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This award-winning white chicken chili recipe is a hearty, creamy favorite!! Best of all, it’s ready in 30 minutes or less!

White chicken chili recipe topped with cheese in a bowl.
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All-time favorite!

Our white chicken chili is an award-winning favorite! No joke – we’ve brought this to our annual Trunk or Treat a dozen or so times and always win for best white chili recipe.

Along with our classic chili recipe, this is our go-to for chili cook-offs and potlucks and ALWAYS gets rave reviews. We know everyone loves it because we never have leftovers! That’s one reason we have it on repeat all soup season long.

We also love that it’s prepped in 5 minutes and on the table in 30! We keep shredded chicken on hand (in the freezer) so we’re always ready to make a batch. Just add some cornbread and enjoy a cool fall night with these recipes.

WHY WE LOVE IT:

  • Ready in minutes. This easy dinner idea is prepped in 5 minutes and finished in under 30 minutes.
  • Stovetop or crockpot. It can be made both ways, which is great if you’re in a rush or want to dump and go in the slow cooker.
  • Award winning! It’s so good that it’s constantly winning chili cook-offs. With so much flavor and so many ways to customize, it’s sure to be a hit!
Shredded chicken used in white chicken chili recipe.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups chicken broth – If using a lower sodium, you may need to add a little more salt.
  • 3-4 (15.5-ounce) cans great northern beans – Substitute with a smaller navy bean or larger white kidney beans (cannellini beans).
  • 2 cups shredded chicken – We like to use the crock pot to make Shredded Chicken, but you can also make Oven Baked Chicken or shredded Rotisserie chicken.
  • 1-2 (4-ounce) cans diced green chilies – (mild or hot) For more heat add cayenne pepper, red chili flakes, or a white chili powder.
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • dash of black pepper – You can also add onion powder to taste.
  • 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack – or Mexican blend cheese
  • 1 cup sour cream or plain or Greek yogurt
  • optional toppings – Monterey Jack Cheese, cheddar cheese, sour cream, cilantro, sliced avocado, lime wedges (or fresh lime juice), or Tortilla strips

How to Make White Chicken Chili

  1. COMBINE. In a large pot, combine 4 cups broth, 3-4 (15.5-ounce) cans great northern beans, 2 cups shredded chicken, 1-2 (4-ounce) green chiles, 1 teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon oregano, and a dash of black pepper. Cook over medium-low heat.
  2. SIMMER. Simmer on low-medium heat for 20-30 minutes or until completely heated through.
    • For an extra creamy texture, blend a portion of the cooked white beans with some of the broth before adding them back to the pot. See How to Thicken Soup for more ideas.
  3. SERVE. Right before serving, stir in the sour cream and cheese until it’s melted. Garnish with fresh cilantro, sliced jalapeno peppers, or crushed tortilla chips.

Make In the crockpot

  • Add all the ingredients (minus the sour cream and cheese) into the crockpot and cook on low for 1-2 hours and you’re set!
  • Add cheese and sour cream and cook for an additional 30–60 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Stir together and serve warm.
White chili recipe with chicken served in a bowl.

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5 from 162 votes

White Chicken Chili

By: Lil’ Luna
This award-winning white chicken chili recipe is a hearty, creamy favorite!! Best of all, it's ready in 30 minutes or less!
Servings: 8
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 3-4 (15.5-ounce) cans great northern beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
  • 1-2 (4-ounce) cans diced green chiles
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • dash of pepper
  • 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend cheese
  • 1 cup sour 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.
  • Before serving, add cheese and sour cream and stir until cheese is melted and ingredients are mixed.

Video

Notes

Slow cooker directions: Combine all ingredients except cheese and sour cream in the slow cooker and cook on low for 1–2 hours. Add cheese and sour cream and cook for an additional 30–60 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Stir together and serve warm.
Store in an airtight container(s) and refrigerate for 2-3 days or freeze for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container(s). See How to Freeze Soup for tips.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup, Calories: 214kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 14g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 65mg, Sodium: 941mg, Potassium: 169mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 404IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 251mg, Iron: 1mg

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

Recipe FAQ

How to store white chicken chili?

Store in an airtight container(s) and refrigerate for 2-3 days or freeze for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container(s). See How to Freeze Soup for tips.

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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5 from 162 votes (79 ratings without comment)

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222 Comments

  1. Beth says:

    did you change he recipe? I thought you used two types of beans not just one.

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      I have a few different versions of this soup 🙂 If you search it on the site, you will find them all 🙂

  2. Wendy says:

    What happened to the original recipe? It was my family and several friends favorite.

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      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 😉

    2. Katie says:

      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.

      1. Kristyn Merkley says:

        We love this one too & hope you do as well 🙂

  3. Kristi R says:

    5 stars
    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.

  4. Joy says:

    5 stars
    This soup was so tasty! It had so much flavor & was so easy to make! My picky eaters even liked it.

  5. Corie Gibson says:

    4 stars
    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!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      LOL!! Thank you for stopping by!

  6. Jennifer Burrow says:

    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?

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Totally can 🙂 Enjoy!!

  7. Wendy Hogan says:

    5 stars
    I just made this for our office lunch/potluck and everyone loved it!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Yay!! Love hearing that! Thank you for sharing the recipe. Glad it was a hit!

  8. Christine Smith says:

    I am going to cook the chicken chili soup tonight, for the first time, wish me luck

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Good luck!! You can do it 🙂 I hope you like it!!

  9. Maria Solarz says:

    How many calories are in this dish?

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      I am sorry, I don’t have that information. But, there are sites that will convert recipes 🙂

  10. Ashley D says:

    5 stars
    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 !

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Yay!! Glad everyone loved it! Thank you for letting me know!