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–+ servings
American dish with beans

Ground Chicken Chili

My ground chicken chili is everything a lean-meat chili usually isn't — thick, rich and loaded with protein and fiber from a hearty mix of beans and red lentils. It's one pot, weeknight-easy and somehow even better the next day.
5 from 3 votes
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Course: Stew
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 525kcal

Ingredients 

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, finely diced
  • 1 pound (450 g) ground chicken
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 can (14 oz / 400 g) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 can (14 oz / 400 g) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (14 oz / 400 g) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • ½ cup (90 g) red lentils
  • 1 cup (250 ml) chicken stock
  • Fresh cilantro to garnish

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and red bell pepper and cook for about 5 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
    1 tablespoon olive oil
    1 medium onion
    1 medium red bell pepper
    4 garlic cloves
  • Add the ground chicken and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, breaking it up with your spoon, until it's no longer pink.
    1 pound ground chicken
  • Stir in the chili powder, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, cinnamon, salt and black pepper and cook for about 1 minute, until fragrant. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another minute.
    1 tablespoon chili powder
    1 teaspoon ground cumin
    1 teaspoon ground coriander
    ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    ½ teaspoon salt
    ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
    1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • Pour in the crushed tomatoes, black beans, cannellini beans, red lentils and chicken stock. Stir well to combine.
    1 can (14 oz / 400 g) crushed tomatoes
    1 can (14 oz / 400 g) black beans
    1 can (14 oz / 400 g) cannellini beans
    ½ cup red lentils
    1 cup chicken stock
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 25 to 30 minutes, until the red lentils have dissolved and the chili is thick and rich. Add a splash more stock if it gets too thick.
  • Season to taste, then garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with your favorite toppings.
    Fresh cilantro to garnish

Video

Notes

  • The red lentils are what thicken this chili, so give them the full simmer to dissolve completely. They'll keep absorbing liquid as the chili sits, so loosen leftovers with a little stock or water when reheating.
  • For a spicier chili, add a chopped jalapeño with the garlic or a pinch of cayenne with the spices.

Nutrition

Calories: 525kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 887mg | Potassium: 1611mg | Fiber: 22g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1952IU | Vitamin C: 53mg | Calcium: 172mg | Iron: 9mg

Nutrition is per serving and is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.

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