↑
  • Home page
  • Amazon Deals
  • Stores
    • Albertsons
    • Amazon
    • Costco
    • Fred Meyer
    • Nordstrom
    • Target
    • Safeway
  • Rise & Shine
  • Recipes
    • Recipes based on ingredients
  • Print coupons here!
  • Blog
  • About
    • Contact
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policy
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Queen Bee Today

Only the best - today and every day.

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Shop Online
  • Stores
    • Amazon
      • BEST Toy Deals on Amazon
    • Costco
      • Costco Price List (March 2020)
    • Fred Meyer
    • Nordstrom
    • Target
  • Rise & Shine
  • Recipes
    • Recipes based on ingredients
  • Coupons
    • Print coupons
  • Blog
  • Chickens + Garden
  • Meal Planning
    • Grocery deals
  • Pacific Northwest
  • Travel
February 27, 2022, 9:22 am

Slow Cooker Quinoa Chicken Chili Recipe

The links in the post below may be affiliate links. Other links on this site may contain affiliate links to products, I may earn a small commission for posting and advertising their products. Read the full disclosure

This Slow Cooker Quinoa Chicken Chili is easy, filling and delicious. It's a great gluten-free recipe and you can leave out the chicken if you want it to be vegetarian!Pin it here

I’m not sure whether I’d call this Quinoa Chicken Chili or Quinoa Taco Soup – either way, I’d call it  scrumptious. I’ve never made quinoa in a savory way – so I was excited to give it a try and it didn’t disappoint. Quinoa is very high in protein, so it goes great in this chicken chili to help give it some heft and substance.

I love that it was cooked in the Crock Pot – which means it only took me about 15 minutes to toss together this morning and the slow cooker did all the work.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup of quinoa, rinsed

One (1) 28 oz can of diced tomatoes (you could use crushed)

One (1) 14 oz can diced tomatoes with green chilies (Rotel)

Two (2) 16 oz cans of black beans, rinsed, drained

One (1) 15 oz can of corn, drained

3 Cups chicken stock

2 large chicken breasts, frozen or thawed (cook longer if frozen)

1 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp cumin

1 tsp crushed red pepper

2 tsp chili powder

This has a nice little kick to it, but I didn’t think it was too spicy. If you’re nervous about spice, reduce the red pepper and the chili powder by half.

Quinoa-in-crockpot-slow-cooker

HOW TO PREPARE

1.) Toss everything into slow cooker and cook for 6-8 hours on low or 4-7 hours on high. I added frozen chicken breasts to mine and cooked on high for about six hours. As long as the chicken is cooked – it’s done!

2.) Remove chicken and shred it with two forks. Return to slow cooker.

3.) Top with cheese, sour cream, avocados – whatever sounds good to you! I’m thinking the next day it would probably thicken up enough to eat in a whole wheat tortilla.

Crockpot-Quinoa-Chili

Have you made a quinoa dish in the slow cooker? I’d love to hear about it!

Did you know you can also cook quinoa in the rice cooker?  Here are some other Quinoa recipes:

  • Quinoa Lemon Salad
  • Quinoa with Goat Cheese, Strawberries
  • Quinoa Salad with Balsamic Vinegar, Arugula, Pistachios
  • Quinoa Avocado Spinach Salad

This recipe was inspired by this recipe from Sweet Treats More.

603
Shares

Shared On
February 27, 2022
Related topics:
Chicken Quinoa Recipes Slow Cooker
Written by
Heather

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kari says

    September 3, 2021 at 10:39 am

    This recipe is a keeper! I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been asked to share the recipe! The only change I’ve made, is that I use the whole 32 ounce box of broth. And I have substituted garbanzo beans when I have not had corn on hand. Also, I often have shredded frozen chicken breast on hand which makes this recipe even simpler than it already is.
    Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Leah Garven says

      August 18, 2022 at 10:11 pm

      This has been a family favourite for a long time. I am not sure how to leave a tip, except by replying to the last comment. Instead of 2 cans of black beans I use one can plus the same amount of dark red kidney beans. Tonight I have added more spices and flavours as I think it can use some jazzing up to suit your own taste. From other slow cooker recipes that include quinoa, I have found that it’s best to add the quinoa 30minutes -60 minutes before you want to eat it. 30 minutes is probably fine. Then it doesn’t go mushy. I think next time I freeze it, I would do the same. We love this!

      Reply
  2. Bonnie says

    February 6, 2019 at 4:30 am

    If anyone has adapted this to an instant pot, I would love to have the directions. Thanks.

    Reply
  3. Denise says

    January 13, 2019 at 7:26 am

    I have made this recipe in the slow cooker and love it! I was wondering if it can be made in the instant pot?

    Reply
    • Heather says

      February 4, 2019 at 11:02 am

      I haven’t tried it in the instant pot. I bet it would be awesome, though! Let me know if you try it.

      Reply
      • Angela says

        July 22, 2020 at 8:43 am

        I’ve only made it in the IP. 10 minute on high-pressure and natural pressure release. Works with frozen breasts too.

        Reply
      • Karen says

        March 31, 2025 at 9:17 pm

        Can this chili be frozen for a later date

        Reply
        • Heather says

          May 5, 2025 at 6:06 am

          Yes, it can.

          Reply
  4. shannon says

    December 6, 2017 at 8:07 am

    My kids LOVE this recipe. As soon as we get the first snap of cold, they start asking for it. I usually make it with 1/2 the spice (kid-friendlly) and my husband and I just add japelenos to our bowls to give it the extra kick. Definitely tastes best topped with cheese, sour cream and avocado slices, but if you are dairy intolerant like me… just add extra avocado and jalepenos! I’m about to make a batch right now and can’t wait for dinner!

    Reply
  5. Genoa says

    September 29, 2017 at 8:01 am

    My family loves this chili, including my four year old. The recipe is perfect for my standard sized crockpot, and makes enough to feed a crowd, or the extra can be frozen for future meals. I did double the spices, as I often find chili recipes lack in flavor, and it was a hit!

    Reply
  6. RH says

    August 24, 2017 at 7:26 am

    This is a great family favourite here. All my kids like it, even the 2 yr olds. We add a can of green chillis as well. 👍 Makes so much, enough to share or freeze another meals worth.

    Reply
  7. Shelley says

    April 10, 2016 at 11:34 am

    Hi, I just made this recipe using what I had on hand, including about 2 lbs of ground turkey, fried up with green pepper, and onion(instead of the chicken), a large can of tomato sauce (instead of the tomato with chilis), and beef broth (instead of chicken broth). Everything else was the same. It turned out awesome!!! Probably some of the best chili I have ever made! Thank you so much for the recipe 🙂

    Reply
    • Heather Clarke says

      September 14, 2016 at 6:53 am

      That’s wonderful! So glad you like the recipe so much. Thanks for letting me know!

      Reply
  8. Andrea says

    March 28, 2016 at 11:12 am

    Anyone know how many this recipe serves and about what the serving size is? Thanks!

    Reply
  9. DeeDee says

    March 19, 2016 at 3:46 pm

    This recipe lacks taste and does not fit in a standard crock pot. It needs an extra large 7 qt crock pot. This should have been stated in the recipe. Don’t waste your time with this one. It makes a huge amount and was a waste of money, unfortunately.

    Reply
    • Dawn says

      January 8, 2019 at 4:11 pm

      You are missing out. This is some of the best chili I’ve ever made. If you don’t have a big enough crock pot halve the recipe!

      Reply
    • Dawn says

      January 8, 2019 at 4:13 pm

      This was some of the best chili I’ve ever had! Not a waste of money at all because it is super inexpensive to make and sooo easy!!! If it’s more than you want then 1/2 the recipe! Geez!

      Reply
      • Heather says

        February 4, 2019 at 11:03 am

        Dawn – I’m so glad you love it!! I’m making it this week again! Great for these cold winter weeks.

        Reply
  10. mary says

    January 22, 2016 at 11:42 am

    does anyone know how many calories would be in this? thanks

    Reply
  11. Bethany says

    January 9, 2016 at 12:12 am

    Trying this tomorrow! So excited! We love chili, looking forward to something a little healthier!

    Reply
  12. Lisa says

    January 4, 2016 at 7:11 pm

    What is another substitution for the corn?

    Reply
    • Heather Clarke says

      January 5, 2016 at 9:47 am

      I would just leave it out if you don’t like corn.

      Reply
  13. Shelby Thompson says

    November 7, 2015 at 11:35 am

    This is my fall football go-to when we have people over! I tried it last year when we the hubby gave little notice that “we” were having people over and I needed to spend my time cleaning instead of cooking. It was a hit! My husband is in medical school so a lot of the people that we hang out with are more health conscious (me, I’ll take a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts please 🙂 ), and they all loved that it was so simple and filling!

    Reply
    • Heather Clarke says

      September 14, 2016 at 6:54 am

      That’s awesome Shelby! Thanks for letting me know you liked the recipe so much.

      Reply
  14. Kathy says

    October 20, 2015 at 11:29 am

    How many servings -what is serving size thanks

    Reply
  15. Jennifer Lamontagne says

    August 16, 2015 at 1:24 pm

    Has anyone tried freezing this recipe?

    Reply
  16. Jennifer Dunn says

    July 25, 2015 at 4:24 pm

    Made this recipe today as I had all of the ingredients easily at hand. I was able to put it together quickly and cooked it on high for about 4 hours (my newer crock pot sure does get HOT!). I also added a teaspoon of chipotle powder, which added a little smokiness. This was DELICIOUS! My new favorite chili recipe; thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply
    • Heather Clarke says

      September 14, 2016 at 6:54 am

      Hi Jennifer! Yay! So glad you liked this recipe so much. 🙂

      Reply
  17. Lacey says

    June 17, 2015 at 2:10 pm

    I am trying this right now except I lean ground beef, kidney beans instead of black, and beef stock instead of chicken stock. (mostly because it was what I had on hand)

    Reply
  18. LeAnna says

    April 7, 2015 at 10:01 am

    Great recipe! I am also new to using Quinoa and I was nervous this wouldn’t have much flavor but it was delicious! I think it is even better on the 2nd day than the first. The only thing I would tweak personally is the amount of tomatoes used (maybe only 1 can and a little more broth) only because I get such bad heart burn. This might be my new favorite crock-pot meal though, so easy to make, I literally set it before I went to bed and woke up to lunch for the week :). Great job and thank you for sharing this yummy recipe.

    Reply
  19. rebecca says

    April 6, 2015 at 9:15 am

    can you make this not using canned items? Looks good! Thanks!

    Reply
  20. kerry says

    March 13, 2015 at 7:21 pm

    Any idea how many adults this would feed?

    Reply
  21. Katie says

    February 26, 2015 at 5:03 am

    Just tried this last night… it was great! Even my husband liked it (and eating healthy is definitely not one of his highest priorities). Thank you!

    Reply
    • Heather Clarke says

      March 20, 2015 at 8:49 am

      Hi Katie – so glad you AND your husband liked it. Win-Win! Have a great day!

      Reply
  22. sophie says

    February 25, 2015 at 9:56 am

    I made this last night. It was AMAZING. Made a couple of changes, used only 1 can of tomatoes, 1/2 the chili powder, and added 1 tsp of smoky paprika. I also threw in some pickled jalapenos. I also used thighs instead of breasts. Thank you for this amazing recipe. I will be eating this a lot! So healthy too.

    Reply
    • Heather Clarke says

      March 20, 2015 at 8:49 am

      Thanks, Sophie! So glad you enjoyed this recipe. Great changes – I bet those would really add a lot of flavor!!

      Reply
  23. Amy says

    February 2, 2015 at 4:57 pm

    Has anyone figured out what the calorie count for this is (per serving) already? I can sit down & do it but I thought if someone already knew then that would be easier!

    Reply
    • Susan Hogan says

      February 25, 2017 at 8:38 am

      Would like to know the calorie count on this Quinoa Chicken recipe

      Reply
  24. Rebekah says

    February 1, 2015 at 10:59 am

    Do I need to cook the quinoa before I put it in the crockpot?

    Reply
  25. anna says

    January 28, 2015 at 6:36 am

    I’m new to quinoa. Do you cook it first then add to crock pot? Or does it cook in the crock pot?

    Reply
    • Heather Clarke says

      February 1, 2015 at 3:46 pm

      No cooking ahead of time – toss it in uncooked!

      Reply
  26. Tabitha says

    January 26, 2015 at 6:49 am

    I’m trying this out today for my Bible study group! I work 10 hours though, so do you think it’ll be okay to leave it on the warm setting for 2 hours after the 8 hours on low? Should I come home after the 8 hours to shred the chicken and check on it? (I’m a total crock pot newb.) 🙂

    Reply
    • Heather Clarke says

      January 26, 2015 at 7:15 am

      I think you should be fine Tabitha! Hope you like it!

      Reply
  27. Julie says

    January 18, 2015 at 9:52 am

    Wow! This is amazing always looking for quinoa recipes, this is a keeper!

    Reply
    • Heather Clarke says

      March 20, 2015 at 8:49 am

      Thanks, Julie!! Hope you enjoy it. I love quinoa, too!

      Reply
  28. Leslie says

    January 11, 2015 at 2:02 pm

    Can I freeze the leftovers?

    Reply
    • Jane says

      January 19, 2015 at 10:35 am

      I have and it reheats wonderfully!

      Reply
    • Heather Clarke says

      March 20, 2015 at 8:50 am

      Hi Leslie – Yes, freezing shouldn’t be an issue. You might have to add a little more liquid when you go to reheat. But try it out and see how you like it.

      Reply
  29. Laura says

    January 10, 2015 at 7:19 pm

    Can I make this in a 4qt crock-pot? Will it all fit?

    Reply
    • Heather Clarke says

      March 20, 2015 at 8:50 am

      Hi Laura – I don’t think it would be fit. If it did, it’s be awfully close. Hope this helps!

      Reply
  30. Julie says

    November 10, 2014 at 10:42 am

    This was a great meal, and I like that the grain is already in the chili. We usually put it over brown rice but this worked great! My husband asked what all the squiggly things were (the quinoa) and while I could taste it a little he said it was fine (he doesn’t like quinoa on its own.) Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  31. Jana Hyde says

    November 3, 2014 at 8:59 pm

    This was terrific and a very hearty winter meal. I put it together in just a few minutes before I left for work. My husband came home and shredded the chicken, which was tender and not at all dried out after cooking all day. We will add more spice next time, but that’s the only thing we’ll change. Perfect for an easy gluten-free dinner with lots of leftovers to take to work. Thanks for sharing it!

    Reply
    • Natasha says

      October 12, 2015 at 6:04 pm

      I agree that I will add more spice next time. I actually used a tablespoon of chili powder and a lot of minced garlic, but it just didn’t have enough flavor for me. So I added salt, pepper, and garlic powder at the end and it’s better. But it still tastes much more like Brunswick Stew to me than it does chili. Not a bad thing…just not what I was expecting.

      Reply
  32. Melissa says

    October 22, 2014 at 2:10 pm

    Made this today and it came out awesome! Simple and good!

    Reply
  33. Monica says

    October 13, 2014 at 10:41 am

    Can I use chicken broth instead?! Does stock have to be made or can I purchase it at a local grocery store?!

    Reply
  34. Monica says

    October 3, 2014 at 11:45 am

    I’m a newbie when it comes to Quinoa but have been DYING to try it! However I feel like there are SO many different types?! What kind did you use for this recipe?!

    Reply
    • Heather Clarke says

      October 3, 2014 at 11:59 am

      I have used both regular quinoa and red quinoa. I think I prefer the red! I just used it last time I made this. 🙂

      Reply
  35. Darcy says

    September 4, 2014 at 10:48 pm

    Do you think I could leave out the corn, or is that an ingredient I wouldn’t want to skip?

    Reply
    • Katie says

      September 10, 2014 at 8:55 am

      I never put the corn in. My kids don’t like it! Tastes just fine with out it!

      Reply
  36. Andrea says

    August 30, 2014 at 7:00 am

    I made this on our vacation at a cottage my family rented…there were 5 of us and there was plenty to go around. I got a lot of compliments and I’m making it again this weekend. I skipped the crushed red pepper cus I don’t like spicey stuff but it still had plenty of flavor. We topped it with shredded cheddar cheese and it was just amazing. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  37. Joanna says

    August 7, 2014 at 3:20 am

    I’ve made this recipe a few times in the past and it is delicious but produces WAY too much for just me and my husband. It also doesn’t help that my husband doesn’t seem to ever eat leftovers. Has anyone cooked this in the crock pot and then cooled and froze portions? Wondering how it would stand up in the freezer after being cooked. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Candace McMasters says

      August 10, 2014 at 8:17 am

      Yes I have made this a few times and I froze half of the chili and it was just fine and tasted the same! Hope this helps!

      Reply
    • jenn says

      August 16, 2014 at 3:54 pm

      I froze it in small Ziploc bags and would just microwave it from frozen when I needed a quick lunch or dinner. It still taste just as good

      Reply
  38. Alexandra says

    August 5, 2014 at 6:41 pm

    It is my second time trying quinoa. I have never cooked it before and man one cup makes like a ton of little quinoa in the crockpot. I feel like I should have cut it in half because it literally takes over the whole crockpot. I haven’t tried this yet, but I am excited to eat some later!

    Reply
  39. Mary O says

    June 22, 2014 at 12:07 pm

    Just put the lid on the crock pot. I used 2 1/2 c veggie broth and skipped the chicken. Also one 28 oz can Rotel and a smaller can of fire roasted tomatoes because that’s what I had on hand. This has plenty of protein without the meat. It’s a perfect vegan dish. Or it will be until I put a dab of greek yogurt top.
    .

    Reply
  40. Joan says

    April 16, 2014 at 10:54 am

    Made this two days ago but instead of apices, I substituted a can of chipootle peppers in adobo sauce, thinned out with more stock and water and added more beans. Love it! So easy I could actually do before work.

    Reply
    • Joan says

      April 16, 2014 at 10:57 am

      Any idea of the calorie count?

      Reply
      • Kerri says

        August 17, 2014 at 12:07 pm

        I put mine in my fitness pal, and said it would be 6 servings (my boyfriend eats a lot), each serving 399 cals. I think it is probably more like 10 servings, at 239 cals per servings. My whole crock is 2400 cals. So I guess however you divide it up 🙂

        Reply
        • Jean says

          January 8, 2015 at 1:14 pm

          thanks for putting it into My Fitness Pal – saved me a lot of work!

          Reply
  41. Natashia says

    April 10, 2014 at 6:37 am

    Will be making this tomorrow no doubt. I love quinoa!!

    Reply
  42. Cheese with Noodles says

    April 8, 2014 at 5:57 pm

    I made this today, with a few tweaks. It was so good! It ended up cooking really quickly so I had a bowl for lunch, and am really looking forward to having it again for dinner if that tells you anything. Would you mind if I share this recipe on my blog? I will of course credit it to you and link back to your post. I only put recipes on my blog that we love and this one definitely qualifies.

    Reply
  43. Esther says

    March 20, 2014 at 1:42 pm

    In the crock pot, will be done in time for dinner 🙂 Thanks for sharing the recipe .

    Reply
  44. Rochelle says

    February 28, 2014 at 10:37 am

    I just put everything in the crockpot! I can’t wait for it to be finished! I did tweek the recipe a little, but I hope I didn’t over do it! I added onions, I did 1 can black beans, 1 can kidney beans, more like 3 tbsp of crushed red pepper, less vegetable stock, and 2 10oz can of rotel, 1 14.5oz can of diced tomato. I didn’t want the chili to be too watery and I love spice! So I will write back when it’s finished in 6 hours! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe! What a great way to incorporate protein in your diet! I just started using a crockpot and it’s the best invention in the world!

    Reply
  45. Steffani says

    February 27, 2014 at 10:26 pm

    I made this a few nights ago for my family of five. Huge hit. There were no leftovers at all. Normally the same amount of any soup in the crockpot would have enough leftovers for lunch. I added more of the seasons to taste like any cook does. The first time that I have made quinoa where the family didn’t turn their noses up. Thank you!

    Reply
  46. Kayla says

    February 26, 2014 at 6:37 am

    This recipe looks amazing and I want to try it today, but I was wondering how I could make it this using leftover cooked quinoa that I already have in the fridge.. Would I just add it toward the end when the chili is mostly cooked, and would I have to change the amount of liquid ingredients I use in the recipe (such as chicken broth) since I won’t be added uncooked quinoa for it to be absorbed in?

    Reply
    • Heather Clarke says

      February 26, 2014 at 6:43 am

      Hmmm, that’s a good question Kayla? I don’t know the answer. I’d hate to recommend one thing and have it ruined. You could try adding it toward the end, but it may not have the flavor because it will have already absorbed the water it needs? Does that make sense?

      Reply
    • Joan says

      April 16, 2014 at 11:00 am

      I don’t see a problem with adding cooked. It gets quite thick and I ended up thinning out with about 5 cups of liquid. I would use the same amount of stock as recipe calls for and add the cooked.

      Reply
  47. Gina Krey says

    February 21, 2014 at 7:46 am

    How many does it cook for?? I’m looking to make it for my 6 room mates

    Reply
  48. Jennifer says

    February 11, 2014 at 6:09 am

    Did you cook the Quinoa first?

    Reply
  49. Jlk says

    February 1, 2014 at 11:25 am

    Just made this for the first time. Couldn’t have been easier. This will be a staple now for us. Mmmmmmm

    Reply
  50. Karen says

    January 26, 2014 at 7:13 am

    LOVE LOVE LOVE! I make this all the time. My husband loves it, too. I add more like 3 or 4 chicken breasts to it but otherwise stay true to the recipe and it’s a big hit. Always have leftovers and it freezes well, too. I’m on weight watchers and calculated it out to 7 points a (big) serving. THANK YOU!

    Reply
« Older Comments
Newer Comments »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Don't miss a deal - sign up for emails!

* indicates required

No spam, ever. Promise.

Trending Favorites

Slow Cooker Quinoa Chicken Chili Recipe

Exploring the Pacific NW – Skamania Lodge (Stevenson, Washington)

Exploring the Pacific NW – Taking the Amtrak between Tacoma and Portland

Whale Watching in the San Juan Islands

What they’re saying

Queen Bee has been my go to for many years. Not only how to save on the family grocery budget. But, how to shop. From grocerys to clothes to household. She has saved us hundreds, if not thousands of dollars cumulatively over the years. Thank You! Debby F.

Queen Bee has been one of my favorite pages to follow! A friend kept sharing her deals so I had to start following and I’m so glad I did. I have been able to purchase so many items at great prices because of her posts. She is great about commenting back to questions or even just saying thanks to people who let her know they picked up an item she posted! Christine R.

Queen Bee is an amazing site with great deals no doubt, but my favorite parts are the snippets of silliness, morning coffee, amazing second hand finds. Queen Bee has saved me lots of money, but it's also brightened many a days! Tilla H.

Queen bee has helped me to make Christmas awesome for my kids every year. We follow the blog and are able to stay in budget and get twice as many items for the family. They are the best!! Jessica T.

Can always count on QueenBee for great deals from many different stores ! She's always keeping us well informed, saved a lot throughout the years, been following for a good 7 years ! Cathy L.

Best Subscribe and Save Deals

Footer

About Queen Bee Today

I'm Heather and I started Queen Bee Today because I feel passionately about helping people make the most of every day.

Around here, I'll help you make the most of your resources and your time - so you can live your best life, today and every day.

Popular Topics

  • Online Deals
  • Chickens + Garden
  • Travel
  • Recipes
Copyright ©2025, Queen Bee Today. All Rights Reserved. Design by Pixel Me Designs
AboutContactDisclosure