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This black bean chicken chili with quinoa is a perfect wholesome meal for dinner or lunch. It is made in one pot and loaded with proteins and nutrients.

I am in love with Mexican flavors. In particular, I love making Mexican chili at home because it is so easy to prepare and can be made into a one pot wonder. Chili possibilities are endless!

This variation of chili that includes quinoa, black beans and chicken. It has amazing flavors combined with veggies and a variety of proteins. It is definitely a healthier version of traditional chili as it is prepared using lean chicken together with quinoa and black beans.

Why you’ll love this recipe:

hearty & filling
healthy
full of Mexican flavors
and super easy to make with only about 20 minutes prep

ingredients for black bean chicken chili

How to Make Black Bean Chicken Chili

To make this Mexican black bean chicken chili, I used canned black beans, fresh red pepper, onions, fresh tomatoes, Mexican spices and of-course ground chicken. In order to turn this chili into a wholesome dinner, I also added quinoa. Quinoa is high in protein, fiber, B vitamins and many minerals.

Heat oil in a stock pot on medium heat.
Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant for about 30-40 seconds.
Then add onions and cook until translucent for about 3-4 minutes.

Add ground chicken and sauté until the pink color disappears (approx. 5-6 min).
Now add diced tomatoes, red pepper, cumin powder, cayenne pepper and Mexican chili powder and mix until well combined.
Add black beans, quinoa and chicken stock; mix well and bring the mixture to a boil
Season with salt, cover the pot and simmer on low heat for about 20 min.

Chili Toppings

You can use cheese, sour cream, corn chips and avocado slices. I went with low-fat sour cream, Mexican cheese blend and oven baked corn chips to add a little crunch in my chili.

Make Ahead Chili or Leftovers

Let me tell you one more secret to making this black bean chicken chili even super tasty. Prepare it and enjoy them the next day. Leftover chili tastes absolutely amazing the next day as spices and flavors infuse into every bit of this dish with time.

Don’t worry…if you want to eat it the same day it’s still so comforting and good. Just enjoy the leftovers the next day for lunch!

What to Serve with Chili

Salad and cornbread is always a good choice when serving chili. You can try caesar salad or frito salad. And here are some cornbread recipes:

Black Bean Chicken Chili

4.93 from 13 votes

This black bean chicken chili with quinoa is a perfect wholesome meal for dinner or lunch. It is made in one pot and loaded with proteins and nutrients.

Servings 6 servings

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Total Time 40

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Ingredients

2 cans black beans drained and rinsed
1 pound ground chicken
3-4 tomatoes diced
1/2 cup quinoa
1 red pepper diced
1 medium onion diced
3-4 garlic cloves minced
4 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons Mexican chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons roasted cumin powder
1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

FOR TOPPINGS

1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1/3 cup sour cream
1/3 cup cheese blend
crushed tortilla chips

Instructions

Heat oil in a stock pot on medium heat.
Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant for about 30-40 seconds.
Then add onions and cook until translucent for about 3-4 min.
Add ground chicken and sauté until the pink color disappears (approx. 5-6 min).
Now add diced tomatoes, red pepper, cumin powder, cayenne pepper and Mexican chili powder and mix until well combined.
Add black beans, quinoa and chicken stock; mix well and bring the mixture to a boil
Season with salt, cover the pot and simmer on low heat for about 20 min.
Once done add chopped cilantro and serve warm.
Top individual bowls of chili with some cheese, crushed tortilla chips, and sour cream.

Video

Notes

The calories shown are based on the soup serving 6, with 1 serving being ⅙ of the soup. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**

Nutrition

Author Julie Clark

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American

Calories 374

Keyword comfort food, easy soup