If you’re looking for a hearty soup recipe, look no further than this delicious White Chicken Chili Recipe! Loaded with chicken, beans, cheese, and lots of spices, this white chili 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 chili is 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 a sweet potato chili!
All-time favorite version
Fall and Winter mean soup season 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 like Cheesy Potato Soup and Chicken Tortilla Soup, one of our favorites 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! The hubby couldn’t stop eating it and said they tasted like my Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas in a soup form. I thought the same thing and was so happy we had found the BEST white chicken chili recipe.
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. Here are are the white chili ingredients:
- chicken broth
- Great Northern Beans
- shredded chicken
- green chiles
- cumin
- garlic powder
- oregano
- pepper
- sour cream
- cheese
We always have these 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. 😉 See for yourself how simple this white chicken chili recipe is…
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. You can also use whipping cream with the sour cream to thicken the soup or use that to replace the sour cream.
In the crockpot
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!
TIPS, TRICKS, and STORING
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) of four in a separate bowl and a cup of hot liquid from the chili. Mix the two until smooth and pour it into the chili.
- Cornstarch: Use 2 tablespoons per cup of chili. In a separate bowl mix cornstarch with a little cold water until it’s very smooth. Then, gradually stir the mixture into the hot liquid until it’s blended.
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.
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. Reheat in a pot and then add the additional ingredients at the end.
What sides go well with chili?
- Mexican Cornbread
- Jalapeno Popper Dip + Chips
- Corn Pudding
- Chips + Salsa
We know many may be looking for the standard beef chili recipe for you next chili cook off, but try this recipe, bring some corn 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
- 4 c chicken broth
- 4 - 15.5 oz cans Great Northern Beans drained and rinsed
- 2 c shredded chicken
- 1 small can diced green chilis
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- dash of pepper
- 1 c sour cream
- 2 c shredded cheese Monterrey jack or Mexican blend
Instructions
- In a large pot, add broth, beans, chicken, green chilis, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, and pepper. Simmer on medium-low heat for 20-30 minutes, or until it is heated through.
- Right before serving, stir in sour cream and cheese until it is all blended and melted. ENJOY!
Ohhhhhh – I think that I need to make this for dinner tonight. Looks perfect for this chilly fall weather.
You will LOVE it, Gina!! It is seriously so good and so easy to make. 🙂
I have been making this recipe for years! I love it just as much today as the first time I made it… have it printed out and in my recipe binder even ❤
That makes me so happy!! Thank you so much for sharing that 🙂 Glad it made the binder!
Looks delish! Picked up the ingredients at the store this am and popped it all in the crockpot. Can’t wait for dinner tonight!
Curious how it turned out, Melissa? I hope you guys liked it as much as we did. 🙂
I emailed you back, but figured I would post it here too b/c I heart your soup so much ; ) It was amazing, my hubby & I agree it is probably one of the most delicious meals I have made in awhile! And I am totally using this as my entry this year in our friends superbowl chili cook-off…is it weird that I am this excited about a soup? LOL! Thanks for the awesome recipe, this is for sure going into our cold weather weekly menu rotation.
Success!! I love hearing that others enjoy a recipe just as much as we do!! And I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that you win the chili cook off!! 😀
Nice soup recipes. Thank you.
You’re welcome! 😀
I made something similar to this just last week, coincidentally, and I have to say that it was delicious. I had never tried white bean-chicken-chili (soup) before, I generally just make red and call it a day, and I had never tried cooking with chillies — I was too scared! — but I tried it and it was really good. I like your version with sour cream and lots of cheese better than that one so I am bookmarking this baby!!! Thanks for all you do. I’m a big fan.
You know if it has sour cream and cheese it has to be good, right?! Thanks for stopping by!
Yummy!! I’m definitely going to make this soon. I’m in Arkansas right now where the highs have been in the 50’s and the leaves are changing….so beautiful. I’ll be making the trek back to warm Houston tomorrow. I wish I could bring this cool weather with me…sigh. Thanks for the recipe!!
It’s not cold here but it’s definitely so much cooler in Houston. Have a safe trip back and let me know how the recipe goes. 🙂
Hey do you know how many calories are in like a cup of the chicken chili soup ?
Unfortunately, I do not. Sorry. :/
I have never tried this kind of soup! Adding it to the recipe list for this winter!
I’m assuming you could substitute plain Greek yogurt for sour cream, right?
Looks so easy and yummy, I’m going to try it out this weekend here in Austin!
I sure hope so because that’s what I have in the frig! I picked up the rest of the ingredients today, so I can’t wait to report back to how my fiancee and I liked it! 🙂
Made this last night and the whole fam loved it including son and hubby who are extremely picky! Now if only Houston would stay this cool for awhile!!
I made this tonight for me and the kids and they loved it! i even added fresh tomatoes for a little zing! Thank you so much for this!!!
Ok, I made just made this soup this morning! Who makes soup at 10am? I do! LOL! I did use 1c. of greek yogurt for the 1c. of sour cream and it worked out great (I did add an extra 2 cups of Mexican Blend cheese to thicken it up a bit to my liking). Overall, great soup recipe to have on hand for the Fall/Winter.
SO glad you liked it Yoli!! And greek yogurt instead of sour cream is a great substitute! 😀
Yes soup season is here and we need recipes like this to keep us going throughout the winter so thanks for sharing
You’re welcome, Andrew! I hope you guys like this soup as much as we did. It is super yummy!!
I can’t wait to try this! I think I will add a can of corn to mine.
For anyone that has had this soup before… How do you think mixing corn and tomatoes in would be? And topping with avocado? I normally just use the easy McCormick seasoning packet but want to venture out… This sounds de-lish!
Hi Alexa. To be honest, I’m not sure about the tomatoes, but I think corn would be a great addition as well as the avocados. If you do end up trying the tomatoes, let me know how it goes!! Super curious. 🙂
I think I will add Corn to mine next time, too!! 😀
Getting ready to make this AGAIN for our pre trick or treating soup buffet tonight. Would love to try this in the crockpot…should I cook the chicken first or put it in uncooked (since it would cook about 7 hours…)?
Thanks so much!
How did I not realize that you are in Houston? So am I! I love finding other bloggers in the area.
Great recipe…we tried a similar recipe last week for the first time and my family loved it.
I just pinned your chicken tortilla soup and baked potato soup and can’t wait to try those!
Kristyn,
I am making this again tonight–second time around! SO good! Thanks for all of the yummy recipes and crafty ideas you post! You’re the best 🙂
Laura
You’re way too sweet Laura!! We LOVE this recipe too. 🙂
Great recipe, thank you! Added corn, it was delish!
Glad you liked it!! Corn would be a great addition… will have to try that next time I make it. 🙂
So I made this tonight for dinner and everything smelled and tasted so good right up until I added the cheese and sour cream. I added the sour cream and cheese right after removing the pot from heat. Pretty sure my sour cream broke and turned the soup into a grainy texture. Any suggestions on how to get that smooth creamy texture?
After removing from heat, take 1-2 tablespoons of the soup from the pot, add TO the sour cream and mix. Then add the sour cream (now mixed with the small amount of soup) to the pot of soup
This was amazing. We ate the whole pot in 2 days and then my husband asked me could I make more. Very easy and I substituted lowfat sour cream.
Any idea on how much this makes? I’m thinking I need to cut it to serve my needs.
It makes about 6 generous servings but it’s great to freeze. I add chopped onion to mine. Family says it’s their favorite meal! Making it tonight!
Oh, I LOVE to hear that, Sarah. It’s one of our favorites too. 🙂
Do you know how many serving recipe makes?
If I remember correctly it was about 6. 😉
Thank you!
Do you drain the beans before putting them in the crockpot?
The recipe says to drain and rinse the beans
This was so good. I left out the chilis and only had parmesan and cheddar cheese on hand but it came out perfect. Now for the real test…..my 4 year old.
What did your 4 year old think of it?!
Im actually out of town right now so I haven’t seen her. Just testing out different recipes now for when I do see her.
Just wanted to pop in and say THANK YOU for this recipe – made it with some leftover rotisserie chicken and it is truly awesome! Soooo easy to make, and yummy. It rivals the Soup Man across the street from my office, who makes excellent white chicken chili, so thank you for helping me save $4 a cup! 🙂
Yay!! So happy I could help you save $4. 😀 Have a Happy New Year!!
This is the best recipe I’ve found so far. I add onion and 1/4 tsp of chilli powder to give a little taste.
I converted this to a Crockpot recipe. Instead of canned beans I used about 1 cup dried beans (from Winco bulk), soaked overnight. I would probably add about 1/2 cup more beans next time actually. I used 2 large chicken breasts instead of the shredded chicken and shredded it right before serving. I added about half a large onion, some chili powder, and a bay leaf (remove before serving) for more flavor. All the other ingredients were the same. Cooked it on low for about 8 hours. To add the sour cream, I stirred in a bit of the broth from the chili until it was liquidy so it would blend better, and added the cheese normally. Delicious!
Sounds like perfection! Glad it worked out well, and I appreciate you sharing your version here too. THANK YOU!
I’ve been looking for a chicken chili recipe for a long time I’m truly excited to try this one.. I hope I found it! I will be making this for dinner tomorrow…
Let me know how this goes… I have a few recipes on here for White Chicken Chili and they are ALL delicious!!
Adding the corn sounds like chicken corn chowder…a fave of the Campbells Chunky Soup for me. I am definitely going to make this…but not in the crockpot.
Delicious! One thing I changed though was adding and additional 1/2tsp cumin and I used 2 tsp oregano as I thought it needed more of those flavors, and it was great! Husband loved it too, and it was very filling! The leftovers went quickly, will be making this again!
This was really fabulous. I only had about 1/3 cup of sour cream on hand (hate when that happens) so I took a tip from other posters and also added 1/2 package of cream cheese. I also did not use the whole 2-cup bag of cheese that the recipe calls for, although I’m sure it would have been even better if I had. This was a real keeper, my husband raved about it!
I’m so glad to hear it!! And I’m glad you were able to substitute some of the ingredients. My hubby loooooves cheese, so he makes sure I put the whole 2 cups in, even if it’s not as healthy. 😉
Would Ike this thicker like chili instead of soup. Would I use less broth?
Yes, I’d add less broth. 😉
I purée one can of beans with a little chicken broth for a more creamy texture. It’s delicious!!
How many serving are in white bean chili?
Such a delicious and easy soup! I did add a little onion and only had two cans of beans on hand, but it was hearty and perfect for a cool, fall night. Thanks for the recipe.
This chicken chili soup is amazing! I found your recipe 2 years ago on Pinterest and it is now a Winter family favorite!
I LOVE to hear that, Alexis!! Reminds me that I should make it this week. It’s one of our favorites too. 🙂 I hope you can find more recipes you enjoy here!!
Hello! I am wanting to make this for the in laws who arrive tomorrow night! One poster commented that their sour cream didn’t melt in nicely, have you ever found that or is there a trick in adding it in? Just don’t have to time to test batch this and want to avoid any failures;) Thank you in advance!!
This looks delicious! Making it right now! Do you bring to a boil before simmering?
How did this go?? I hope you figure it out and that it was a hit. 😉
This looks delicious, can’t wait to make it. Just wondering how many servings makes? Family of 3, just seems like would be alot for us. Could I just half the recipe if needed?
Does anyone know how many servings this makes and how big of a serving? Can’t wait to try it!
I made this for supper tonight and my husband and I absolutely LOVED it! Hubby just ran a bowl over to his Mom. He loved it so much, he wanted her to try it.
Thank you for this easy and delicious recipe. Will definitely cook it again!
My husband and I love this soup and have made it several times!!!
Yay! Thank you for letting me know and trying this recipe! We love it too!
Made this tonight and everything was good except the beans were so hard! I can’t figure out why? I let them cook in the crockpot for hours thinking they’d soften up but they never did.
I’m sorry they were hard! Not sure why either. They wouldn’t be super soft, but shouldn’t be too hard. Hope you’ll give it another try!
I use canned. They have great flavor and theyre never hard 🙂
dumb question — did you cook the chicken prior to putting everything into the pot?
Yes, since it’s shredded…you’ll want to cook up some chicken and shred it or you can always buy a rotisserie chicken. Whatever is easiest for you! Hope that helps!! Hope you like it!
This is my favorite soup. My picky sons too. I buy an all white meat rotisserie chicken and pull its meat off then store it in baggies for things like this that need chicken. Not only does it make it faster but the chicken already has a nice flavor. Instead of oregano i add italian seasoning. I didn’t have any oregano the first time so i had to improvise. We liked it that way so i haven’t changed it. Thanks for the wonderful recipe.
It’s a good one for sure! Thank you for making it and for letting me know. Thanks also for sharing your tips 🙂
I am hoping to make this in a crockpot tomorrow. Would this work do you know?
If so, how long do you think I should let it cook?
I haven’t tried, but it should be ok 🙂 I would just maybe keep it on low for like 3 hours. Let me know how you like it 🙂
Does the White Chicken Chili Soup freeze well? Wanted to make this for a freezer party. Thanks!
I personally haven’t tried, but I don’t see why not 🙂 It would be great for a party!
I made this for our church chili cook off. It came in first place and was the only pot that was empty! People kept asking for more. This is delicious.
Woohoo!! That is awesome! We love it! Thanks so much for sharing that!
Made this today and we all thought it was delicious! Only had 2 cans of beans but it would have been better with 4! Even my 18 month old gobbled it up! I did my chicken in then isntant pot and then used the broth from that as 1 cup of broth for the soup. Thanks for a great receipe!
Forgot to rate the recipe for submitting my comment! 5 stars!
You are so welcome!! I’m so glad you all liked it! 🙂 Thank you!
I love white Chicken Chili! Just before serving I also put a large spoonful of Pico de Gallo that I buy from Qdoba in each bowl!!
Perfect!! White chicken chili is one of my favs! Thank you for sharing!
Wonderful! Thank you!
You are so welcome! Thank you for stopping by!
Drain chilis or not? Recipe doesn’t indicate.
You don’t drain them 🙂 Hope you like them!
My friend made this and had me over for lunch. It was delicious. Thank you for this recipe. I plan on making this for my family.
Forgot to rate it
I hope they like it! I’m glad you did:) Thanks so much!
Great recipe, big hit with hubbie and 4 kids. Crockpot cooking saves my life!
I did add minced onion, minced as I don’t like onion texture but like its flavor…
Love crockpot meals!! Thank you so much for sharing!
I absolutely love this recipe and recently got an instant pot. Do you know what the cook time difference would be and should i cook the chicken whole in the instant pot and shred it at the end or shred before adding into pot?!?
Awesome! I wish I knew! I haven’t tried. I would shred it before adding to the pot 🙂
Made it last night for Super Bowl We LOVED it! Created recipe as written. Next time I would leave out mozzarella and maybe sprinkle on top for serving (not mix in) GREAT flavor!!! Can’t wait for leftovers for lunch! Thank you !
Yay!! Glad everyone loved it! Thank you for letting me know!
How many calories are in this dish?
I am sorry, I don’t have that information. But, there are sites that will convert recipes 🙂
I am going to cook the chicken chili soup tonight, for the first time, wish me luck
Good luck!! You can do it 🙂 I hope you like it!!
I just made this for our office lunch/potluck and everyone loved it!
Yay!! Love hearing that! Thank you for sharing the recipe. Glad it was a hit!
I was wondering if I could cook the chicken in this recipe in the slower cooker on low for 6hrs and then shred the chicken?
Totally can 🙂 Enjoy!!
Still missing the whipping cream but it’s a great recipe. I just have a deep love for the older version haha. So do my thighs!
LOL!! Thank you for stopping by!
This soup was so tasty! It had so much flavor & was so easy to make! My picky eaters even liked it.
This is the same recipe that my sister uses. It is one of my favorites and I always bring this recipe to the annual chili dinner my family attends. The only downside is I never have any left to bring home.
What happened to the original recipe? It was my family and several friends favorite.
I have quite a few chicken chili recipes on my site. You could search white chicken chili & see if the one you are thinking of is there. I like to try all different versions 😉
I was thinking the same thing! This is the most requested recipe in my house. I have made the recipe so many times that I think I remembered the differences. I’m making it now so we will see how it turns out.
We love this one too & hope you do as well 🙂
did you change he recipe? I thought you used two types of beans not just one.
I have a few different versions of this soup 🙂 If you search it on the site, you will find them all 🙂
What is the serving size, or is the nutritional value chart for the whole thing?
What is the serving size?
It’s anywhere between 1-1/2 cups 🙂
I took my own spin on this recipie including aDding mushrooms… it was amazing!
Perfect!! I am glad you liked it! Thank you for sharing that!
A fan favorite soup. Its just the right amount of heat that I Like in a recipe. With all the creaminess and favorite ingredients that we Love.
Oh my gosh this recipe was amazing! Thank you so much!
I love this white sauce version!! It is so tasty & my family loved it! I love adding the tortilla strips on top, to give it a nice crunch!
My husband loves white chicken chili! this is definitely going on next week’s menu.
I made this 2 days ago and it was so good and so easy. I will definitely make this again. Next time I’ll try it in the crockpot. Thanks for such a wonderful recipe. Trying the easy chicken Divan tonight. ?
Thank you so much for sharing that!! I hope you like the Divan 🙂
Did you try it in the Crockpot? Im wondering if i use all the same ingredients, but raw chicken, will it turn out or will everything be mushy? How long should i keep it in thE crockpot?
The absolute best soup for an easy weeknight meal!
Love how creamy and delicious this soup is! I need Another bowl!
Love the flavor in this chili! So creamy and comforting!
My aunt Use to make a white chili that i loved so When i saw your Recipe i had to try it. Your recipe tastes just Like hers. Im so hapPy to have it!
This is such a great soup esp at this time of year when it’s a little CHILLY(chili haha)) outside. one of my kids loves chili and this recipe passed the test. he thought it was awesome! It’s a keeper at our house! Thanks for sharing
This is super tasty!
Thank you for posting such a yummy recipe and including nutrition information.
Can you plEase tell me the serving size?
This is a perfect weeknight dinner. Super easy and delicious.
White chicken chili is my all time favorite soup! love this recipe!
I love everything about this chili! I need to go to the store for all of the ingredients!
Love this! I want to make it soon.
I’m always up for a quick and easy soup recipe. Just what I need on a cold day like today.
Do you by chance still have your original recipe for the crock pot?
Love the spices in this!
The weather is starting get colder here. I am loving all the yummy soup recipes…Especially this one!
Can this soup be froze
I have not tried, but it should be able to 🙂
This is our favorite!!! I have been making it for years and Even won a church chili cook off with it. Making again tonight and the house sMells amazing!!! I have forwarded many To your page. Thank you!!
I appreciate that!! Thank you so much for sharing my page to others & letting me know what you think of this chili!
Our family tried this recipe last night and it was a hit!! We enjoyed it very much. Thank you for posting.
You are so welcome! Thank you for trying it & letting me know!
This was so easy to make and was so yummy! My husband said it was the best white chili he’s ever had and my Father in-law said it was good too.
Oh, that makes me so happy!! Thank you so much for sharing that with me!
Delicious Ham and bean soup! Excellent. Thank YOU so much!!!
You are so welcome!! So happy you liked it!
I know it says tHere are 8 servings in the whole poT. Do you know the measurement of each serving?
This is a family favorite recipe!
It is close to a cup 🙂
This has been my go-to for years now and is on my “all-stars” board on Pinterest. At my daughter’s request, we switched to ground turkey instead of shredded chicken (just prefer the texture) and leave out the cheese and sour cream for any non-dairy folks. But the cheese and sour cream are always diy garnishes along with cilantro, avocado, and tortilla strips. It’s a staple at our superbowl parties and cold outdoor events. Thanks for the recipe!
Yay!! So happy to hear that!! Thank you for letting me know!
Yum – especially when it’s cold outside!!!
I agree 🙂 Thank you!
Love this recipe! Easy and delicious!
That makes me so happy! Thank you for letting me know 🙂
We love this white chili. It is simple and yummy. A perfect cool weather comfort meal.
I’m not even a good cook and I can make this! And everyone in my family loves it, even the one who hates beans.
This recipe is so easy and delicious. A staple in my house
This is a GREAT chili!! Loved the creamy broth and the green chilies!! SO good! It went great with the Jalapeno Cornbread!! 😉
Made this last week and my daughter said it was her favorite ever. We don’t even make red chili anymore.
I make this every year- so easy and super delicious
I make this every year! So simple and super delicious!
The best recipe I’ve ever tried for white chicken chili & what makes it better that it’s super simple & quick to make!
This one is going on the list for sure. Looks so yummy!
This is my go to white chicken chili! So yummy and easy!
Love this soup! I’ve it as written, but have also added some frozen corn towards the end of the cooking time – I love the taste and I can sneak in a veggie – always a good thing.
Family favorite!!
Made this for a large crowd and everyone absolutely LOVED it! Definitely making again!
What is the serving size? It says how many calories, but no serving size or how many servings in a batch?
It’s close to 1 1/2 cups.
Delicious
So good! Great on a cold night!
I loved this reverie so much and amazingly even my kids ate it! So easy and the flavors blend together so well!
Made this for the first time and it will become my new go-to for chili cook offs! So delicious and easy to make!
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!! 🙂