Moroccan Chicken Chili with Chickpeas and a Cilantro Lime Yogurt is loaded with comforting, healthy, and even healing ingredients and spices. You get the warmth from the Ginger, Turmeric, Garlic, and Coriander. Tons of flavor comes from really browned ground chicken and Shallots. And you get creamy heartiness from the Carrots and Chickpeas. Finally, you get the cool and tangy balance from the Cilantro Lime Yogurt. This Moroccan Chicken Chili has so many warm spices and flavors, it will become a favorite. I like to serve this over white rice, but you can definitely eat it by itself.
Make Ahead Freezer Dinners!
The best part? You can make it ahead and freeze it until you are ready to cook it and then either put it in the slow cooker (set & forget!) or on the stove.
Check out my other Make-Ahead freezer dinners! This Hoisin Chicken with Ginger & Red Peppers is simple and has so much sweet and savory flavor. Then how about a delicious Chipotle Chicken Enchilada Stew?
Moroccan Flavors!
If you like this warm and aromatic blend of spices and flavors, including ginger, turmeric, coriander, and garlic, then you really must try my Moroccan Meatball Stuffed Pitas! Or try this delicious Golden Lentil Soup with healing turmeric.
Moroccan spices are similar to other cuisines such as Indian but it’s the special combination of them, including ginger, that sets them apart. Now, calling this a Chili may be a stretch, but it has all of the main chili components…ground meat, beans, and sauce, so I say this is a beautiful variation of a Chili.
Turmeric, the Healing Spice
Turmeric not only plays an important role in giving this Moroccan Chicken Chili the amazing golden color and unique flavor. It’s also a natural anti-inflammatory and is an antioxidant, thanks to a compound it contains called, curcumin. That means it tastes great, looks, amazing, and also has inflammation healing benefits! For more information on the benefits of Turmeric, check out this article from HealthLine.com: 10 Proven Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin.
Quick note! This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase from them. This commission is what helps me keep this blog afloat :). But, I also share these links because I have used the products, genuinely love them, and want you to know exactly what I used.
PREP-AHEAD TO MAKE YOUR MOROCCAN CHICKEN CHILI FREEZER DINNER
To get the best flavor from your ground chicken, you really want to brown it before it goes into the slow cooker, so that means before you freeze it. Simply cook it in a hot oiled skillet and after breaking it up, you let it sit so that the bottom is REALLY browned, then flip it over and break it up again so that it browns on all sides. Then remove from heat and let cool. Once cooled enough, add it to the freezer bag.
ECO-Option: For a more Eco-Friendly and Leak-Proof alternative to freezer bags, I love Pyrex Glass Containers for storage, whether it’s in the fridge or freezer, and even for cooking in the oven or warming in the microwave. For this recipe, I recommend: Pyrex Basics 2 Quart Glass Oblong Baking Dish with Red Plastic Lid – 7 inch x 11 Inch by Pyrex
For the chickpeas, you will want to use two 15oz cans. I love blending ½ of one can in a mini food processor to give texture and to help thicken the sauce in this chili. Pulse with a tablespoon of water (or more if needed) and blend until smooth. Put both the blended chickpeas and the whole chickpeas in this bag with the chicken.
Dice the onions or shallots and put them in the bag. Dice the carrots and put them in the bag as well.
For the ginger, I find the easiest way to peel it is to scrape the skin off with a spoon. I tend to do this in large batches, mince the ginger in a mini food processor, and then freeze it until I need it.
Mince the garlic and add it to the bag. Add the Turmeric, Coriander, and Salt. Finally, add the chicken broth. Label the bag with the recipe name and date, flatten the bag, then put flat in the freezer for up to 3 months.
COOK YOUR MOROCCAN CHICKEN CHILI WITH CHICKPEAS
Make Cilantro Lime Yogurt (can be done 1-2 days in advance) using the zest of a lime, the juice of a quarter wedge, cilantro, and a little salt.
Thaw your frozen Moroccan Chicken Chili bag in the fridge overnight if you are cooking it in the slow cooker during the day. If you plan to cook on the stove, then you can thaw during the day for cooking that evening. Do not thaw out of the fridge at room temperature, as that invites bacteria.
Put all ingredients in the bag in the slow cooker and set for 4 hours high or 8 hours low.If you don’t have a Slow Cooker, click here to see the Crock-Pot that I have and love!
NOTE: If you would rather cook this on the stove, I would let it simmer for an hour in a soup pot.
25-30 minutes before serving, make rice according to package directions. NOTE: you can make the rice ahead and freeze it too! Just be sure you freeze it in its own separate bag.
Serve over rice, add a dollop of Cilantro Lime Yogurt and enjoy!!
😍 Carrie
Freezer Moroccan Chicken Chili with Chickpeas
Ingredients
Moroccan Chicken Chili
- 1 lb Ground Chicken white meat chicken
- 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Coconut Oil
- 1 cup Onions, diced or shallots
- 1 cup Carrots, diced
- 30 oz Chickpeas 2 cans
- 1 tablespoon Water
- 3 teaspoon Ginger, minced
- 2 teaspoon Turmeric
- 2 teaspoon Ground Coriander
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 4 cups chicken broth
Other
- 1 cup White Basmati Rice, Uncooked
- 5 oz Plain Greek Yogurt low or regular fat is fine
- 1 Lime
- 1 tablespoon Cilantro, Chopped
- ¼ teaspoon Salt or to taste
Instructions
Prepare the Freezer Dinner
- To a preheated skillet, add 1 tbls of olive oil and then add the chicken. Using a spatula or fork, break apart the meat and spread it around the pan then leave it alone to brown. When the bottom is REALLY browned, then flip it over and break it up again so that it browns on all sides. Then remove from heat and let cool.
- Once Cooled, add the chicken to the freezer bag.
- Drain the chickpeas, blend ¼ of the chickpeas in a mini processor with a tbls of water to help them blend.
- Add the blended and the whole chickpeas to the freezer bag with the chicken.
- Dice the onions (or shallots) and add to the bag. Peel and dice the carrots and also add to the bag.
- Peel and mince ginger. I find it easiest to peel the ginger by scraping it off with a spoon. If you try to cut it off, you will end up cutting off some of the wonderful ginger too. Mince with a knife or make a bunch to freeze some for later and mince it in a mini food processor. Of course, you can mince with a knife for just the amount needed in this recipe. Add the ginger to the bag.
- Peel and Mince the garlic. Add to the bag.
- Add the turmeric, coriander, and salt to the bag.
- Add the chicken broth to the bag.
- Label the bag with the recipe name and the date and store in the freezer flat for up to 3 months.
Make Cilantro Lime Yogurt (can be done 1-2 days in advance)
- Add the yogurt to a small mixing bowl.
- Zest the entire lime, then quarter. Add the zest and the juice from ¼ of the lime to the yogurt.
- Chop the cilantro and mix it into the yogurt. Add salt to taste and give it a final mix. You can make this 1-2 days in advance.
Cook your Moroccan Chicken Chili Freezer Dinner
- Thaw your frozen Moroccan Chicken Chili bag in the fridge overnight if you are cooking it in the slow cooker during the day. If you plan to cook on the stove, then you can thaw during the day for cooking that evening. Do not thaw out of the fridge at room temperature, as that invites bacteria.
- Put all ingredients in the bag in the slow cooker and set for 4 hours high or 8 hours low. NOTE: If you would rather cook this on the stove, I would let it simmer for an hour in a soup pot.
- 25-30 minutes before serving, make rice according to package directions. NOTE: you can make the rice ahead and freeze it too! Just be sure you freeze it in its own separate bag.
- When the Chili is done, give it a stir, taste for salt, and add as necessary.
- Serve over rice, add a dollop of Cilantro Lime Yogurt and enjoy!
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