White Chicken Chili - Balancing Motherhood (2024)

With this incredible White Chicken Chili recipe, you can have the ultimate warm and comforting meal in just 40 minutes. It’s made with a wonderful, unique combination of tender chicken, creamy beans, a hint of lime, and lots of toppings that create a fiesta of flavor in every bowl.

White Bean Chicken Chili

This white chicken chili recipe is a delicious twist on the classic ground beef chili, featuring tender and juicy chicken paired with white beans. As the chicken and beans simmer, they absorb the savory, earthy blend of herbs and spices. It’s creamy, flavorful, and completely irresistible.

On top of being the ultimate comfort food, this chili recipe is a breeze to make. With just a handful of pantry staples, you can whip up a batch in under an hour. Just pair it with warm, buttery cornbread or breadsticks, and you’ll have an unforgettable meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights, potlucks, or any occasion.

Why You Will Love This Creamy White Chicken Chili

• Easy to make – You can whip up this chili recipe in just 45 minutes using all simple ingredients.
• Warm and comforting –This is the perfect meal to make when you’re craving comfort food.
• Meal prep option –Leftovers are even better the next day, making it an awesome choice for meal prep.
• Customizable –It’s easy to customize the ingredients to your liking.

Recommended Tools​

• Dutch oven or pot
• Wooden spoon
• Cutting board
• Knife
• Colander
• Tongs
• Ladle

Easy Chicken Chili Ingredients

• Olive oil and unsalted butter –used to sauté the onions, garlic and herbs.
• Veggies –this recipe uses yellow onion and frozen corn.
• Herbs and spices –this recipe uses fresh garlic cloves, chili powder, dried oregano, kosher salt, freshly cracked black pepper, ground cumin.
• Chicken-we used boneless skinless chicken breasts, but you can use chicken thighs or even leftover rotisserie chicken.
• Low-sodium chicken broth –acts as a base for the broth.
• Canned green chiles –adds more Tex-Mex flavor.
• Great Northern beans –these creamy, hearty beans are used instead of red beans or black beans.
• Sour cream –adds extra creaminess.
• Lime –adds a pop of fresh citrus flavor.
• Crunchy tortilla chips (or Fritos) –optional crunchy topping.
• Fresh cilantro (or green onions) –fresh and flavorful topping.

For the exact recipe, see the recipe card below.

How to make White Chicken Chili (EASY!)

Step One: Sauté the Onion and Garlic

• Heat a large pot or large Dutch oven over medium heat, add olive oil and butter. Once the butter has melted, add diced onions and cook, stirring, until softened, about 6 to 8 minutes.
• Add the minced cloves of garlic, chili powder, oregano, salt, pepper, and cumin. Cook for 1 minute, or until fragrant.

Step Two: Cook the Chicken

• Add chicken, broth, and green chilies. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 10-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken breasts.
• Remove the chicken and shred.

Step Three: Add the Beans and Corn

• Add beans to the soup pot and cook for 8 minutes.
• Add corn and shredded chicken and cook, stirring, until heated through, about 2 minutes.

Step Four: Add Sour Cream and Serve

• Remove from the heat and stir in sour cream and fresh lime juice.
• Top each bowl of chili with tortilla chips, a dollop of sour cream, lime wedges, and cilantro.

Easy White Chicken Chili Variations and Add-ins:

• Cheeses: Add a handful of shredded Monterey Jack cheese, Pepper Jack, or Sharp Cheddar cheese for a cheesy topping.
• Other vegetables: Include a diced bell pepper, jalapeños, or sliced mushrooms for added texture and flavor. Sautéed zucchini or spinach can also make a wonderful addition.
• Spice: For a little heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes orcayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce.
• Toppings: Easily customize your toppings with sliced avocado, diced tomatoes, or a sprinkle of green onions.
• Cream cheese:Throw in half of a block of cream cheese to make an extra creamy broth. You can also use heavy cream, Half & Half, and plain Greek yogurt as a sour cream substitute.
• Beans: While Great Northern beans are classic, you can mix them up with cannellini beans, navy beans, or even black beans for a different texture and taste.

Best White Chicken Chili Recipe Toppings

​This is a great recipe that allows you to add all sorts of tasty toppings. Other than the suggestions above, here are other great options:

• Salsa or Pico de Gallo
• Pickled jalapeños
• Sliced radishes
• Chopped fresh parsley
• Diced red onions
• Guacamole
• Cotija or feta cheese crumbles
• Diced red or yellow bell peppers
• Pumpkin seeds (pepitas) for a crunchy texture
• Salsa Verde

How to Store This Recipe for White Chicken Chili

Leftovers will store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I do not recommend freezing this soup once you add the sour cream because it does not freeze well. If you want to freeze it, cook as the recipe instructs but do not add the sour cream. When you’re ready to cook, thaw in the fridge overnight and then heat on the stove and add the sour cream.

Best White Chicken Chili Recipe FAQs

How long does chicken chili last in the fridge?

You can store leftover chicken chili for about 3 days in the fridge.Make sure to keep it stored in an airtight container.

How do I thicken white chicken chili?

If the chili seems too thin for your liking, you can take an extra can of beans and mash them with an emulsion blender or food processor. Another easy way to thicken it is to take the lid off and let it simmer uncovered.

What is the difference between chili and white chili?

Traditional chili recipes are made with ground beef, red beans and a tomato-based sauce. White chili uses chicken, pale beans, and a creamy broth.

Can I make this flavorful white chicken chili in the crockpot?

You can make this in the crock pot. Add all of the ingredients except for the sour cream and toppings to your crockpot. Cook on low for 8 hours, or on high for 4 hours. When the chicken is cooked through, remove and shred. Add the sour cream just before serving.

Should chili be thick or soupy?

This delicious white chicken chili recipe can be as thick or as soupy as you like it. If you prefer it to be thicker, you can add mashed beans. For a thinner chili, you can add a little more chicken broth.

Should you simmer chili covered or uncovered?

If it’s the consistency you like, I recommend covering it to keep it from becoming too thick.

More Delicious Soup Recipes

• Broccoli Cheese Soup
• Sausage Tortellini
• Chicken Tortilla Soup
• Hamburger Soup
• Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup
• Corn Chowder
• Instant Pot Chicken Noodle
• Easy Chili Recipe