If you’ve never had white chicken chili, it’s like the fiesta-filled cousin of traditional chili. Full of flavor on a whole different spectrum, this homemade white chicken chili recipe the perfect way to use up leftover rotisserie chicken and make a new meal that puts a smile on everyone’s face.
Best White Chicken Chili Recipe
Even chili traditionalists like myself love a good homemade white chicken chili, and this has to be the best. It’s creamy and full of light and zesty flavors that you can pull off for dinner or parties, or even dinner parties.
Easy White Chicken Chili Recipe
It only sounds complex with all these ingredients, but once you get going, you’ll see it only takes 15 minutes to put together and then it cooks up on the stove. It’s a great one-pot dish for any time.
White Chicken Chili Ingredients
- Yellow onion – Choose a medium-sized one and chop it.
- Garlic – Finely chop the cloves.
- Chicken broth – Use the low-sodium cans or else it will come out too salty.
- Diced green chilies – A 4-ounce can is plenty.
- Heavy whipping cream – Gives this white chicken chili recipe a nice, creamy base.
- Cream cheese – For a thicker, cheesier, and creamier base.
- Corn – Frozen or fresh works for this recipe.
- Rotisserie chicken – It’s the best way to use up leftovers!
- Lime juice – Fresh is the best.
- Cannellini beans – Part of the white of this chili.
- Chili Seasonings – You’ll need ground cumin, paprika, dried oregano, ground coriander, salt, and pepper. If you want it spicy, add cayenne pepper too.
- Chili Toppings – You can add fresh cilantro, tortilla strips, Monterey jack cheese, and sliced avocado.
How do you Make White Chicken Chili from Scratch?
Grab a large heavy bottom pot and heat olive oil in it over medium-high on your stove. Add the onions and cook 5 minutes, then the garlic and cook for another minute, stirring often. Then add the chicken broth, green chilies, cumin, paprika, oregano, coriander, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Bring this all to a boil, then drop the heat to medium-low and gently simmer for 15 minutes. Now you’ll add one can of the beans and use your immersion blender for 10 seconds to make it smooth. The heavy whipping cream, cream cheese, corn, and the second beans. Stir and let simmer for 8 more minutes. You’ll then add the shredded rotisserie chicken, lime juice, and cilantro. Then you can top with optional add-ons like cheese, avocado, and tortilla strips when serving.
Expert Tips and Tricks for the Perfect White Chicken Chili Every Time
- You don’t have to use rotisserie chicken. It’s just the easiest since it’s fully cooked. You could use any cooked chicken you have in the fridge that needs to be used up.
- No immersion blender? No problem! You can puree it in batches or simply skip that step. Your white chicken chili just won’t be as creamy.
- Feel free to go spicier. That cayenne pepper will instantly bring the heat if you like spicy white chicken chili. But if you don’t or you’re not sure about your guests, you can leave it out.
- You can also use a crockpot. If you have a crockpot in your kitchen cupboard, it can be very handy to make a white chicken chili recipe.
What is white chili made of?
White chili is made with onions, garlic, chicken broth, heavy whipping cream, cream cheese, shredded rotisserie chicken, corn, cannellini beans, cumin, paprika, oregano, ground coriander, salt, pepper, and lime juice.
Why is it called white chili?
It is called white chili because the base has a white color. This is from the heavy whipping cream, cream cheese, and cannellini beans.
What’s the difference between white chili and regular chili?
Regular chili uses chili powder though white chili is the only one that doesn’t include it. Also, white chili has no tomatoes of any kind in it while regular chili uses those as that red base.
Are white chili beans the same as great northern beans?
They’re mostly the same though vary slightly in size. You can use either one in your white chicken chili.
How to Cook White Chicken Chili?
White chicken chili is made on the stovetop in one pot, making it an easy meal for any time. Though it’s awesome for parties and gatherings.
Do you put broth in chili?
Yes, broth helps with the base and keeps it from becoming sludge. In white chicken chili, you will use low sodium chicken broth.
What does sour cream do to chili?
Sour cream adds a nice tang on top of any chili. It isn’t used in white chicken chili to make it, though you can certainly add some on top if you like.
How do I make my white chicken chili thicker?
White chicken chili will already thicken up thanks to the heavy whipping cream and cream cheese. However, you can make sure to use an immersion blender as this recipe calls for to puree the cannellini beans which will make it nice and thick.
What can I use to thicken white chicken chili?
In this recipe, heavy whipping cream, cream cheese, and pureed cannellini beans serve to make it thick and rich in every bite.
How do you thicken white chicken chili with cornstarch?
It shouldn’t be necessary with the heavy whipping cream, cream cheese, and pureed beans, but if you want to use cornstarch, just make a slurry by adding water to the cornstarch and then stirring them into your chili.
How do I make white chicken chili less spicy?
If you don’t want white chicken chili to be spicy, don’t add cayenne pepper. This way, it will be mild and suitable for all palates.
What goes well with White Chicken Chili?
Try some spicy jalapeno cornbread, cowboy caviar, garlic bread, dirty rice, a tomato and avocado salad, fries, sweet potato fries, or fried green tomatoes along with your white chicken chili to have a bigger spread.
How to store White Chicken Chili?
Once you’re full, and believe me you will be, this white chicken chili needs to cool first before you put it in the fridge. Stick it in airtight containers to preserve those flavors.
How long does White Chicken Chili last?
You’ll have up to 5 days to finish this type of chili off. You can do it!
Can you freeze White Chicken Chili?
And hey, if you can’t then you can freeze it. You should use it up within 3 months though.
How to reheat White Chicken Chili?
Like any other chili, warm it up slowly on your stovetop. This one should be a stirred a bit more to even out the consistency.
Watch How To Make White Chicken Chili (Video)
Chuck's Classic White Chicken Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 yellow onion (medium, chopped)
- 3 garlic cloves (finely chopped)
- 2 14oz cans low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 4oz can diced green chilies
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp ground coriander
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional, spicy!)
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 15oz cans cannellini beans (rinsed and drained)
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 4oz cream cheese (cut into cubes)
- 1 1/2 cup frozen corn (can use fresh)
- 2 cups cooked rotisserie chicken (shredded)
- 3 tsp fresh lime juice
- 2 1/2 tbsp fresh cilantro (chopped, plus more for topping)
- tortilla chips or strips (optional topping)
- Monterey jack cheese (optional topping)
- avocado (sliced)
Instructions
- In a large heavy bottom pot over medium-high heat, heat olive oil, then add onion and cook for 5 minutes until the onion is translucent. Add minced garlic cloves and cook an Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute while stirring regularly.
- Next, add chicken broth, green chilies, cumin, paprika, oregano, coriander, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Bring chili to a boil then reduce heat to medium-low to a gentle simmer and allow it to simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add 1 can of beans in the center of the pot, then using an immersion blender, briefly blend the beans for about 10 seconds just to mash them up into a smoother texture. This will make for an overall creamier chili.
- Next, add heavy whipping cream, cream cheese, corn, second can of whole beans. Stir to evenly combine and simmer gently for an additional 8 minutes.
- Lastly, add shredded chicken, fresh lime juice and fresh chopped cilantro. Stir to mix all ingredients well. Serve chili in individual bowls and top with your desired toppings like shredded cheddar cheese, sliced avocado, or tortilla chips.
