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Street corn chicken chili in white bowl topped with cotija cheese, avocado, and fresh cilantro

Street Corn Chicken Chili

Flavor-packed chicken chili made with charred corn, tender chicken, and vibrant street corn toppings for an easy Mexican-inspired dinner.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6 portions
Course: Dinner, Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Calories: 425

Ingredients
  

  • 3 tablespoons avocado oil divided
  • 0.5 large white onion diced
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt divided
  • 1 tablespoon minced jalapeño
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 0.25 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 2 teaspoons hot sauce any kind
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 15 oz canned great northern beans drained and rinsed
  • 5 cups corn kernels divided: 4 cups for charring, 1 cup for topping
  • 1 cup Greek yogurt full-fat preferred
Street Corn Topping
  • 1 cup corn kernels canned or frozen
  • 1 medium jalapeño sliced with seeds removed
  • 0.5 small red onion minced
  • 0.25 teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
  • 0.25 cup crumbled cotija cheese
  • 1 avocado chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Equipment

  • 7 or 8-quart Dutch oven
  • Cast iron skillet
  • Meat thermometer
  • Cutting board
  • Two forks for shredding

Method
 

  1. Heat 1.5 tablespoons avocado oil in a 7 or 8-quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once the oil shimmers and becomes fragrant (about 1-2 minutes), add the diced onion and ¼ teaspoon sea salt. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion turns translucent.
  2. Add the minced garlic and jalapeño to the pot. Sauté for 2 additional minutes until fragrant. Sprinkle the cumin over the mixture and toss everything together.
  3. Pour in the chicken broth and hot sauce, then nestle the chicken breasts into the liquid. Bring to a rolling boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
  4. While the chicken cooks, prepare the charred corn. Heat the remaining 1.5 tablespoons avocado oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add 4 cups of corn kernels and let them sit undisturbed for the first 2-3 minutes to develop char marks. Then stir and continue cooking for another 7-8 minutes (10 minutes total cooking time), stirring every 2-3 minutes. Look for golden-brown spots covering about half the kernels. Remove from heat and set aside.
  5. Make the street corn topping by combining jalapeños, minced red onion, red wine vinegar, and salt in a bowl. Toss well and let sit. Add the cotija cheese, chopped avocado, cilantro, and 1 cup of corn. Gently toss and set aside.
  6. Once the chicken is fully cooked, remove it from the broth and transfer to a cutting board. Turn heat to medium-low and stir the white beans and remaining charred corn into the broth. Let warm for 2-3 minutes while you shred the chicken using two forks.
  7. Return the shredded chicken to the pot and stir to combine. Remove from heat and let cool for 2-3 minutes until it stops actively bubbling. Stir in the Greek yogurt until the chili thickens and becomes creamy.
  8. Ladle the chili into bowls and top generously with the street corn mixture. Serve immediately.

Notes

For a spicier chili, keep the seeds in the jalapeños. If short on time, you can skip browning the corn, though it adds excellent flavor. The chili thickens as it sits - add extra broth when reheating if needed. Store street corn topping separately to maintain freshness. Reheat to 165°F internal temperature for food safety.