1. Sauté the Onion and Garlic (Optional)

While not strictly necessary, sautéing the onion and garlic before adding them to the slow cooker can enhance the overall flavor of the chili. Start by heating the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for 3-5 minutes, until the onion becomes soft and translucent and the garlic becomes fragrant. This step brings out the natural sweetness in the onions and develops a deeper flavor for your chili.

If you’re short on time or prefer to skip this step, you can simply add the raw onion and garlic directly to the slow cooker—no sautéing required. The slow cooking process will still make the flavors meld beautifully.

2. Add the Chicken and Beans to the Slow Cooker

Next, place the chicken breasts (or thighs) in the bottom of your slow cooker. The chicken will cook and shred easily as it simmers with the other ingredients. Add the white beans, diced tomatoes with green chilies, green chilies (if using), and chicken broth to the slow cooker. The chicken broth helps create a rich, savory base for the chili.

Then, add the sautéed onion and garlic to the slow cooker (or the raw onion and garlic, if you skipped the sautéing step). Stir everything together to combine.

3. Season the Chili

Now it’s time to add the seasonings that will give your chili its signature flavor. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, onion powder, and garlic powder. Add salt and pepper to taste. If you like your chili on the spicier side, add hot sauce to taste. The combination of spices and herbs will create a well-rounded, flavorful chili base.

4. Slow Cook the Chili

Cover the slow cooker and set it to cook on low heat for 6-7 hours. The long cooking time allows the flavors to meld together, and the chicken will become tender enough to shred with a fork. If you’re in a hurry, you can set the slow cooker to high heat and cook for 3-4 hours, but the chili will be even more flavorful with the longer cooking time on low.

5. Shred the Chicken

Once the chili is done cooking, remove the chicken breasts (or thighs) from the slow cooker. Use two forks to shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir it into the chili. The chicken will absorb all the delicious flavors, and the chili will become thick and hearty.

6. Taste and Adjust Seasoning

Give the chili a taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. You can add more salt, pepper, chili powder, or hot sauce to suit your preferences. If the chili is too thick, you can add a bit more chicken broth to thin it out to your desired consistency.

7. Serve and Top

Ladle the chicken chili into bowls and top with your favorite toppings. Some great options include shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream or Greek yogurt, chopped fresh cilantro, sliced avocado, jalapeño slices, and tortilla chips. Each topping adds an extra layer of flavor and texture to the chili, so feel free to get creative.