Onion-Free and Garlic-Free Chicken Chili Recipe (2024)

By

Victoria Groce

Victoria Groce is a medical writer living with celiac disease who specializes in writing about the dietary management of food allergies.

Learn about our editorial process

Updated on March 11, 2022

Reviewed

Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by nutrition and exercise professionals. Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more.

by

Kristy Del Coro, MS, RDN, LDN

Kristy is a licensed registered dietitian nutritionist and trained culinary professional. She has worked in a variety of settings, including MSKCC and Rouge Tomate.

Learn about our Review Board

Onion-Free and Garlic-Free Chicken Chili Recipe (2)

(23 ratings)

Total Time: 45 min

Prep Time: 5 min

Cook Time: 40 min

Servings: 8

Nutrition Highlights (per serving)

318 calories

10g fat

30g carbs

28g protein

Show Nutrition LabelHide Nutrition Label
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories318
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g13%
Saturated Fat 3g15%
Cholesterol 84mg28%
Sodium 340mg15%
Total Carbohydrate 30g11%
Dietary Fiber 7g25%
Total Sugars 4g
Includes 0g Added Sugars0%
Protein 28g
Vitamin D 0mcg0%
Calcium 83mg6%
Iron 4mg22%
Potassium 1197mg25%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet.2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Is onion-free and garlic-free chili just a pipe dream? Making chili without onions or garlic is a double challenge: Not only do virtually all chili recipes include one or both of these ingredients, but you'll normally find one or both in commercial chili powders.

The solution? Make your own by using other aromatics to build a satisfying flavor. You can also use the other flavor components of spice mixes like fresh peppers and spices to add heat and that indescribable "chili"-ness.

Ground chicken can take the place of higher fat ground meat such as beef while providing protein, B vitamins like thiamin, vitamin B6, and pantothenic acid, and minerals such as iron, zinc, and copper. Regular poultry consumption along with plenty of vegetables is associated with less risk of becoming overweight or obese, and reduces the risks of cardiovascular diseases, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Based on a rice-and-bean chili my family ate often when I was growing up, no one will guess anything's unusual about this party-ready onion-free, garlic-free chicken chili recipe. It's free from all "big eight" food allergens to boot.

Ingredients

  • 2 red bell peppers, cored and diced
  • 2 Serrano peppers, seeded and minced
  • 2 lbs. ground chicken
  • 1 tsp. salt, or to taste
  • 2 tsp. black pepper, or to taste
  • 3 tbsp. ground red pepper
  • 3 tbsp.Hungarian paprika
  • 1 tbsp. ground cumin
  • 1 tbsp. dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp.cayenne pepper (or to taste)
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 15 1/2-oz. canblack beans
  • 2 14 1/2-oz. cans diced tomatoes (with juice)
  • 1/2 cup uncooked white rice, rinsedand drained

Preparation

  1. In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, heat a small amount of oil over medium-low heat. Cook peppers gently for about 5 minutes, or until they barely start to brown.

  2. Add chicken to pot and brown on all sides over medium heat (you may need to add a little more oil), about 8 to 10 minutes. When the chickenhas browned, add salt and pepper, ground red pepper, paprika, cumin, oregano, and cayenne pepper. Stir thoroughly to coat chicken and peppers with spices.

  3. Add chicken broth, beans, and tomatoes to apot and gently bring to a boil. When mixture boils, add rice, stir, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for at least 25 minutes. Stir every 15 to 20 minutes to prevent sticking to the bottom of the pan while simmering. After the rice is cooked, taste and adjust the salt and pepper if desired.​

  4. Serve immediately, or simmer longer for a deeper flavor.

Variations and Substitutions

Try using chicken thighs instead of ground chicken, if desired. Although they are slightly more expensive than bone-in whole chicken thighs, you'll find that boneless thighs are the easiest to use for this recipe.

Switch out or add some canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce or some smoked paprika for a smoky-flavored chili. Keep in mind that chipotle in adobo often contains onion so be sure to read product labels.

Ground beef or pork can also be substituted for ground chicken. Note that this will change the recipe's nutrition information.

Kidney beans or any white bean can replace the black beans in this chili.

Cooking and Serving Tips

  • Chili is ready after the rice is cooked but it can be simmered further—up to several hours—for an even stronger flavor. Simmer uncovered if you want a thicker chili and covered if you prefer a more soup-like texture.
  • Top the chili with cheese, sour cream, cilantro, and tortilla strips.
  • This chili stores in the refrigerator for about a week and in the freezer for at least three months.

Rate this Recipe

You've already rated this recipe.Thanks for your rating!

1 Source

Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Marangoni F, Corsello G, Cricelli C, et al. Role of poultry meat in a balanced diet aimed at maintaining health and wellbeing: an Italian consensus document.Food Nutr Res. 2015;59:27606. doi:10.3402/fnr.v59.27606

By Victoria Groce
Victoria Groce is a medical writer living with celiac disease who specializes in writing about the dietary management of food allergies.

See Our Editorial Process

Meet Our Review Board

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?

×

The offers that appear in this table are from companies that partner with and compensate Verywell Fit for displaying their offer. These partnerships do not impact our editorial choices or otherwise influence our editorial content.

Onion-Free and Garlic-Free Chicken Chili Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is onion necessary in chili? ›

Many chili recipes call for ground chili powder, which is a mix of dried ground chiles and other spices like garlic and onion powder. But that doesn't mean you should skip using fresh garlic and onions in your chili. They add a depth of flavor the dried stuff can't match.

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

What not to put in chili? ›

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

What is the secret to amazing chili? ›

Instead of adding water to your chili, add some more flavor with chicken or beef broth, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even beet or wine. Each one of these options brings out different notes and levels of sweetness that will enhance your culinary creation.

What does onion do in chili? ›

Onions contribute to your chili recipes in three significant ways: flavor, texture, and aroma. Whether you sauté them with chili spices at the outset of your cooking journey or opt to serve them raw as a final flourish, onions make a notable impact. First, the FLAVOR is one of the most important components of chili.

What brings out the flavor in chili? ›

If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.

What chili has the best flavor? ›

In talking with many pepper enthusiasts, we've found the Habanero to be universally considered to be one of the best tasting peppers.

How do you add flavor to bland chili? ›

How to make bland chili taste better - Quora. Add garlic, cumin, and probably more salt. Chipotle chili powder is really nice in chili.

What organ does chili affect? ›

Eating chili can cause intestinal distress in some people. The symptoms may include abdominal pain, a burning sensation in your gut, cramps, and painful diarrhea. This is more common in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

What liquid to add to chili? ›

I like to use ale, but beef broth is popular. The truth is, there's so much going on in a typical chili, the liquid plays (or should play) a minor role in flavor. Major flavor players are the meat, cumin, dried chiles, hot chiles, onions, garlic, salt, oregano and sometimes cocoa. Water is fine.

Can you put chicken broth in chili? ›

Not sure which broth to use? Luckily, there isn't a right or wrong answer. Beef broth adds a hearty, robust flavor, while chicken broth brings a lighter, more delicate taste. Veggie broth or organic mushroom broth is a great option for those who prefer a plant-based chili.

What is my chili missing? ›

Sometimes after a long simmer, your chili will taste wonderful be maybe missing one little thing you can't figure out. Try a tad bit of vinegar or a squeeze of lime! The acidity in vinegar & limes bring a good roundness to the pot and binds all the flavors together.

Why do you put brown sugar in chili? ›

The brown sugar gave it a sweet/tangy flavor that reminded me of BBQ-sauce! Th chili was so good - it was hard to stop eating it! I did had some extra veggies (1 cl. garlic, 1 celery stalk, 1 carrot, 1 bell pepper, 1 hot pepper) and used a can of diced tomatoes rather than tomato juice.

Why do you put vinegar in chili? ›

With only about 1 tablespoon per pot added toward the end of the cooking process, the vinegar will make the flavors more vibrant without overwhelming the dish with its biting tang. Through just a splash, everything becomes a little brighter, and the chili's flavors are more balanced.

Can you make a chilli con carne without onion? ›

Method
  1. Brown the mince in large sauce pan. Add paprika, harissa and chilli flakes.
  2. Once mince has cooked through, add zucchini and cook for 5 mins further. Add passata and stir.
  3. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add drained kidney beans. ...
  4. Serve with rice.

Does Chili's chili have onions? ›

Our original recipe with beef, onions & signature blend of spices.

Do you brown meat or onions first in chili? ›

Raw meat and pot of chili are two things that just don't belong together. If the recipe includes any type of ground meat, bacon, chorizo, or cubes of beef, it should always be browned first. Try this: The first order of business before adding anything else to the pot is to brown any meat in your recipe.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Last Updated:

Views: 6367

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (59 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Birthday: 1993-07-01

Address: Suite 763 6272 Lang Bypass, New Xochitlport, VT 72704-3308

Phone: +22014484519944

Job: Banking Officer

Hobby: Sailing, Gaming, Basketball, Calligraphy, Mycology, Astronomy, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Rev. Leonie Wyman, I am a colorful, tasty, splendid, fair, witty, gorgeous, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.