White Chicken Chili recipe (2024)

November 8, 2023December 30, 2020 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.

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🛒 What is White Chicken Chili made of?

🍗 What kind of chicken to use?

How to make it

How to make it in the Instant Pot

How to make it in a Slow Cooker

🛒 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

🍗 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.

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 😁😁😁

🍴 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.

🍷 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

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

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FAQs

How do you thicken white chicken chili without cornstarch? ›

Usually, 1 to 2 tablespoons of cornmeal are all you will need to get a nice, thick texture. Let the chili simmer for an additional 10 minutes or so, stirring frequently until you've reached your desired thickness.

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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.

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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 is best way to thicken white chicken chili? ›

From the Editor

Use a cornstarch slurry: Mix together equal parts cornstarch and cold water, then stir it into the chili.
Simmer the chili longer: The longer you simmer the chili, the thicker it will be. ...
Add more beans: Mash another can of cannellini beans with a potato masher, then stir it into the chili.

Oct 19, 2023

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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.

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Does tomato paste make chili thicker? ›

Not only will tomato paste add a tangy flavor to the dish, but it will also act as a thickening agent. For this purpose, you can use homemade or store-bought tomato paste. Add 1 can of the paste to your pot of chili, stir the mixture, and let it cook on medium heat for about 30 minutes.

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

Use All-Purpose Flour or Cornstarch

All-purpose flour and cornstarch are useful for thickening chili, as well as sauces, soups, and stews. However, you'll want to avoid adding these ingredients directly to your recipe, as this will result in clumps.

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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 you add sugar to chili? ›

The chili tastes completely different without the brown sugar so if you like a subtle sweetness in your chili then you've just got to go for it! Trust me, it will not make your chili taste like candy. It's all about balance between spicy, smoky, and sweet.

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Does adding potato reduce spice? ›

Bulk up the Recipe to Dilute the Spice

Protein can help thin out the spicy ingredients as long as they haven't been preseasoned with the same heat-building ingredients. Starches like potatoes, rice, pasta, and bread work to soak up and diffuse spiciness without adding distinct flavors that may alter the recipe.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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Does sour cream thicken chili? ›

Heavy Cream / Milk / Sour Cream / Cheese

Another great thickening agent is dairy, whether heavy cream, milk, sour cream, or even shredded cheese. You'll want to incorporate these ingredients on low heat. With the heavy cream or milk, you'll add that to your whole pot of chili before serving.

How can you tell if chicken is thin? ›

Compare your chicken's breast muscles to a chicken of the same breed. If you feel that the center keel bone is sharp and there are small pads of muscle on the side, this means that the chicken is too thin.

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