Hearty Harvest Chicken Chili: A Cozy Slow Cooker or Instant Pot Delight

There’s nothing like coming home to a warm, comforting bowl of chili on a chilly evening. This Hearty Harvest Chicken Chili combines tender chicken, fragrant spices, and seasonal veggies, making it perfect for a busy weeknight or a lazy Sunday afternoon. Even better, you can choose to let it simmer all day in your slow cooker or whip it up in under an hour in your Instant Pot. Let’s get cooking!

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1 bell pepper, roughly chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

For the slow cooker version, start by heating the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion, carrots, and bell pepper. Sauté until they begin to soften—about five minutes—then stir in the garlic, chili powder, smoked paprika, and cumin. Cook for another minute, letting the spices bloom in the oil.

Transfer everything to your slow cooker, along with the chicken pieces, diced tomatoes, beans, and chicken broth. Add salt and pepper, stir gently, then cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours (or high for 3 to 4 hours).

If you’re using an Instant Pot or pressure cooker, select the Sauté setting, heat the olive oil, and add the onion, carrots, and bell pepper. After five minutes or so, toss in your garlic and spices. Next, mix in the chicken, tomatoes, beans, and chicken broth. Secure the lid, set the valve to sealing, and pressure-cook on High for 10 minutes. Naturally release the pressure for 5 minutes before carefully switching the valve to venting.

Once the cooking time is up (slow cooker or Instant Pot), give the chili a good stir and taste for seasoning. Adjust as needed before ladling into bowls. Top it all off with shredded cheese, diced avocado, a dollop of sour cream, or fresh cilantro—whichever suits your taste buds!

This recipe sings with smoky spice and bright veggies while staying light on prep time, making it a great choice for cozy fall evenings and hearty family meals year-round. It’s especially handy for anyone looking to streamline weeknight cooking—those with hectic schedules or folks just learning their way around a kitchen.

To lighten it up, feel free to swap the chicken for turkey, or skip the meat entirely and double the veggies or beans. Either way, you’ll end up with a scrumptious bowl of soul-warming goodness that’s incredibly easy to prepare. Enjoy!