This White Chicken Chili is my favorite twist on classic chili! It's made with pulled chicken, canned beans, and canned chilis. It's creamy, flavorful, and just a little bit spicy. And the best part is it comes together in only 25 minutes- a true weeknight winner!
Looking for more easy chicken recipes? Try my Marry Me Chicken next!
About This Recipe
I'm sure everyone has had a regular chili before- the red kind with ground beef, beans, tomato sauce, etc. But have you ever had white chicken chili? It's basically the same thing but with white meat instead of red meat, cream instead of tomatoes, and white beans instead of red beans. It's creamier and a bit lighter in terms of flavor. And if you're looking to reduce red meat intake, it's an excellent option!
The best part about this recipe is that it comes together incredibly fast. And I mean FAST. It only took me 25 minutes from start to finish. 15 minutes of cooking time and 10 minutes of prep. The reason is because the recipe uses canned beans, which are already cooked, so we do not have to cook them long.
This white chicken chili is amazing for meal prep! It heats up very easily in the microwave and has a good balance of carbs, protein, and veggies- everything you need for a satisfying meal.
Sometimes, I also add extra veggies from my fridge to make it more nutritious. For example, sometimes I'll add 2 cups of chopped celery. It's not traditional, but my wife and I love the flavor and nutrition it adds.
You can easily add extra ingredients to this chili. It's a great way to get rid of leftovers in the fridge. Like if you have potatoes, or peas, or any vegetable, feel free to throw it in.
Key Ingredients
Olive oil: I used 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil for sauteeing the onions and garlic.
Aromatics: You'll need 1 large onion and about 3 cloves of garlic.
Chicken broth: I just mixed Better Than Bouillon with water.
Canned beans: Any type of white beans like Great Northern or white navy will work.
Canned green chilis: I used the Old El Paso brand of canned green chilis. They are not very spicy in my opinion.
Chicken breasts: Feel free to use a rotisserie chicken as well.
Corn: Juicy pops of corn add a wonderful texture!
Spices: Chili powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper.
Sour cream: Make sure you mix some hot broth into the sour cream before dumping it into the pot! If you mix it directly into the pot, the sour cream will curdle and the soup will not be as creamy.
Optional (cornmeal): I love adding some ground cornmeal to thicken up the chili. It's totally optional, but I love the flavor it adds as well. It makes it feel very Tex-Mex.
Instructions
STEP 1: Heat the olive oil in a large pot. Cook the onions until softened, about 4 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
STEP 2: Add the chicken broth, beans, green chilis, chicken, corn, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
STEP 3: Add the sour cream to a small bowl. Pour about ยฝ cup of the hot chili into the sour cream and mix until well combined. Then, pour the mixture into the chili and stir until everything is mixed together. This step helps prevent curdling. Enjoy!
๐ Recipe
White Chicken Chili
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion (diced)
- 1 tablespoons minced garlic (3 cloves)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 (14-ounce cans) great Northern beans (drained)
- 2 (4-ounce cans) mild green chiles (with juices)
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (diced)
- 1 cup corn kernels
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ยฝ teaspoon dried oregano
- ยฝ teaspoon salt
- ยฝ teaspoon black pepper
- โ cup sour cream
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook for about 4 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Add the chicken broth, beans, green chilis, chicken, corn, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil then reduce to low heat. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
- Add the sour cream to a small bowl. Pour about ยฝ cup of the hot chili into the sour cream and mix until well combined. Then, pour the mixture into the chili and stir until everything is mixed together. This step helps prevent the sour cream from curdling. Enjoy!
Lisa
Can I use heavy whipping cream instead of sour cream?
Grump
Yes, that works!
Ilona
Great taste and very easy to make. Made a double recipe for a partyโฆBig Hit.. I will definitely make it again. Thanks for sharing.
Abbey Ramirez
Can I substitute Greek yogurt for the sour cream for a healthier option?
Grump
Yes, but go with full fat preferably.
Deb
This is absolutely delicious!!
Lana Zahn
This was so easy and so good, i made it for my daughters family, came home the next day and made some for my husband and i , so warm and fueling for the soul
Jane Schmidt
Made this and my family loved it. Even my 9 year old granddaughter that doesnโt like beans and onions. Wants to know when Iโm going to make it again.
Rebecca
Can you use cream cheese instead of sour cream?
Grump
I havent tried it, but I dont see why not!
Aubury
Definitely yes. It is my go to substitute for sour cream every time.
Dea
This is a delicious recipe however, I used a quart of chicken stock and still added some water. I also substituted the mild chilies with hatch peppers.
Jesse
Never in my life, have I eaten or made white chili. I made a double batch of your recipe, and OMG, can we say AMAZING??? It was all gone, in only two hours. I love this recipe!
Jayro
Great recipe. Another good thickening tip is to retain half a can of the beans and mash them with a fork before adding.
Elizabeth Billerman
Cornmeal or corn starch at the end?
Grump
Its optional, but I do cornmeal
Jody
This is just so delicious and so simple thanks for sharing!
Lori
Can I add black beans? Will need more broth if I do??
Grump
Yeah u can add black beans. If they're from the can, just stir them in at the end. As for the broth, its up to you. I think an extra cup of broth would be nice cause the beans may thicken it up a bit.
Joyce Sullivan
Yes I made this. Very,very good. My husband loved this white bean chicken chili. Served with a little Mexican cheese, avocado and cilantro. Delicious!
Lonnie
Can I use a rotisserie chicken?
Grump
Yes!
Ana
Can I use cannellini beans?
Grump
Yes!
Ana K.
I made this tonight. It was really good. My husband had thirds! Thank you for this recipe!
Claire
This recipe was absolutely delicious!! So easy to make too. Thank you so much for sharing! Definitely will be making often!
Elaine
I love this chili! Just enough heat and so creamy. Everyone loved it. Super easy to make too!
Jenn
Can this be put in a croc pot?
LJ Truskey
This is delicious. My entire family loved it! The only changes I made were added one yellow bell pepper diced small. I did not add cream. It was thick enough without adding it. Used canned Small White beans.
Kathleen
Had to use more broth than 2 cups. Otherwise it was yummy.
Crystal Jones
How do you prepare your chicken? Do you boil it, steam it, grill it, bake it? It just says add chicken.
Grump
Just add the raw chicken into the soup, and then simmer until it is cooked through. This takes 10-ish minutes
Sarah Brown
Fabulous! Perfectly seasoned!