Prepare to tantalize your taste buds with this incredibly rich and smoky Chipotle Chili. This recipe is a celebration of deep, complex flavors, combining spicy chicken sausage, tender, hearty beans, the signature kick of chipotle peppers, and sweet roasted tomatoes, all simmered in a savory, comforting broth. It’s more than just a meal; it’s a warming embrace on a chilly evening, guaranteed to become a household favorite.

If you’re searching for a perfectly balanced chili that masterfully weaves together notes of smokiness, subtle sweetness, and an explosion of delicious flavor, then your quest ends here. Crafted with a chef-tested blend of aromatic spices and a secret hint of maple syrup, this chipotle chicken chili redefines comfort food, elevating a classic dish to gourmet levels. Its robust character and warming heat make it an ideal choice for cozy family dinners, game day gatherings, or simply a comforting meal any day of the week.

Enhance your chili experience by serving this chipotle delight with complementary sides. A slice of moist, sweet cornbread, a zesty Mexican cornbread, or an easy, gluten-free spoon bread would be perfect pairings. Chili holds a permanent spot in my weekly meal rotation, and this chipotle chicken chili is a star alongside other favorites like a hearty red chili with ground beef or a wholesome vegan butternut squash chili. Each offers a unique flavor profile, but all deliver on comfort and taste.

Table of Contents

• Why This Smoky Chipotle Chili Will Be Your New Favorite
• Essential Ingredients for Smoky Chipotle Chili
• Chipotle Chili Variations: Make It Your Own
• Professional Tips for Mastering Smoky Chipotle Chili
• Step-by-Step: How to Make Chipotle Chili
• Chef Lindsey’s Expert Recipe Tip
• Chipotle Chili Recipe FAQs
• More Recommended Chili Recipes
• Printable Chipotle Chili Recipe Card
• Before You Go: Explore More Delicious Recipes

Essential Ingredients for Smoky Chipotle Chili

• Onions: For this recipe, I highly recommend using yellow onions. Their milder, slightly sweeter flavor is perfect for building a robust base without overpowering the other ingredients. Sweet onions are also an excellent alternative if you prefer. Avoid sharper white or red onions for this particular dish.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is non-negotiable for the best flavor in this chili. Its pungent aroma and savory notes are crucial. While jarred, chopped garlic stored in water can be a convenient substitute, garlic powder simply won’t achieve the same depth.
• Olive Oil: A good quality olive oil is essential for sautéing our aromatics and building the foundational flavors of the chili.
• Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce: This is where the signature smoky heat comes from! Be sure to purchase chipotle peppers packed in rich adobo sauce. The sauce itself is packed with smoky, tangy, and spicy notes that infuse the entire dish with incredible depth. Minced finely, these peppers distribute their flavor perfectly.
• Sausage: I prefer spicy chicken sausage for this chili. It introduces a delightful kick of heat and a savory, robust flavor that makes the chili incredibly satisfying and filling. If spicy isn’t your preference, a mild chicken or turkey sausage can also work.
• Chicken: Ground chicken is used for its lean protein content and ability to blend seamlessly into the chili. For the best texture, opt for a variety that isn’t excessively lean, as very lean ground chicken can sometimes become dry during the long simmering process. It’s also a star ingredient in my Healthy Chipotle Chorizo Chicken Tacos.
• Beans: This recipe calls for a duo of beans: black beans and red kidney beans. Black beans offer a creamy texture, especially when some are mashed, while kidney beans provide a classic chili heartiness. For a slight variation, you can swap one can of black beans for pinto beans.
• Tomatoes: Roasted diced tomatoes, with their juice, are key. The roasting process intensifies their natural sweetness and adds another layer of smoky flavor that complements the chipotles beautifully.
• Corn: Whether you use fresh or frozen corn, it adds a lovely sweetness and textural contrast to the chili. No need to thaw frozen corn beforehand.
• Chicken Broth: To maintain control over the seasoning, I always recommend using low-sodium chicken broth. This allows you to adjust the salt levels precisely as the chili simmers and flavors meld. It’s also my go-to for recipes like my Chipotle Chorizo Tacos.
• Paprika: Paprika is vital for both its rich, reddish hue and its smoky undertones. Depending on your preference, you can use sweet, smoked, or spicy paprika to fine-tune the flavor profile. Smoked paprika will enhance the chipotle’s smokiness even further.
• Chili Powder: To achieve a truly complex and well-rounded flavor, this recipe utilizes both regular chili powder and ancho chili powder. Ancho chili powder offers a fruitier, earthier, and milder heat, while regular chili powder provides a more straightforward, savory chili flavor. If ancho isn’t available, simply use a bit more regular chili powder. This combination is also fantastic in a batch of Sweet and Spicy Wings!
• Cinnamon: Just a hint of warm Saigon cinnamon (Saigon cinnamon is particularly aromatic) adds an incredible depth and warmth to the chili, enhancing its savory notes without making it taste sweet.
• Maple Syrup: My secret weapon! Maple syrup provides just the right amount of natural sweetness to balance the heat of the chipotles and the savory richness of the meats and spices. It adds a subtle depth of flavor that ties all the elements together harmoniously, much like in my Baked BBQ Chicken Breast recipe.
• Kosher Salt: Essential for seasoning throughout the cooking process. Use kosher salt and remember to taste and adjust frequently to achieve perfect balance.

For precise quantities and a complete ingredient list, please refer to the recipe card below.

Chipotle Chili Variations: Make It Your Own

• Slow Cooker Chipotle Chili: Transform this recipe into an effortless slow cooker meal. Begin by completing the first three steps of the recipe: sautéing the onions and garlic, adding chipotles, and browning the chicken and sausage. Once these initial steps are done, transfer all the ingredients into your slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4 hours, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully throughout the day.
• Instant Pot Chipotle Chili: For a quicker version without sacrificing flavor, use your Instant Pot. Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode to sweat the onions and garlic, then add the minced chipotles and brown the chicken and sausage. After browning, incorporate all the remaining ingredients. Seal the lid and cook on high pressure for approximately 20 minutes, then allow a natural pressure release for richer flavor.
• Different Meat Options: While chicken and chicken sausage provide a lighter yet flavorful base, feel free to experiment with other proteins. Instead of chicken, you can use browned ground beef for a more traditional chili, or ground turkey for another lean alternative, similar to the best turkey chili recipe. Ground turkey also shines in my Juicy Turkey Burger Recipe! Adjust simmering time slightly if using different meats.
• Vegetarian Chipotle Chili: This recipe is easily adaptable for a vegetarian diet. Simply omit the ground chicken and sausage. To maintain the chili’s heartiness and protein content, consider adding extra beans (such as pinto or cannellini), lentils, or plant-based ground crumbles. You might also want to boost the smoky flavor with an extra teaspoon of smoked paprika if omitting the meats.
• Add More Vegetables: For an even more nutrient-packed chili, feel free to toss in extra vegetables. Diced bell peppers (red, yellow, or orange), zucchini, or even sweet potatoes can add extra bulk, flavor, and vitamins. Add them during the sautéing stage or along with the other main ingredients to simmer.

Professional Tips for Mastering Smoky Chipotle Chili

• Taste for Seasoning Consistently. This is perhaps the most crucial tip for any home cook looking to elevate their dishes. Taste your chili at various stages of cooking – after adding the aromatics, after browning the meat, and certainly while it simmers. Adding salt and adjusting spices throughout the process allows the flavors to truly penetrate and develop within the food, rather than simply sitting on the surface. You’ll achieve a much more harmonious and deeply flavored result.
• Embrace Patience for Deeper Flavor. Resist the urge to rush the cooking process. Allowing this chili to simmer low and slow is absolutely worth the wait. Extended simmering time enables all the individual ingredients – the smoky chipotles, the savory meats, the sweet tomatoes, and the complex spices – to truly blend, meld, and develop into a rich, cohesive flavor profile that simply cannot be achieved over high heat. The longer it simmers, the more profound the flavors become.
• Mash Some of the Beans for Texture. For an ideal chili texture that is both chunky and creamy, take one can of the black beans and mash about half of them before adding them to the pot. This simple technique releases starch, which naturally thickens the broth, creating a more robust and satisfying mouthfeel for your hearty chili.
• Toast Your Spices (Optional but Recommended). For an extra layer of aromatic complexity, lightly toast your dry spices (paprika, chili powders, cinnamon) in a dry pan for 30-60 seconds before adding them to the pot. This helps to awaken their essential oils and intensifies their flavor, bringing an even deeper dimension to your chili. Be careful not to burn them!
• Don’t Forget the Adobo Sauce. When mincing the chipotle peppers, remember that the adobo sauce they come in is a treasure trove of flavor. Don’t drain it; include a generous spoonful or two of the sauce along with the chopped peppers to maximize that signature smoky, tangy, and spicy kick.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Chipotle Chili

Follow these detailed instructions to create a perfect batch of smoky chipotle chili every time. More specific measurements and a printable version can be found in the comprehensive recipe card below!

Step 1: Build the Aromatic Base. Begin by heating a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven or a large stock pot over medium heat. Add the olive oil and swirl it to coat the bottom evenly. Introduce the chopped onions and cook them gently, stirring occasionally, until they soften and begin to release their sweet juices, turning translucent (this usually takes about 5-7 minutes). Then, add the minced fresh garlic and continue to cook for another minute, stirring frequently to prevent it from burning, ensuring its fragrant aroma develops fully.

Step 2: Infuse with Chipotle Flavor. Once the onions and garlic are fragrant, add the finely minced chipotle peppers, including some of their rich adobo sauce, to the pot. Cook this mixture for a few minutes, stirring continuously. This step allows the smoky, spicy, and tangy flavors of the chipotles to bloom and mingle with the aromatics, laying a deep foundation for the chili.

Step 3: Brown the Meats & Prep the Beans. Add the ground chicken and spicy chicken sausage to the pot with the aromatics. Break up the meat with a spoon and brown it thoroughly, stirring until all the chicken is cooked through and no pink remains. While the meat is browning, take one of the cans of black beans and mash it in a separate bowl. This will contribute to the chili’s thick, hearty texture.

Step 4: Combine & Simmer to Perfection. Once the meat is browned, add all the remaining ingredients to the pot: the mashed and whole black beans, kidney beans (with their juice), roasted diced tomatoes (with juice), corn, low-sodium chicken broth, paprika, both chili powders, cinnamon, and maple syrup. Stir everything together well. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover partially, and let it cook for at least an hour. For the absolute best flavor development, aim to simmer it for 4 hours or even longer in a Dutch oven. Taste the chili every hour and adjust the kosher salt and spices as needed, allowing the flavors to deepen and meld beautifully.

Step 5: Serve & Garnish. Once your chili has reached its desired depth of flavor and thickness, it’s ready to be served. Ladle generous portions into bowls and serve alongside warm cornbread. Garnish generously with a dollop of cool sour cream and a sprinkle of sharp cheddar cheese for a classic and satisfying presentation. Fresh cilantro or sliced green onions also make fantastic toppings.

Chipotle Chili Recipe FAQs

If you tried this delicious Smoky Chipotle Chili recipe and absolutely loved it, please take a moment to leave a 🌟 star rating and share your experience in the comments below! I genuinely love hearing from you, and your feedback truly makes my day!

Before You Go: Explore More Delicious Recipes

I sincerely hope you thoroughly enjoyed preparing and savoring this professional chef-tested Smoky Chicken Sausage Chipotle Chili recipe. It’s a dish designed to bring warmth and robust flavor to your table. Don’t stop here – I invite you to explore our other delicious, chef-developed soup & stew recipes. You’re sure to find more comforting and flavorful meals to add to your culinary repertoire!