Name: Creamy White Chicken Chili
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 3-4 cups chopped rotisserie chicken; 1 tbsp butter; 1 white onion (diced); 2-3 cloves garlic (minced); 2 15 oz cans Great Northern beans (rinsed and drained); 2 cups chicken broth; 2 4 oz cans diced green chiles; 1-2 cups frozen corn (thawed (optional)); 1 tsp cumin; 1 tsp oregano; 1 tsp chili powder; 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper; salt & pepper (to taste); 4 oz cream cheese; 1 cup sour cream; 1/2 cup heavy cream

Jump to Recipe

Creamy white chicken chili features tender pieces of chicken, tons of sweet corn, and bold green chiles all seasoned with a zesty blend of spices and simmered in a rich, thick base. It’s pure comfort food, and fits the bill for just about any occasion from game days to parties or cozy nights at home.

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There’s nothing worse than craving something and searching for the perfect recipe only to be let down once you dig in.

That’s how it was with my quest to find the perfect white chicken chili.

There are plenty of variations out there, but no matter which ones I tried it just wasn’t what I was hoping for.

But fortunately for me (and for you!), I kept trying until I landed on this version.

You won’t find a creamier, heartier, tastier version.

It is the one.

Ingredients

To make this you’ll need:

Chicken– Chopped or shredded rotisserie chicken
Butter– To saute the veggies in
Aromatics– Diced white onion and minced garlic cloves
Beans– Drained canned Great Northern or white beans
Chicken broth
Green chiles– The diced canned kind
Corn– Frozen corn that you’ve thawed. It’s optional but highly recommended
Spices– Cumin, chili powder, oregano, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper
Dairy products- Full fat cream cheese, sour cream, and heavy cream

How to Make

Creamy white chicken chili is surprisingly easy to make!

To do it, melt the butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat.

Once the butter has melted, stir in the onion and saute it until it’s translucent.

Then, stir in the garlic and saute it just until fragrant.

At this point, stir in the chicken, broth beans, chilies, corn, and seasonings.

Bring the mixture to a rolling boil.

Once it boils, reduce the heat and let it just simmer for 30 minutes.

Stir in the cream cheese until it completely melts.

Take the chili off of the heat.

Stir in the sour cream and cream until evenly incorporated.

Ladle into bowls, top with your favorite toppings, and enjoy!

Topping Ideas

You can top white chicken chili with pretty much the same things you would put on regular chili.

Some of our favorites include:

Cheddar cheese
Cotija
Fresh cilantro
Diced jalapenos
Crushed tortilla chips

Storing Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Reheat in the microwave or on the stove until warmed through.

Why is my white chicken chili watery?

If your chili isn’t thick enough, one of a couple things has happened:

you added too much broth
it hasn’t had enough time to cook down and let the liquid evaporate
you substituted low fat dairy

How to Thicken White Chicken Chili

If you find that your chili is too thin, you can make a roux by melting equal parts flour and butter together in a separate pan over low heat until it forms a paste like consistency.

Stir this into the chili, bring it to a boil, and then remove it from the heat.

The chili should thicken nicely.

How to Make White Chicken Chili Less Spicy

This recipe only has a slight kick.

If you wish to make it less spicy, omit the cayenne pepper and reduce the amount of chili powder.

To make it spicier, add more of these spices or even stir in some diced jalapenos.

Tips and Tricks

Adjust the spices to suit your preferences.
Make sure you are using full fat dairy for the creamiest, richest results.
The chili may thicken even more in the fridge if you have leftovers. If this happens, stir in a little extra chicken broth when you reheat it.

Other Chili Recipes

This creamy white chicken chili is hands down the best version of this dish we’ve ever had!

Make it and see for yourself just how tasty it is!

Looking for other chili recipes?

Try these:

If you’ve tried this CREAMY WHITE CHICKEN CHILI, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!