favourite dinner recipe to make repeatedly. It freezes properly, is tremendous customizable, and leftovers maintain for days! There’s no pre-cooking or sophisticated prep required, so it’s a real “set it and neglect it” crockpot meal. See recipe Notes for those who’d prefer to make it on the range.
- Add all of the elements besides the cream cheese to a 6-quart or bigger gradual cooker. Stir every part collectively till mixed. Cowl and prepare dinner on low for 7 hours or on excessive for 3 hours.
- Take away the rooster from the gradual cooker and switch it to a big plate or reducing board. Utilizing 2 forks, shred the tender rooster. You may additionally simply lower it into bite-size items. Return the rooster to the gradual cooker and add the cream cheese. Stir every part collectively till the cream cheese has melted. Style, then add extra salt or seasonings if desired.
- Cowl the gradual cooker and prepare dinner for 10–15 extra minutes.
- Serve heat topped with recent cilantro, shredded cheese, and/or bitter cream. And serve alongside cornbread or cornbread muffins. Cowl and retailer leftovers within the fridge for as much as 1 week. Reheat within the microwave or on the range.
Notes
- Freezing Directions: Freeze in a freezer-safe container or just a few smaller containers for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge or place the container/bag within the sink crammed with heat water. As soon as thawed, prepare dinner in a big pot on medium warmth for half-hour, or reheat within the microwave till warmed all through.
- Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlink): 6-quart or Bigger Gradual Cooker (like this one or this one)
- Substitutions: The spices like cumin, chili powder, and oregano/Italian seasoning mix are essential to the style. Nevertheless, the next adaptions work properly if wanted. Selfmade tomato sauce works splendidly as an alternative of canned. You should use floor turkey or floor beef as an alternative of rooster. Brown on the range first (medium-high warmth for 8 minutes), then add to the gradual cooker with the remainder of the elements. You may also use vegetable or beef broth as an alternative of rooster broth. You’ll be able to add extra peppers, onions, or beans if you need (generally I do!). You should use kidney beans or white beans as an alternative of black beans. Add extra garlic or jalapeño if desired. And, lastly, for vegetarian chili, you’ll be able to add 1 extra can of beans and swap the rooster for 3 cups raw diced and peeled candy potato.
- No Gradual Cooker? No Drawback! Chop the uncooked rooster into bite-sized items. Warmth 1 Tablespoon olive oil in a really giant pot or Dutch oven on the range over medium warmth. Add the diced onion, chopped bell pepper, jalapeño, salt, dried oregano, chili powder, cumin, and garlic. Stir and prepare dinner till the peppers have softened and the rooster is cooked. Add the remainder of the elements, apart from the cream cheese, to the pot. Cowl and prepare dinner for half-hour on medium warmth, stirring often. After about half-hour, stir within the cream cheese till melted and prepare dinner, uncovered, for a further 5 minutes. Serve.
- Cream Cheese: I discover that it’s useful to barely heat the cream cheese earlier than including to the recent chili in step 2. Unwrap it, place on a plate, and easily microwave it for 15–20 seconds earlier than stirring into the chili. This helps it mix a lot simpler into the recent chili.