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White Chicken Chili

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5 from 22 votes

Flavorful White Chicken Chili is the definition of comfort food.  Loaded with hearty ingredients like tender shredded chicken, creamy cannellini beans, spicy diced green chilies, and a rich and velvety broth; this one pot 30-minute dish is sure to be a hit at your family’s table! 

PIN White Chicken Chili to try later!

Bowl of white chicken chili topped with tortilla chips, sour cream, shredded cheese, and slice jalapeno and avocado. Pin

WHITE CHICKEN CHILI RECIPE

This chili is truly a one pot wonder!  If you’re looking for rich, velvety, stick-to-your bones delicious comfort meal, then you’ve found it!  This White Chicken Chili is one of my all-time favorite recipes and one I make year round, even when the days start to get warmer.  It’s easy-to-make, always delicious, and makes a ton to eat throughout the week or freeze for later.

Plus, you can bring on all your favorite chili toppings! I like mine with a dollop of tangy sour cream, a sprinkle of sharp shredded cheddar, and thin slices of creamy avocado and jalapeno!

And of course, you can’t have chili, traditional or white, without Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Muffins or The Best Cornbread! This is my favorite recipe that I use over and over again. It’s super moist and goes perfectly with this chili.

Bowl of white chicken chili with all the fixings. Pin

INGREDIENTS TO MAKE WHITE CHICKEN CHILI

  • Olive oil: While this recipe calls for olive oil, however; you could substitute another light-tasting oil such as avocado oil.  Try to steer clear of using butter.
  • Yellow onion
  • Garlic
  • Shredded chicken: Feel free to substitute ground chicken or ground turkey in the place of shredded chicken.
  • Chili powder
  • Ground cumin
  • Oregano
  • Onion powder
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • Low-sodium chicken broth
  • Cannellini beans: While this recipe calls for cannellini beans, you could use any other white bean such as navy or great northern.
  • Whole kernel corn: Fresh, frozen, or canned will work.  If using canned, be sure to drain and rinse prior to putting in pot.
  • Green chilies
  • Cream cheese: Milk, cream, or non-fat plain Greek yogurt can be used in place of cream cheese.

HOW TO MAKE WHITE CHICKEN CHILI

STEP ONE: In a large pot (more than 5 quarts), heat oil over medium-high heat.  Add the onion and sauté until tender, about 4 minutes.  Add garlic, and cook for an additional minute or until fragrant.

STEP TWO: Add shredded chicken, cannellini beans, green chilies, corn, chili powder, cumin, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper, and broth to the pot and simmer for 15-20 minutes, uncovered.

Picture steps 1-4 of how to make white chicken chili. Pin

STEP THREE: Stir in cream cheese, and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes.

Pictures of steps 5-8 on how to make white chicken chili. Pin

STEP FOUR: Serve warm with your favorite garnishes like shredded cheese, lime juice, chopped cilantro, sour cream, avocado, sliced jalapenos, and tortilla chips.

White chicken chili in blue Dutch oven. Pin

TOPPING VARIATIONS

  • Shredded sharp cheddar cheese, pepper jack, or Mexican
  • Sliced avocado
  • Sour cream or Mexican crema
  • Chopped fresh cilantro
  • Fresh guacamole
  • Homemade pico de gallo
  • Jalapeno slices
  • Lime wedges
  • Tortilla chips/strips
Ladle full of white chicken chili. Pin

CAN WHITE CHICKEN CHILI BE MADE IN A CROCKPOT?

You sure can!  If making in the Crockpot, be sure to use chicken breast as rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken will dry out.

To make in the Crockpot, add chicken breast to the bottom of the slow cooker and top with spices.  Top with diced onion, minced garlic, beans, chilies, corn, and chicken broth.  Stir.  Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4.  Remove chicken and place in large bowl.  Shred.  Return to slow cooker.

Add in softened cream cheese, stir, cover and cook on HIGH for 15 minutes or until creamy and thickened.  Enjoy!

White chicken chili in bowl with toppings. Pin

TIP FOR MAKING A CREAMY WHITE CHICKEN CHILI

This white chicken chili gets its luscious creaminess from the cream cheese and the cannellini beans.  To make this chili even more velvety, puree part of the beans.  To puree the beans, add 1 cup of cannellini beans and a bit of chicken broth to a food processor or blender.  Pulse until creamy and smooth, and set aside until ready to mix in.

White chicken chili in circular bowl. Pin

STORING LEFTOVERS

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Freeze cooled chili and a freezer-safe, airtight container for up to 3 months.

When ready to eat, thaw in the fridge overnight.  When ready to reheat place chili in a large pot on the stove over medium-low heat and warmed-through.  Leftovers can also be warmed up in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Close up of chili in white circular bowl. Pin

MORE COMFORTING SOUPS TO TRY:

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Pin

White Chicken Chili

Flavorful White Chicken Chili is the definition of comfort food.  Loaded with hearty ingredients like tender shredded chicken, creamy cannellini beans, spicy diced green chiles, and a rich and velvety broth; this one pot 30-minute dish is sure to be a hit at your family’s table! 
5 from 22 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chili, white chicken chili
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion; chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic; minced
  • 2 1/2 cups shredded chicken (rotisserie chicken)
  • 1/2 tsp. chili powder
  • 1 Tbsp. ground cumin
  • 1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp. onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 15 oz. cans cannelloni beans (white beans) rinse and drain
  • 1 15 oz. can whole kernel corn rinse and drain
  • 2 4 oz. cans green chiles
  • 1/2 cup cream cheese, milk, cream or non-fat plain Greek yogurt

White Chicken Chilli Toppings (optional)

  • sharp cheddar cheese; shredded
  • jalapeños; sliced
  • lime; sliced
  • cilantro; chopped

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add in onion and sauté until tender, about 3 minutes.  Add garlic, and cook for an additional minute or until fragrant.
  • To the pot, add shredded chicken, cannellini beans, green chilies, and corn.
  • Add chili powder, cumin, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper, and chicken broth to the pot.
  • Simmer for 15 minutes, uncovered.  Stir in cream cheese, and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes. If your cream cheese is not mixing in use a whisk and vigorously stir.
  • Take off the heat. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
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Notes

  1. Store any leftover white chicken chili in an airtight container for 4 days in the refrigerator or in the freezer up to 3 months.
  2. You can substitute the shredded chicken for ground chicken or ground turkey, if you prefer.
  3. Feel free to substitute any other white bean such as navy or great northern in place of cannellini beans.
  4. If using canned corn, be sure to drain and rinse prior to putting into pot. 

Welcome to our 2021 Chili Cook-Off! 

October is Chili Cook-Off Month! We have delicious recipes from across the country to get your chili making to the next level of deliciousness!

#ChiliCookOff is an annual blogging event that is hosted by Ashley from Cheese Curd In Paradise

5 from 22 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




25 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Oh heavens, this recipe is amazing. It’s cold today so once I saw this pot of deliciousness I put everything together. We just devoured it and I even have a couple bowls left for lunch!

  2. 5 stars
    This is one of my favorite chili recipes ever! The corn and green chilies takes me straight to the Southwest!! I’ll take a big bowl with an avocado on top!

  3. 5 stars
    The house smells amazing, I have this in my crockpot now, and will add the cream cheese in the last hour. I love the flavors and ease of this chili recipe!

  4. 5 stars
    This is one of my favorite kinds of chili! And this recipe made it so easy and delicious! It’s a hearty meal that will you fill you up but leave you wanting more!

  5. Wonderful! I think I would prefer this version over beef chili, but I’ve yet to make it! I have no idea why, but I love the look of this recipe. wonderful photos!