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This White Chicken Chili recipe is hearty, creamy, and has become a new favorite!! Best of all, it’s ready in 30 minutes or less!
Traditional beef chili is always a safe bet for potlucks and chili cook-offs but we love this White Chicken Chili, especially served with cornbread.
All-time favorite!
We love soup season!
And we also love chili cook-offs and potlucks in the fall. One of our go-to’s that gets rave reviews (and awards) is this White Chicken Chili recipe. Everyone loves it.
Here’s why:
- Especially easy and quick. This recipe is prepped in 5 minutes and finished in under 30 minutes.
- Stovetop or Crock Pot. 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!
Along with some of our favorites like Cheesy Potato Soup and Chicken Tortilla Soup, this White Chicken Chili is one we always have on repeat.
White Chicken Chili Ingredients
- Chicken Broth – We use full-sodium but if using a lower sodium, you may need to add a little more salt.
- Great Northern Beans – Great Northern Beans are a medium sized white bean. They can be substitutes with a smaller navy bean or larger white kidney beans (cannellini beans).
- Shredded Chicken – I like to use my crock pot to make Shredded Chicken, but you can also make Oven Baked Chicken then shred it or even Rotisserie chicken.
- Diced Green Chilies – Mild or hot – whichever you prefer.
- Spices: ground cumin, garlic powder, dried oregano, dash of black pepper. For extra heat, sprinkle in: cayenne pepper, red chili flakes or a white chili powder. You can also add a chopped onion or onion powder for more flavor.
- Cheese. Shredded Monterey Jack or Mexican blend cheese
- Sour Cream. Greek yogurt can be substitutes for sour cream.
- Toppings + Garnish. Top with your favorite cheese such as Monterey Jack Cheese, cheddar cheese, or Mexican cheese Blend, as well as more sour cream, cilantro, sliced avocado, lime wedges (or lime juice) or Tortilla strips.
How to Make White Chicken Chili
- COMBINE. Begin by throwing all the ingredients, except the sour cream and cheese, into a large pot.
- SIMMER. Simmer on low-medium heat for 20-30 minutes or until completely heated through.
- SOUR CREAM + TOPPINGS. Right before serving, stir in the sour cream and cheese until it’s melted.
In the crockpot
To make in the slow cooker, add all the ingredients(minus the sour cream and cheese) into the crockpot and cook on low for 2 hours and you’re set!
recipe tips + SIDES
How to thicken? Here are a couple ways to thicken chilis and soups.
- 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.
- Add softened cream cheese. This will not only add a layer of flavor but thicken up the soup.
- Use heavy whipping cream along with, or in place of, the sour cream to thicken the soup.
What sides go well with chili? So many, but here are some of our favorites:
Recipe FAQ
How to store? Chicken Chili shouldn’t be left out on the counter for more than 2 hours. You can store the chili in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
How to reheat? 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.
For more chili recipes:
White Chicken Chili Recipe
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.
- Right before serving, add cheese and sour cream and stir until cheese is melted and ingredients are mixed.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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 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 🙂
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.
This soup was so tasty! It had so much flavor & was so easy to make! My picky eaters even liked it.
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!
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!!
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 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!!
How many calories are in this dish?
I am sorry, I don’t have that information. But, there are sites that will convert recipes 🙂
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!