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Hearty, warm and comforting, this White Chicken Chili recipe is the perfect cold weather meal. Full of delicious tender chicken, white beans, spices and cheese, this creamy soup has quickly become a family favorite.

White Chicken Chili

Soup weather is my favorite kind of weather. My family would agree, as soups are pretty much our go to during the winter months. Granted, winter in Southern California isn’t “freezing” but it’s cold enough for us to break out the soup pot and that’s all that matters! Oh who am I kidding, because we will break out the soup pot any time of the year!

WHITE CHICKEN CHILI

We are huge fans of chili, and have several different chili recipes that we enjoy on a regular basis, like Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Chili, Easy 3-Ingredient Chili Recipe. However, we’d never tried a white chicken chili recipe until recently, and boy have we been missing out! The flavors are so amazing, similar to my Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas (another family favorite) with just a little heat and some Mexican spices like oregano and garlic.

White Chicken Chili topped with sour cream

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make White Chicken Chili:

  • Diced onion
  • Garlic
  • Shredded Chicken
  • Chicken Stock
  • Green Chiles
  • White Beans
  • Spices and seasonings, like Oregano, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper
  • Sour cream
  • A nice melty cheese like Mozzarella or Jack
  • Garnishes and toppings like sour cream, green onions, shredded cheese, corn chips and cilantro

How to Make White Chicken Chili:

This White Chicken Chili Recipe is another easy recipe that you’ll want to add to your regular dinner rotation. It’s crazy simple to make, especially if you opt for an already cooked rotisserie chicken. The other option is to boil the chicken in chicken stock (the same stock you’ll be using for the chili). Super easy and only adds about 20 minutes to your cooking time. You could also toss in some pre-cooked chicken if you happen to keep that on hand.

  1. Start by preparing the chicken. If I’m cooking the chicken in the stock, I actually start by sauteing the onion and garlic, then adding the chicken and stock. This gives the chicken an incredible flavor that blends so well with the other ingredients in this white bean chicken chili. If you’re starting with pre-cooked chicken, just saute the onion and garlic until soft, then add the other ingredients. PRO TIP: To always have shredded chicken on hand for this and other recipes, try making a big batch of Instant Pot Shredded Chicken.
  2. Once the chicken is cooked, shred it on a cutting board, then add it back to the stock in the soup pot along with the green chiles, white beans and spices. Bring it to a boil and let it simmer for a good 15-20 minutes or so, to give the flavors a chance to blend together. I will actually do this with the lid off so the stock reduces and thickens just a bit.
  3. Finally I add sour cream and Mozzarella cheese to the soup. Why Mozzarella? Well to be honest, because it’s what I had at the time! But I actually really like this mild, melty cheese and it gave a perfect smokiness with being over-powering.
  4. Just like with regular beef chili, be sure to have lots of toppings on hand, like sour cream, corn chips, cheese, diced onions or cilantro.

A ladle of White Chicken Chili in a soup pot

Can I make this recipe in a slow cooker?

This soup can easily be made in a slow cooker! Add all of the ingredients except the cheese and sour cream to the crock pot. Cook on high for 4-5 hours if using raw chicken breasts, and about 2 hours if using pre-cooked. If cooking raw chicken, you will need to shred it once it’s cooked and add it back to the pot, letting it cook for another 30 minutes or so. Add the cheese and sour cream just before serving.

I do recommend sauteeing the onions and garlic before adding them to the slow cooker, but it will be ok if you don’t.

Can you freeze white chicken chili?

Absolutely! Add all of the ingredients, except the cheese and sour cream, to a large freezer bag and freeze for up to 6 month months. To serve, thaw in the fridge overnight, then bring to a boil on the stove and let simmer for 20 minutes. Add the cheese and sour cream just before serving.

White Chicken Chili with a spoonful showing on top of the bowl

Here are some more chili and soup recipes to try:

Tools used to make my White Chicken Chili recipe:

Chef Knife: This is my favorite and the one that I use in my kitchen all day long.

Box grater – I love the large handle, and the different grate sizes.

Cut resistant glove – I use one of these glove every single time I use my grater or mandolin. Keeps your knuckles safe for harm!

Large Cast Iron Soup Pot/Dutch Oven: My favorite brand of cookware – this is the best I’ve ever used. It cooks evenly, heats up fast and cleans up like a dream.

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White Chicken Chili

5
Hearty, warm and comforting, this Creamy White Chicken Chili recipe is a perfect cold weather meal that's full of chicken, beans, chiles, spices and cheese.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Main
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 378kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 medium onion diced (¾ cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 large chicken breasts 4 cups shredded
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 1 7- ounce can green chiles
  • 2 15- ounce cans white beans
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 ½ cups Mozzarella or Jack cheese
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • Sour cream, green onions, more cheese, corn chips and/or cilantro for garnish, if desired

Instructions
 

  • In a large soup pot, sauté onion in a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and stir for 1 minute. Add chicken stock and bring to a boil. Add chicken and simmer until chicken is cooked through and tender; about 15-20 minutes. *Alternatively you could use any leftover or rotisserie chicken - you need about 4 cups.
  • Remove chicken from the pot and onto a cutting board. Shred with two forks.
  • Skim any fat or foam from the chicken stock and return chicken to the pot. Stir in green chiles, oregano, chili powder, cumin and white beans. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in cheese or reserve for garnishing each bowl.
  • Serve hot, topped with desired garnishes.

Notes

This soup can easily be made in a slow cooker! Add all of the ingredients except the cheese and sour cream to the crock pot. Cook on high for 4-5 hours if using raw chicken breasts, and about 2 hours if using pre-cooked. If cooking raw chicken, you will need to shred it once it’s cooked and add it back to the pot, letting it cook for another 30 minutes or so. Add the cheese and sour cream just before serving.
I do recommend sauteeing the onions and garlic before adding them to the slow cooker, but it will be ok if you don’t.

Nutrition

Calories: 378kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 33gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 86mgSodium: 852mgPotassium: 952mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 497IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 263mgIron: 4mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

And be sure to pin this recipe to your SOUPS board!

White Chicken Chili in a bowl with text

Kristin Maxwell

Kristin Maxwell is the creator and main recipe developer, writer, and photographer of Yellow Bliss Road. A self-taught cook and self-appointed foodie, she specializes in easy, flavorful and approachable recipes for any home cook.

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Comments

  1. This recipe had great flavor but, for my taste, it was a bit thin. Any good ideas to thicken it…other than flour/cornstarch?

    1. You could leave the lid off of the pot and simmer for additional time until the liquid is reduced. And maybe use less broth to begin with.

  2. Do you blend the 1.5 c of cheese into the pot of soup at the end of simmering or just top with the mozz? Same question for the sour cream (and how much?).

    1. I’ve updated the recipe to make it more clear, sorry about that. I add about 1/2 a cup of sour cream and cheese to the pot at the end. I also make sure to have some extras of both for topping the individual bowls.

      1. Thank you for the clarification. I made it tonight and it is good. However, I missed the corn. It is not in the ingredients list and I didn’t notice it in the recipe until I was making it and I had none on hand. How much corn do you normally put in?

        1. I am so sorry, that was my original recipe, but I tweaked it a bit when I posted and don’t use the corn. I’m glad you enjoyed it though!

  3. Hi Kristin, When I click on your Dorito Taco Salad Cassarol,the recipe for your White Chicken Chilli recipe comes up. It’s delicious but I would like to have the Dorito cassavole too.