A hearty recipe for White Chicken Chili! This recipe is great for using up leftover chicken (or you can follow my quick & easy steps for shredding your own chicken breast) and is a filling comfort food with a creamy base!
After a 75 degree day Wednesday (not at all a typical February day for southern PA) , I thought I might have missed my opportunity for sharing hearty, warming soups and chilis like this white chicken chili with you!
I thought (/had kind of hoped — I much prefer warm weather…) the groundhog had gotten it wrong and spring was here, but we’re back down in the 30s today, and so chili weather is officially still on. See also my classic best chili recipe and turkey chili.
I have a nice, quick and easy recipe for you today, so let’s dig right in.
Tips:
- I always prefer my soups and hearty chilis to have a creamier base. For this recipe you’ll puree together part of your white beans with a bit of chicken broth and then stir it back into the mix. This technique is similar to the pureeing that I do in both my corn chowder and my potato soup, but rather than pureeing a large portion of the finished soup we’ll just be pureeing two of our base ingredients.
- This recipe is great for using up leftover chicken or you can pick over a rotisserie chicken or you can use my super simple Crock Pot shredded chicken (👈🏻recommended 👌🏼).
- I do not used a reduced sodium broth for this recipe. If you choose to do so, I recommend taste testing as you go to make sure your white chicken chili has enough flavor.
- This chili tastes great on its own, but I like it even better when topped with crushed corn chips, shredded cheese, jalapeno slices, cilantro, and a heaping dollop of sour cream. Add-ons are everything!
What to Serve with White Chicken Chili:
Alright, that’s it for today, just a super easy, super comforting chili that is perfect for this rainy weekend.
Enjoy!
More Recipes You Might Like:
White Chicken Chili
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs shredded chicken (you can use rotisserie chicken or shred your own chicken breast in the crock pot)
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon salted butter
- 2 Jalapeno peppers seeds removed and finely chopped (about 3 Tablespoons)
- 1 medium yellow onion (about 1 heaping cup)
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 15 oz cans Cannelini beans rinsed and drained
- 1 7 oz can diced green chilis (I use mild)
- 1 Tablespoon lime juice
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ancho chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ cup sour cream
- additional sour cream, corn chips, Monterrey Jack cheese, chopped cilantro, and/or jalapeno slices for topping, optional
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Place half a can of cannelini beans (about ¾ cup) and ½ cup of chicken broth in a blender and puree until smooth. Set aside.
- Combine olive oil and butter in a soup pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Once butter has melted, add chopped onion and jalapeno and cook until softened (about 3-5 minutes)
- Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
- Add pureed been mixture to pot and also add shredded chicken, remaining chicken broth, remaining beans, diced green chilis, lime juice, cumin, onion powder, ancho chili powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer.
- Stir in sour cream.
- Simmer 15 minutes before serving, topped with additional sour cream, jalapeno slices, monterrey jack cheese, chopped cilantro, and crushed corn chips.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Vicki Stratton
This recipe has already been added to our rotation. I made it for my son and daughter-in-law, and now she’s already made it twice. She serves it with cornbread! So easy and SO GOOD!
Sam
I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it so much, Vicki! 🙂
Kathy Richmond
I’m confused by Step 4’s wording in Instructions? It says to add the rest of the ingredients except the sour cream and toppings… Then in ( ) right next to toppings is a list of the rest of the ingredients.
It’s confusing to me because are they toppings or as I suspect the ingredients to finish the chili? Am I just over reading?
Sam
Hi Kathy! Sorry about the confusion, I have modified the recipe to try and make it more clear. I hope that helps!
KT
Made this today and it was delicious! Great flavor and was very easy to make. Next time I will double the recipe because my husband will finish it in two sittings!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it so much! 🙂
Shirley Benningfield
Please correct add the purée from step 1 to step 4. I am glad I read the comments before making this recipe, because I would be wondering when to add the purée! Your other recipes sound great too, and I plan on making a few of them!
Sam
I’m sorry for the confusion, Shirley! I have clarified it. 🙂
Terri
Very easy to make and it was delicious
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Terri! 🙂
Emily
Delicious! I forgot the lime juice, but still tasted great. We had the chilli with your biscuits. So yummy! This recipe will go in the dinner rotation:)
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that your family enjoyed it, Emily. Paired with homemade biscuits is a wonderful dinner combo. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Josanne Clayton
My husband raved about this dish. I haven’t stop hearing about it since last week in fact, I’m requested to make it again tomorrow.
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that he LOVED it, Josanne! I hope that you enjoy your dinner tonight too! lol. 😉
Pam
Love this recipe! So good!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed it, Pam! Thank you for trying my recipe. 🙂
Annie
Does this freeze well?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Annie! Yes, it does.
Annie
Hi again,
Can I use a crock pot for this?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Anne! Yes, you can! You will want to do steps 1-3 before transferring it into the crockpot. I hope that you enjoy the chili. 🙂
Nicole
At which step do I add the puree from Step 1?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Nicole! You can add in step 4. I hope that you enjoy the chicken chili. 🙂
Megan
I love it! I did 2 40z cans of green chili’s, extra jalapeño, and about 2 pounds of chicken. It’s spicy and so good!
Sheryl
Ok I just made this recipe. It is a total hit!!! My toppings were cilantro, serano chilies, Mexican 3 cheese, scallions, avocado, & sour cream. This is for sure one of the best recipes I’ve come accross.
Thank you Sam 👍💕
Sheryl
You don’t say in your instructions when to add the cayenne pepper…I asume with all the other dry spices?
Sam
I’m sorry, Sheryl, yes add with the other dry spices. I will correct that in the recipe now, thank you for bringing it to my attention and I hope you love it!
Lauren
I have made this recipe over and over again. I will take pics the next time and share them. Thanks!
Sugar Spun Run
That is wonderful, Lauren! I am so glad that you have enjoyed the chili over and over again. Thank you so much for commenting. 🙂
Rhiannon Howard
Made a few minor adjustments to this dish, but it was amazing. Thank you for the recipe.
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it, Rhiannon! 🙂
Christina
Thanks Sam! This was delicious!