White Chicken Chili recipe (2024)

by Erin

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This easy White Chicken Chili recipe can be made in under 30-minutes! Spicy and smoky, it’s made with chicken, white beans, jalapenos, mild green chilis and plenty of monterey jack cheese. It’s a delicious, creamy white chicken chili that perfect for busy weeknights.

White Chicken Chili recipe (1)

Jump To

🛒 What is White Chicken Chili made of?

🍗 What kind of chicken to use?

🥄 How to thicken it

Is White Bean Chicken Chili spicy?

What spices go in White Bean Chicken Chili?

🍴 Topping ideas

ℹ️ How long can you keep White Chicken Chili?

How to reheat it

🍷 What wine goes with it?

🥣 More chili recipes

✔️ What do you eat with it?

Easy White Chicken Chili Recipe

Instructions

Nutrition

Looking for more delicious chili recipes? Be sure to try my Pumpkin Chili, Buffalo Chicken Chili, and . And, for a faster version, be sure to try my Instant Pot White Chicken Chili.

This creamy white chicken chili is a favorite recipe of mine.

It’s different from traditional chili because this recipe calls for tender chicken instead of beef, white beans instead of kidney beans, and you stir in a whole bunch of melty cheese at the end to make it extra creamy. It has so much flavor and just the right amount of spice.

I’m a huge fan of chili for the mere fact that you can cook up a big batch and then have it for lunch throughout the week. Chili is quick to throw together and, in my opinion, it’s always better the next day!

As I do withmany ofmy chili recipes, I like to throw in a splash of beer for good measure (plus, it doesn’t hurt that I get to finish off the can). I do the same thing for this Buffalo Chicken Chili.

🛒 What is White Chicken Chili made of?

  • Chicken
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Jalapenos
  • Green Chiles
  • Cumin
  • Oregano
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Great Northern Beans (you can also use navy beans or black beans)
  • Chicken Broth or Bone Broth
  • Beer (optional)
  • Monterey Jack Cheese
  • Fresh Cilantro
White Chicken Chili recipe (2)

🍗 What kind of chicken to use?

  • Shredded Chicken: I used the remnants from this roasted chicken or I make shredded chicken in the instant pot LINK. You could also grab a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken from your local grocery store.
  • Chicken Breasts: Just boil a couple of chicken breasts until they’re cooked, then shred them with a fork.
  • Ground Chicken: After the onions have cooked, add in some ground chicken and brown it before proceeding to the next step.

How to make it

  • Heat oil, then saute the onion until softened, about 4-5 minutes.
  • Add garlic, jalapenos, chiles, cumin, oregano and cayenne. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add chicken, beans, broth + beer.
  • Simmer for 15 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and stir in the cheese until melted.
  • Serve with your favorite toppings!

How to make it in the Instant Pot

  • Yes! Here is my recipe for Instant Pot White Chicken Chili.

How to make it in a Slow Cooker

  • Yes! To make in the slow cooker, add all ingredients except the cheese to a crockpot and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours, then stir in the cheese.

🥄 How to thicken it

  • If you like a more soup-like chili, just stir in the beans. If you want a thicker chili, you can mash one can of the beans with a potato masher before stirring them in.
White Chicken Chili recipe (3)

Is White Bean Chicken Chili spicy?

  • This chili has got a bit of a kick with the addition of jalapenos. If you prefer things a bit milder, go ahead and omit the jalapenos and just use two cans of green chili peppers instead.

What spices go in White Bean Chicken Chili?

  • Add in your usual chili seasoning blend of cumin, oregano and cayenne, and then let it all simmer for about 15 minutes.

Then comes the best part, stir in 1 cup of shredded Monterey Jack cheese until it’s melted and incorporated throughout the chili – Yum! It makes for an extra creamy chili and helps meld all of those great flavors together.

Plus, cheese adds protein right? So, it’s basically REALLY healthy for you 😁😁😁

White Chicken Chili recipe (4)

🍴 Topping ideas

You can top your bowls in so many delicious ways! Here are some of my favorite toppings:

  • Avocado
  • Cilantro
  • Green Onion
  • Dollop of Sour Cream
  • Jalapenos
  • Shredded Cheese
  • Lime Wedges
  • Tortilla Strips

Tip: Want to switch things up? Try adding in some fresh corn kernels. You can also swap out the Great Northern Beans for any other hearty beans (navy beans, black beans, etc.)

ℹ️ How long can you keep White Chicken Chili?

  • This chili will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, and its flavors will continue to develop over time, making it great for leftovers. Or, you can freeze it for up to three months. I like to portion it into freezer bags in individual serving sizes and place them on a cookie sheet to freeze.Once frozen, I stack them in the freezer making for an easy individual lunch!

How to reheat it

  • Reheat it over low heat on the stove or in the microwave.
White Chicken Chili recipe (5)

🍷 What wine goes with it?

  • The first thing I normally reach for to pair with chili is a beer. But, if you’re looking for a wine pairing with your chili, I’d suggest a non-oaked, light bodied white. Try a dry Riesling or Pinot Gris.

🥣 More chili recipes

  • – a hearty beef chili
  • Instant Pot Chili – traditional beef chili made in the instant pot
  • Chili Seasoning Recipe
  • Buffalo Chicken Chili
  • Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili
  • Pumpkin Chili Recipe

If you agree that this is the best White Chicken Chili, I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me onInstagramusing the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings & Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

✔️ What do you eat with it?

  • Cornbread
  • Instant Pot Rice
  • Baked Tortilla Chips
  • Crostini
  • Instant Pot Quinoa
  • MORE → 45+ sides for chili

White Chicken Chili recipe (6)

Easy White Chicken Chili Recipe

This Easy White Chicken Chili can be made in under 30-minutes. Spicy and smoky it’s made with chicken, white beans, jalapenos, mild green chilis and plenty of monterey jack cheese. It’s a delicious, creamy white chicken chili that perfect for cozy nights at home.

5 from 24 votes

Print Pin

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Created by Platings and Pairings

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion (chopped)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 4-ounce can diced jalapeno peppers
  • 1 4-ounce can chopped green chile peppers
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 3 cups shredded (cooked chicken breast)
  • 3 15-ounce cans great northern beans (drained and rinsed)
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup light beer
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1/4 cup cilantro (chopped)
  • Avocado (for garnish)
  • Sour cream (for garnish)

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, and cook until softened, 4-5 minutes.

  • Mix in the garlic, jalapenos, chiles, cumin, oregano and cayenne. Continue to cook for 2-3 minutes.

  • Add the chicken, beans, broth and beer. Bring to a boil and simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  • Remove the mixture from heat. Stir in the cheese until melted.

  • Serve topped with chopped cilantro, sour cream and avocado.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Nutrition

Calories: 218kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 701mg | Potassium: 177mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 570IU | Vitamin C: 8.9mg | Calcium: 302mg | Iron: 0.9mg

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White Chicken Chili recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you thicken white chicken chili without cornstarch? ›

Cornmeal: Add a tablespoon of cornmeal or masa harina while stirring continuously. Mashed Beans: Mash a portion of the beans and stir them into the chili to thicken it. Crushed Tortilla Chips: Crushed tortilla chips can also be added as a thickening agent.

How can I make my white chicken chili less spicy? ›

Add a generous dollop of sour cream, creme fraiche, or yogurt to scorching hot chili or stews, or even a touch of milk or cream. For best results, though, go with full-fat dairy. For tomato sauces and stews that don't want dairy, try shredding some cheese on top. Photo by Meredith.

Should chili be thick or soupy? ›

Chili should be thick and hearty enough to be a meal on its own, but sometimes there's just a bit more liquid than you want in the pot. While you can simply keep simmering the chili, that method risks overcooking softer ingredients like the beans, losing all your nice texture to mushy monotony.

What can I use to thicken up white chicken chili? ›

The good news is there are lots of easy ways to thicken up your chili with ingredients you likely already have in your pantry— flour, cornmeal, pureed beans, cornstarch, or even crushed tortilla chips will help do the job, along with some good old extra simmering time.

Does tomato paste make chili thicker? ›

Tomato paste. This is probably the easiest and maybe most common addition to add thickness to a chili recipe. Tomato paste is super thick and not only adds texture but adds a richer and deeper flavor to chili.

Is it better to use cornstarch or flour to thicken chili? ›

Adding flour directly into the chili will create lumps. Instead, make a slurry by mixing one tablespoon of cold water with one tablespoon of cornstarch. If you're using all-purpose flour, double the amount of water. Stir in the cornstarch slurry, evenly distributing it throughout the chili.

What liquid to add to chili? ›

Chili cooks low and slow, so you need enough liquid to tenderize the meat and keep everything from drying out. That liquid should also add flavor to the chili, so use chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, or beer.

Should I put honey in my chili? ›

The sweet taste offsets some of the spice. I was reluctant to make this because I thought the combination of cinnamon and honey would be bad but it was outstanding. My family has asked me to make this again but to turn up the heat. Excellent chili recipe.

How do you add volume to chili? ›

Add beans or veggies.

Thick-cut root veggies will release their natural starches as they cook and help thicken the pot. Sweet potatoes, winter squash, and a regular potato all work. Adding more beans helps too. Thick, refried beans can do wonders for a thin chili.

What adds depth of flavor to chili? ›

Instead of adding water to your chili, add some more flavor with chicken or beef broth, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even beet or wine. Each one of these options brings out different notes and levels of sweetness that will enhance your culinary creation.

Do you put the lid on chili to thicken it? ›

Cook Your Chili Uncovered

If you want to keep things simple, take the lid off the pot. Simmer chili uncovered for 20-30 minutes to help reduce the liquid and encourage the mixture to thicken up.

What if my chili is too thin? ›

Add cornmeal: Cornmeal absorbs excess liquid, so adding a tablespoon of it to your pot of chili will thicken the final result. Allow the chili to simmer for about ten minutes after you add the cornmeal.

How do you make chili less thin? ›

Use All-Purpose Flour or Cornstarch

"Transfer some warm liquid [from the chili] to a separate bowl. Whisk in the flour or cornstarch, then slowly stir it back in the pot," advises Wofford. Bring the mixture back to a boil, which will "activate" the ingredient, instantly thickening the dish.

Why is my chicken getting thin? ›

If your chicken is looking a little thin, first rule out any possible causes of weight loss. Check that their digestive systems are working fine, by checking their faeces for changes in consistency. Take a faecal egg count sample and send it off to be tested to ensure that there are no worms within the flock.

Why is my chicken white but weird texture? ›

According to the National Chicken Council, a woody breast is when chicken breast meat is "hard to the touch and often pale in color with poor quality texture." It's commonly confused with white striping, which is when fat replaces muscle tissue.

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