White Chicken Chili

5 from 3 votes

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This white chicken chili recipe is loaded with an almost 3-dimensional flavor.

It’s simple enough for weeknight meals and weekend gatherings and popular with kids and grown-ups.  

A bowl of chili on a plate, with Chicken.

We have several slow cooker recipes, but white bean chicken chili is one of my signature recipes and one that I would love for you to try. Read on and I’ll show you how to make this amazing recipe for about $2.00 per serving!

About this Recipe

This creamy white chicken chili is a great recipe for feeding a crowd or a great way to meal prep. One of my many favorite chicken recipes, it’s also an easy and comforting slow cooker recipe that makes a big batch and will easily feed a crowd of 12 people or more. 

Like our chili cornbread casserole and  lazy golumpki, this slow-cooker white chicken chili is comfort food for the ages. 

I don’t use cream cheese in my white chicken chili, nor will you need an immersion blender or food processor like many other recipes for this.

This recipe has won multiple chili cookoffs. Even our kids have made it in school and college cookoffs and they also took first place. I seriously think you’ll find this to be one of the best white chicken chilis you’ve ever tasted.

A bowl of chili on a table, with Chicken
Be sure to see our Instant Pot Chili version of this White Chicken Chili!

A whole clove of garlic on a plate.
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How to Make White Chicken Chili

  1. Prepare the Base: Add the great northern beans, shredded pepper jack cheese, salsa verde, chopped green chilies, jalapenos, cumin, and heavy cream into your slow cooker. Set the temperature to high.
  2. Like a classic chili recipe you can make this delicious white chicken chili together on the stovetop using a Dutch oven or large pot. You can even use an electric pressure cooker. But my preferred cooking method for this easy white chicken chili recipe is to use our trusted crock pot. 
  3. Sauté the Vegetables: Heat a 10-inch skillet with olive oil. Dice the white onion, red bell pepper, and garlic; sauté until tender and translucent, then transfer to the slow cooker.
  4. Cook the Chicken: Dice the chicken thighs into ½-inch pieces and sauté in the same skillet. Sprinkle with oregano while cooking.
  5. Combine: Add the cooked chicken to the slow cooker and mix in the freshly grated ginger root, salt, and pepper.
  6. Slow Cook: Stir the mixture well, cover, and let it cook for 2-3 hours on low or medium heat until all the flavors meld together.
  7. Adjust Consistency: If the chili is too thin, stir in a tablespoon of flour.
  8. Finish: Just before serving, chop and add fresh cilantro. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and a slice of crusty bread.
Chopped onion and red pepper in a skillet.

Substitutions and Variations

Sour Cream: This, along with some tortilla strips and fresh cilantro,  my favorite topping are all amoung my favorite toppings. A splash of fresh lime juice give a bright flavor to the reipe. Go with Greek yogurt instead of sour cream if you prefer. It’s a great substitution!

Chicken Breasts: Swap the chicken thighs for breasts for a leaner version.

If you’re using leftover chicken, add it to the mixture about 30 minutes before serving. This will give you tender chicken without overcooking it.

Cheese: Use Monterey Jack or a milder cheese if you prefer less spice.

Cream Substitute: Replace heavy cream with half & half for a lighter dish.

Beans: Cannellini beans or navy beans work well as an alternative.

Spice Level: For less heat, omit the jalapenos or use fewer green chilies.

A close up of white chicken chili.

How to make this a Healthy White Chicken Chili Recipe

 Chicken broth can be used instead of heavy cream for a healthier version of this white bean chili. This is also a good option if you can’t consume dairy products.

Another way of making this into a healthy white chicken chili is to use low-fat chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs which have a higher fat content.  

If you’re vegan and can’t eat this, give our easy vegan chili a try. It’s delicious!

What to Serve with White Chicken Chili

White chicken chili pairs beautifully with warm, crusty bread, and crunchy tortilla chips with homemade guacamole. I can’t think of a better meal!

 A tasty green salad will also give you nice rounded meal

A bowl of chili on a plate with roll and spoon.

Recipe Questions

Can I make this in an Instant Pot?

Yes, use the sauté function for the chicken and vegetables, then switch to slow-cook mode.

Can I freeze leftovers?

Absolutely! Store in an airtight container and freeze for up to three months. This white chicken chili is an excellent freezer meal.

Is there a dairy-free version?

Swap out the cheese and heavy cream for a dairy-free alternative.

A bowl of white chicken chili on a plate.

Expert Recipe Tips

  • Use chicken thighs for more flavor and tenderness.
  • Don’t skip sautéing the vegetables – it enhances the overall depth of the chili.
  • Adjust the spice level by modifying the amount of jalapenos and chili peppers.
  • Add the cilantro last for a fresh pop of flavor.
  • Let the chili rest for 10 minutes before serving to let the flavors fully develop.

White chicken chili is a great way to bring people together. It’s such an interesting and delicious recipe. It’s sure to spark conversation and make for a great time for family and friends.

I’ll always remember meals like this one when I made a batch of my white chicken chili.

A group of people sitting at a table at home.

Besides the native population of our own country, we had representatives of Italy and Argentina join in and throughout the night, conversations were parlayed in English, Italian, Spanish, and of course the unspoken exchanges that always occur when good friends are together.

Enjoy this easy and flavorful white chicken chili recipe that warms the heart and satisfies the taste buds!

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White Chicken Chili Crock Pot Recipe

5 from 3 votes
This slow cooker white chicken chili is one of my signature recipes. Packed with warm and lively flavor, this is a great meal to feed a crowd and bring people together over great food.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 1 hour
Total: 15 minutes
Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients 

  • 2 lbs Boneless chicken, thigh will give you a deeper and richer flavor.
  • 48 oz jar great northern beans, drained
  • 16 oz pepper jack cheese, shredded
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup white onion
  • 1/2 red bell pepper
  • 3 garlic cloves, +/- depending on affinity or aversion to vampires
  • 1 cup heavy cream or half & half
  • 6 to 8 oz. salsa verde
  • 2 to 4 oz can chopped green chili peppers
  • 2 to 4 oz. can chopped jalapenos
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon oregano
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro
  • fresh ginger root
  • fresh crushed black peppercorn to taste
  • 1 tablespoon flour

Instructions 

  • Add beans, cream, pepper jack cheese, salsa verde, chili peppers, jalapenos, and cumin to slow cooker, or crock pot, with initial temperature set to high.
  • Warm 10 inch skillet on medium heat and add olive oil.
  • Cube white onion in small pieces, slice and dice red pepper and garlic, saute all three until tender and translucent. Transfer this combination to crock pot.
  • Dice chicken breasts or thighs into 1/2 inch pieces, then saute chicken in skillet
  • Add oregano.
  • Add cooked sauteed chicken to crock pot.
  • Peel and shred about 1.5 sq. inch of fresh ginger, add to crock pot.
  • Add salt, and pepper, to taste.
  • Stir well and cook covered, from one to several hours, reducing temperature to low or medium, once the mixture is hot.
  • If chili is thin, stir in flour to desired consistency.
  • Finely chop cilantro and add to crockpot just before serving.
  • This is complimented nicely by a dollop of sour cream, and hearty Italian or French bread.

Notes

Here are three essential tips for making white chicken chili:
  1. Sauté the Aromatics First
  2. Use Chicken Thighs for Extra Flavor
  3. Add Fresh Cilantro at the End

Nutrition

Calories: 371kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 28g, Fat: 24g, Saturated Fat: 13g, Cholesterol: 109mg, Sodium: 1087mg, Potassium: 645mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 1737IU, Vitamin C: 25mg, Calcium: 358mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
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A bowl of chili with Chicken

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Dan & Scott split their time between Wisconsin and Southwest Florida and are dads to six boys. Good food runs through their veins, and they love showing others how to cook easy recipes.

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22 Comments

    1. Awesome feedback, Leslie! We’re happy you enjoyed this white chicken chili and appreciate you taking the time to drop us a note.