White Chicken Chili is hearty, creamy, and has become a new favorite!! Best of all, it’s ready in 30 minutes or less!
We love taking this soup to potlucks and chili cook offs!Traditional beef chiliis always a safe bet, but sometimes it’s nice to switch it up with something unique like this white bean chili,chili spaghetti, or even asweet potato chili!
All-time favorite version
FallandWintermeansoupseason for us!
Yes, you can enjoy soup all year long, but we especially crave it during the cooler months. Along with some of our favorites likeCheesy Potato SoupandChicken Tortilla Soup, one we always have on repeat is White Chicken Chili.
We’ve tried so many versions over the years, but today’s recipe for White Bean Chicken Chili is our all-time favorite!
How to Make White Chicken Chili
I can’t even tell you how EASY this recipe is. To make it even quicker, use some shredded leftover Rotisserie chicken.
We always have Great Northern Beans on hand, especially in the fall. Fresh cilantro and sour cream aren’t necessary, but they are also great additions to this easy white chili recipe.
SIMMER.Begin by throwing all the ingredients, except the sour cream and cheese, into a large pot. Simmer on low-medium heat for 20-30 minutes or until completely heated through.
SOUR CREAM.Right before serving, stir in the sour cream and cheese until it’s melted.
In the crockpot
Cooking this soup on the stovetop doesn’t take long at all, but if you aren’t in a hurry, you could even throw everything (minus the sour cream and cheese) into the crockpot or slow cooker and cook on low for an hour or two and be set!
Ingredient Tips
Beans:Great Northern Beansare a medium sized white bean. They can be substitutes with a smaller navy bean or a larger white kidney bean (cannellini beans).
If you wish, you can make your own Northern Beans instead of buying them in a can:
- Rinse the beans and place them in a bowl then cover them with an inch of water.
- Soak them, at room temperature, for 4-8 hours. Drain and rinse once more.
- Place beans in a large pot and cover with fresh water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer.
- 煮45 - 60分钟或至软,但公司。Make sure that you keep the beans covered with water, add warm water when necessary.
- Drain and use in the recipe
One (14-16 oz) can will have about 2 cups of beans. This recipe calls for 4 cans yielding about 8 cups total. One cup dried beans will yield about 2 ½ cups of cooked beans. I would use 3 cup dry beans for this recipe.
Shredded Chicken:I like to cook up a large batch of chicken breasts or chicken thighs, shred it and keep it in the freezer. This makes any meal calling for chicken so much quicker to make. I like to use my crock pot to makeShredded Chicken, but you can also makeOven Baked Chickenthen shred it.
recipe tips + variations
Variations & Toppings:
- Greek yogurt can be substitutes for sour cream.
- Add in a chopped medium onion.
- Serve with a side of tortilla chips or add tortilla strips right on top of the soup.
- Sprinkle in cayenne pepper, red chili flakes or a white chili powder for extra heat.
- Garnish with a wedge of lime that you can use to squeeze lime juice into the soup.
- Top with your favorite cheese such as Monterey Jack Cheese, cheddar cheese, or Mexican cheese Blend
- Top with sour cream, cilantro or sliced avocado.
How to thicken?Here are a couple ways to thicken chilis and soups.
- Flour: Don’t just add flour to the chili. The flour will become clumpy and you’ll spend quite a while trying to get the clumps out. Instead, put 1-2 tbsp (per cup of chili) in a separate bowl and a cup of hot liquid from the chili. Mix the two until smooth, pour it into the chili and stir.
- Cornstarch: Use 2 tablespoons per cup of chili. In a separate bowl mix 2 table spoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water until it’s very smooth. Then, gradually stir the mixture into the hot liquid until it’s blended.
- Addsoftened cream cheese. This will not only add a layer of flavor but thicken up the soup.
- Useheavy whipping creamalong with, or in place of, the sour cream to thicken the soup.
Recipe FAQ
What sides go well with chili?
So many, but here are some of our favorites:
How to store?Chicken Chili shouldn’t be left out on the counter for more than 2 hours.You can store the chili in a airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat in the microwave, stove top, or crock pot until the desired temperature.
How to freeze?If possible, we recommend freezing the chili before you add the sour cream and cheese. To do this, place it in a freezer-safe gallon bag in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat in a pot and then add the additional ingredients at the end.
We know many may be looking for the standard beef chili recipe for you next chili cook off, but try this recipe, bring somecorn bread, and I promise you… People will not be disappointed.
For more chili recipes, check out:
- Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
- Chili Verde Soup
- Easy Chicken Chili
- Green Enchilada Pork Chili
- Chili Spaghetti
- Chicken Taco Chili
White Chicken Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 4cupschicken broth
- 3-4(15.5-ounce) cansGreat Northern Beansdrained and rinsed
- 2cupscookedshredded chicken
- 1-2(4-ounce) cansdiced green chiles
- 1teaspoonground cumin
- ½teaspoongarlic powder
- ½teaspoondried oregano
- dash of pepper
- 2cupsshredded Monterey Jackor Mexican blend cheese
- 1cupsour cream
Instructions
-
In a large pot, combine broth, beans, chicken, green chiles, cumin, garlic powder, oregano and pepper over medium-low heat. Simmer for 20–30 minutes, or until soup is heated through.
-
Right before serving, add cheese and sour cream and stir until cheese is melted and ingredients are mixed.
One of my favorite soups – always at the top of my list when soup season comes! I’ve started adding some corn – makes it even more yummy! It’s on our menu this week. I also love the leftovers for lunch!
Love this soup!! It is so quick & easy and I usually have most ingredients in the pantry!!
Omgosh ‼️ I’m rating this recipe 5 ⭐️ It’s amazing just the two of us here it last us all week. So good. I even add a couple favorite too.
I haven’t even tried this yet, but I know it will be delish!!!! My sister sent me this recipe and I am making it tonight. My husband has heart failure and ckd3, but this will be super simple to fix without the salt. I can’t wait to get it done
This is the same recipe my sister gave me years ago and I LOVE it. It’s a delicious twist on traditional chili. It’s always gone when I take it to autumn potlucks.
The sour cream and cheese make this chili so creamy. It’s one of our family’s favorite soups. Especially in the fall!
This chili is always a hit at our church parties. The pot gets wiped clean!! Love a good chili recipe.
This is our favorite chili! So simple to make and always the first to go at a potluck!
Mmmm. This chili is delish! It’s creamy and flavorful and perfect for chilly days.
White Chicken Chili is my favorite kind of chili! I love this recipe and pair it with your cornbread muffins too. Such a good combo!
I’m so glad you enjoy the recipe!
This is our favorite white chicken chili recipe!! We have it on repeat all fall and winter long. And we always serve it with your cornbread recipe.
我的家人最喜欢的食谱。bob综合手机客户一个快速和easy dinner for any night. I added corn to ot and it always comes out so good.
I love this so much! I made it for the first time a couple of weeks ago using a rotisserie chicken… served it over rice with a HUGE helping of shredded pepperjack cheese…. OH MY GOSH a bowl of heaven! So delish.
I make this all the time! Taking to my children’s school chili cook off today! Credit to you of course!!!
Hope the chili cook off went well! I’m glad you enjoy the recipe!
I made this over the weekend and it is absolutely delicious! It is so comforting and filling. It is now a family favorite!! Thanks for sharing such delicious recipes!
Yay!! Love to hear that! So glad you liked it! Thank you!