This creamy white chicken chili is one of my favorite comforting recipes of all time. It’s loaded with cream cheese, chicken, white beans, and green chiles for a mildly spicy chili that’s just so delicious. I love to cook up a batch of this famous chicken chili for family dinners, game days, or to store up for winter. Did I mention this is ready in less than an hour?
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My easy white chili is filled with chicken, beans, green chiles, cream cheese, and lots of other ingredients that make it so delicious and creamy. It’s been one of my family’s favorite fall and winter comfort foods for years and years. I love to make a big batch to freeze for a snowy day!
What’s in This White Chicken Chili Recipe?
- Onion + Garlic: Create a savory base of flavor for the chili.
- Lime Juice: Balances out the creaminess of the chili by adding acidity.
- Chicken: Use fully cooked chicken in this chili recipe. You can cut leftovers into cubes, or use shredded chicken. Grab a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store for the easiest option.
- Chicken Broth: Makes up the base of the soup. I prefer low-sodium.
- White Beans: Great Northern white beans are best, but you can also use cannellini beans or white kidney beans.
- Green Chiles: These add that delicious spicy heat you’d expect from Tex-Mex and southwest cuisines.
- Spices: You’ll find a mix of herbs and spices in this recipe, including chili powder, cayenne pepper, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper. I also use cilantro, but you can skip it if you don’t like it.
- Cream Cheese: This makes the chili sooo creamy and smooth. You can use low-fat or full-fat.
- Heavy Cream: This also helps to create that signature creamy chili texture.
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Tips for Success
- If you want to cook your own chicken for this recipe, I recommend using this Instant Pot shredded chicken. But you can cook it with your favorite method up to 2 days ahead of time, and keep it in the fridge until you make the chili.
- You could swap out turkey in place of chicken if you prefer.
- The cream cheese really helps to thicken up this chili, and the longer it simmers, the thicker it will get. If it’s still too watery or soupy, make a slurry (1 tablespoon of cold water and 1 tablespoon of flour or cornstarch) to stir in.
- This recipe is meant to be quick and easy, so it will be ready to go after just 30 minutes on the stove. However, simmering longer will make it thicker and more flavorful.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover creamy white chicken chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. I recommend separating the chili into smaller portions so you can take one container out to reheat at a time. If you want to store it in freezer bags, pour it into a bag with a bit of space left at the top (don’t overfill it). Then lay the bag(s) flat on a baking tray, and place in the freezer until fully frozen. Then you can rearrange the bags as needed for longer storage.
To reheat, let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before gently warming on the stovetop, stirring regularly. You can mix in a bit more heavy cream to help get that creamy chili texture back.
Serving Suggestions
A bowl of this creamy white bean chicken chili (loaded up with lots of toppings) is plenty filling on its own. But I also like to add some bread, like my easy skillet bread or classic cornbread.
If you want to add some veggies to dinner, make my crispy Air Fryer broccoli, roasted mushrooms, or corn on the cob.
5-Star Review
“Wow! Best white chicken chili I have made! Seriously this is amazing!! I made no adjustments…It is perfect!” -Tammy
Creamy White Chicken Chili Recipe
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Ingredients
- 2 onions diced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 pounds cooked chicken cubed (or 2 lbs cooked shredded rotisserie chicken)
- 32 ounces low-sodium chicken broth (1 carton)
- 62 ounces great northern white beans fully drained and rinsed (4 (15.5-ounce) cans)
- 12 ounces diced green chiles drained (3 (4-ounce) cans)
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 8 ounces low-fat cream cheese cubed (1 brick)
- 1 cup heavy cream
Optional Toppings
- Tortilla chips or strips
- Jalapeños
- Cilantro
- Shredded cheese
- Sour cream
- Avocado
Instructions
- In a 6 qt dutch oven or stock pot, saute the onions and garlic in the olive oil and lime juice over medium high heat. Cook until the onions are fragrant and translucent.2 onions, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoons lime juice
- Add in the cooked chicken, chicken broth, beans, chiles, and seasoning. Bring to a boil, stirring often, and then reduce heat to simmer. Simmer uncovered for 30-45 minutes, or until it's the thickness you desire. Stir occasionally. I let mine simmer for a full hour to let all the flavors blend fully and to get a nice thickness. It would have been ready to go after 30 minutes, so just do what you like best! *** (See below for Crock Pot Instructions)2 pounds cooked chicken, 32 ounces low-sodium chicken broth, 62 ounces great northern white beans, 12 ounces diced green chiles, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 2 teaspoons ground cumin, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon chili powder, ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Turn off the heat and stir in the cubed cream cheese. Stir constantly until the cream cheese melts and incorporates completely. Stir in the heavy cream.8 ounces low-fat cream cheese, 1 cup heavy cream
- Top with as many or as few optional toppings as you desire. I used them all! The more the merrier.Tortilla chips, Jalapeños, Cilantro, Shredded cheese, Sour cream, Avocado
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Spicy White Bean Chili: For a spicy version of this chili (that’s not creamy), swap out the diced green chiles for 2 cups of salsa verde; the salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, and cayenne for ½ tablespoon of poultry seasoning; omit the lime juice, cream, and cream cheese; and add 2 diced jalapeño peppers and 1 poblano pepper.
- Nutritional information does not include optional toppings.
Nutrition Information
How to Make White Chicken Chili Step by Step
Sauté the Onion and Garlic: In a 6 qt Dutch oven or stock pot, saute 2 diced onions and 1 tablespoon of minced garlic in 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of lime juice over medium-high heat. Cook until the onions are fragrant and translucent.
Simmer the Soup: Add in 2 pounds of cooked chicken, 32 ounces (1 carton) of low-sodium chicken broth, 62 ounces (4 cans) of great northern white beans, 12 ounces (3 cans) of diced green chiles, 2 teaspoons of kosher salt, 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper, 2 teaspoons of ground cumin, 2 teaspoons of dried oregano, ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon of chili powder, and ½ cup of chopped fresh cilantro. Bring to a boil, stirring often, and then reduce heat to simmer. Simmer uncovered for 30-45 minutes, or until it’s the thickness you desire. Stir occasionally. I let mine simmer for a full hour to let all the flavors blend fully and to get a nice thickness. It would have been ready to go after 30 minutes, so just do what you like best!
Make it Creamy: Turn off the heat and stir in 8 ounces (1 brick) of low-fat cubed cream cheese. Stir constantly until the cream cheese melts and incorporates completely. Stir in 1 cup of heavy cream.
Top and Serve: Top with as many or as few optional toppings as you desire. I used them all! The more the merrier.
What can I substitute for the dairy portion of this recipe?
If preparing in a crock pot, do you think that uncooked chicken breasts work just as well? They can be shredded up when done and then put back in for the additional time. Maybe cut them in half to be sure they are done in the 6 hours?
Could I add corn to this? If so when would I add it?
When do I add the cream cheese and heavy cream? I didn’t see that in the directions…
Heavy cream AND cream cheese?? Sounds right up my alley… :) And easy – I’m all about easy! Definitely going to be trying this one.
Hi Becky,
This recipe looks very delicious and easy to follow. You made it like an artist. I will try it soon. Thank for share it here!
How many cups is 2lbs if cooked chicken ?!?!
Hello. You mentioned you froze this soup for later eating. Did you freeze it with the cream cheese and heavy cream included? If so, how did it turn out after the defrosting?
When using the crockpot is the chicken cooked or uncooked chicken?
Do u put the cilantro in with seasonings or just as a topping