White Chicken Chili
319 Comments
Oct 15, 2024
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White chicken chili is the best bowl of comfort food for a cold-weather day. Made with tender chicken, white beans, sweet corn, and green chiles, it’s packed with robust flavor, yet mild enough for the whole family to enjoy for one incredibly satisfying fall/winter meal.
My Favorite White Chicken Chili—Here’s Why
When the weather turns chilly and I start to crave cozy, warming meals, this white chicken chili is a recipe I make on repeat. The white beans make it heartier than my chicken soup, yet it’s lighter and more brothy than my classic beef chili, turkey chili, and vegetarian chili. So I guess you could say it’s a cross between soup and chili! I just know that it’ll warm you from head to toe, and it perfectly reflects my love for cooking simple, healthy, and delicious recipes. But here are a few more reasons to love it:
- It’s really simple to make. There’s very little prep work involved, as you’re mostly just combining canned goods in a pot. Then, you’ll add some shredded chicken, and I’ve got time-saving tips on that below!
- It’s completely dairy-free. Don’t let the creamy broth fool you! The chili itself is completely dairy-free (the creaminess comes from blending some white beans). Now in saying that, I personally like to sprinkle a bit of cheese on top for garnish, but you do you.
- It’s perfect for freezer meal prep. In the fall and winter, I always have a batch stored in my freezer. It’s a well-balanced, veggie-forward, protein-packed meal that’s super easy to reheat for a quick weeknight dinner.
White Chicken Chili Ingredients
- Chicken: You’ll need a good amount of shredded chicken for this recipe. You can cook chicken at home in a variety of ways (see ideas below) or to save time, use store-bought rotisserie chicken and shred that.
- White Beans: I’m using canned white beans (Great Northern Beans to be exact), but you can soak and cook dried beans if that’s what you prefer.
- Corn: Sweet corn adds a subtle sweetness and extra chunkiness to the overall texture.
- Green Chiles & Jalapeño: A small can of diced green chiles and one jalapeño pepper adds a serious depth of flavor without being overly spicy.
- Chicken Broth: Use a good-quality chicken broth to add lots of flavor to the soupy base. I linked my favorite brand in the recipe card below!
- Dried Spices: A simple blend of cumin, chili powder, oregano, salt, and pepper brings out those classic chili aromas.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
How to Make The Best White Chicken Chili
Make the creamy base. Blend one cup of white beans and one cup of chicken broth in a food processor, then set aside. This will help to thicken the base of the broth without having to add lots of cream.
Sauté the veggies. In a large pot over medium heat, sauté the onion, bell pepper, and jalapeño pepper for about 4 minutes. Then add the garlic and spices and stir for one additional minute.
Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer. First, add the remaining chicken broth, and pureed bean mixture and let it simmer uncovered for 15 minutes. Then, stir in the chicken, corn, white beans, green chilies, and cilantro. Let it simmer for an additional few minutes to warm through, squeeze some lime juice, and stir it again.
Don’t forget the toppings! I love to top this off with diced avocado, grated cheddar cheese, slices of jalapeño pepper, and extra cilantro. But you could also add other items like crispy shallots, chopped parsley, or sliced green onions.
Different Ways To Make Shredded Chicken
There are several ways to make the shredded chicken for this chili. You can cook the chicken yourself or use a store-bought rotisserie chicken. Here are a few options:
- Baked Chicken: This is my go-to recipe for oven-baked boneless skinless chicken breasts with the perfect seasoning.
- Roast Chicken: This super easy, oven-roasted whole chicken is most similar to a store-bought rotisserie chicken. There’s just three ingredients!
- Shredded Chicken: This easy stovetop method for cooking chicken breasts with my shredding hack is the best!
- Slow Cooker Whole Chicken: If you have a slow cooker, this whole chicken becomes super tender and easy to pull apart into pieces.
- Poached Chicken: This healthy approach cooks chicken breasts in water and only takes about 15 minutes on the stovetop.
- Store-Bought Rotisserie Chicken: And if you’re on a time crunch, just pick up a rotisserie chicken at the store and pull it apart into small pieces.
Common Questions
Absolutely! If you’re not dairy-free, just add 4 ounces of cream cheese or sour cream. You could also add half a can of coconut milk while it’s simmering on the stove.
Not at all. I’m using great northern beans today, but you could also use navy beans or cannellini beans. The only difference is the size – navy beans are the smallest, cannellini beans are the largest, and great northern beans are somewhere in the middle.
While I love canned beans for simplicity, If you’ve got a bag of dried white beans on hand, just pre-cook them before adding them to the pot. You’ll need about 3 ½ cups of cooked beans.
Storage Tips
- To store for the week: Let the chili slightly cool before storing it in an airtight container. It will keep for 4 to 5 days in the fridge.
- To freeze for later: Use a storage container or freezer-safe tray (like this Souper Cubes tray) and store for up to 3 months in the freezer.
- How to reheat: First, thaw the chili overnight in the fridge. Then reheat on the stovetop or add one serving to a bowl and microwave for about 2 minutes. If you forgot to thaw, that’s okay, this is fine going straight into the microwave from frozen as well. Just cook until it’s warmed through.
More Easy Chicken Recipes
- Chicken Fajitas: A Mexican favorite for weeknight dinners.
- Greek Lemon Chicken: Juicy chicken thighs are baked with the best lemon-herb marinade.
- Tuscan Chicken: Seared chicken breasts are simmered in the most luxurious cream sauce with Italian flavors.
- One Pan Chicken and Rice: A complete meal all in one pan.
- Teriyaki Chicken: An easy Asian stir-fry recipe you’ll make again and again.
- Or check out these other delicious chicken recipes!
If you make this white chicken chili recipe, I’d love to know how it turned out in the comment box below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more healthy food inspiration (and exclusive content), join my free newsletter.
Best White Chicken Chili
Description
Video
Equipment
- Le Creuset Dutch Oven This large pot is one of my favorites!
- Silicone Spoon I use this spoon so that I don't scratch my enameled pot.
- Mini Food Processor My favorite tool for quick blending with texture.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 jalapeno pepper, seeds removed and finely diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 ounces green chiles
- 4 cups shredded chicken, see tips above
- 2 (15-ounce) cans white beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup frozen or fresh corn
- 4 cups chicken broth
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- avocado, jalapeno, cilantro, and cheese, for garnishing
Instructions
- Blend the white bean mixture. Blend one cup of the white beans with one cup of the chicken broth in food processor. Alternatively, you can use an immersion blender or even mash the beans with a fork, and then stir them with the broth. Set this aside.
- Cook the vegetables. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, and jalapeno pepper to the pot. Cook for 4 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add the aromatics. Add the garlic and spices and stir for another minute, toasting the spices.
- Simmer. Add the chicken broth and pureed bean mixture and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes.
- Stir in the rest. Stir in the green chilies, chicken, corn, white beans, and chopped cilantro. Simmer for a couple of minutes, until it's warmed through. Then add the lime juice and give it another stir.
- Garnish with your favorite toppings such as avocado, jalapeno, cilantro, and cheese before serving.
Lisa’s Tips
- The pureed bean mixture helps to thicken the chili without any additional dairy needed. It creates a wonderful soupy texture. But if you’d like it ultra-creamy, you can always add 4oz of cream cheese, sour cream, or even coconut cream to the chili.
- This chili is flavorful, but not overly spicy. If you’d like a little bit more heat, feel free to add ¼ – ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
- Use your preferred white beans, they all work great!
- Cannellini Beans: These are similar to Great Northern, but are a bit more dense and larger.
- Great Northern Beans: These creamy-colored beans are light, hold their shape well, and are naturally nutty in flavor. Best of all, they absorb spices easily, making them perfect for soaking in all the white chicken chili flavors.
- Navy Beans: Navy beans are on the smaller side with a mild flavor and creamy texture. I use them in my marinated white beans, baked beans, and white bean dip.
- Swap out the beans with chickpeas instead! They provide a similar texture and the same amount of protein.
Nutrition
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This recipe was originally published February 2021, but updated to include new photos and information for your benefit!
We love this recipe. Don’t skip the garnishes. I skipped the chilies to dial back the heat and the jalapeño did its magic. I have made it with a store bought rotisserie chicken and also made it half of a home made roasted chicken which I preferred (when you have the time). Both ways are great options.
I Love Downshiftology recipes.
Thanks so much, Sonia! I’m happy you’re enjoying so many of my recipes. :)
This is in our rotation! Love this recipe you’ve created. I’d like to make it ahead of time for company. Any considerations for making it the day before?
Hi Stacey – You can make the recipe as is and reheat on the stovetop the next day. Enjoy!
That’s some fine white chicken chili indeed!
Hi Shem – You can’t beat a pot of this delicious white chicken chili!
Nice recipe. Thanks!
Hi Shem – Glad you enjoyed this white chicken chili recipe!
made this recipe a couple weeks ago and will keep it to make again and again! I added coconut cream and may try it again with the sour cream :)
I’m so glad you’re loving this white chicken chili, Tree!
I love making any dish that is healthy and easy, but most importantly, one that impresses my family! That was this chili recipe!
It sounds like it ticked all of the boxes for you, Liz. I’m happy to hear that! Enjoy!
I’ve made this every fall and every winter for years! Family favorite! I do add more rotisserie chicken than required but the lime juice is what elevates it! Just delicious and hearty!
There’s nothing wrong with adding more rotisserie chicken into the mix! Glad you’re loving this chili recipe!
Such an awesome recipe! Perfect on a snowy cold day (-12C). The blend of spices are so delicious, gentle heat from the jalapenos. The creamy texture of the blended beans and tender pieces of chicken. The lime juice and cilantro give it such a fresh tastse. An absolute 10 out of 10!
Yay, thanks for that 10 out of 10 rating! I’m so thrilled you loved it, Eric, and that it warmed you up on such a cold day. Enjoy!
This is delicious! Somehow fresh and light but also hearty. Very flavorful.
Hi there, happy to hear you’re loving this white chicken chili! It really is the perfect balance of light, yet hearty textures, and flavorful aromatics!
Delicious! Made it several times. And because I’m *one* recipient, I can make a half recipe easily! I’m not gluten free but LOVE the recipes! Thank you!
Hi Loretta, thrilled to hear you’re loving this white chicken chili so much, among many other recipes!
Wow! This was amazing! Easy to make and so delicious. This will be a perfect lunch for our snowboarding days to warm up. This is now apart of our weekly meal plan! Thanks for this great recipe!
Great idea on making this for a snowboarding trip! Hope you continue to enjoy this chili for years to come, Gabrielle.
Our Super Bowl dinner! Can’t go wrong with this yummy chicken chili! I added a can of fire roasted tomatoes to it. The lime juice is the perfect touch! Yum! A family favorite!
The perfect meal for the big game! Hope you and your family enjoy it!
This is quick and easy to put together for Sunday lunch after church. The perfect comfort and warm goodness on a cold day. I love all the flavors. Added avocado and sour cream for extra creaminess. I will definitely make it again.
You can never go wrong with a big pot of this white chicken chili on a cold day! Glad you enjoyed this blend of ingredients and flavors. Enjoy, Delilah!
I made this Chili last night . It was amazing ! My husband had 2 full bowls . I love the lime and cilantro . It adds such a burst of flavor !
It’s perfect for this time of year, and I love that lime and cilantro flavor as well. :) Enjoy!
I made the white chicken chili recipe last night. It was delicious! I was very skeptical of using the white beans, as I never liked them at all as a child. The spices were so good and the flavors blended together nicely! It was the best tasting white chicken chili! Yummy!
The recipe was easy to follow too!
Glad this white chicken chili changed your mind about white beans, Lori!
I love warm richness of the broth and spices mixed with the freshness of the lime. Followed this recipe exactly and even my kids enjoyed it! It’s the perfect easy twist on chicken soup.
Happy to hear the whole family enjoyed this white chicken chili!
Hey Lisa,
Just made this tonight as it was nice and cold outside. It was fantastic! I made it exactly as listed on your recipe and immediately knew I’d be making it again.
Thanks for making our dinners so exciting with all your delicious recipes :)
Hi Jim – Happy to hear you enjoyed this white chicken chili!
My family’s absolute Favorite chili recipe! My husband and 4 kids Love this recipe! Creamy, full of flavor and Healthy! Almost weekly rotation because it’s so quick to prep! I get compliments on it when I bring it to friends after babies or life unexpected.
Hi Nikell – Happy to hear the whole family loves this white chicken chili!
I’ve made your white chicken chili many times. It’s incredibly easy to put together when I get home from work. I typically pick up a rotisserie chicken and start shredding while the veggies sautée. I freeze the leftovers in serving size freezer bags and grab one when leaving for work. So tada! Lunch is also ready for a few days.
Sounds like you’ve got this recipe down, Pegi! Nice work. Enjoy those lefover lunches, I’m now jealous. Haha!
This really is the best white chili recipe! Made it twice and once for a neighborhood dinner… raves all around!!
Yay, so happy to hear it got rave reviews! Thanks so much, Deborah.