This Easy White Chicken Chili is a cozy meal that comes together quickly. It has bites of chicken, a little heat from the green chiles, and a creamy finish from the cream cheese. Chicken and cream cheese are the perfect counterpart to beef and tomato-based chili. Several people have reported winning chili cook-offs with this recipe! As if it couldn’t get any better, you can have it on the table in just about 30 minutes.
Try our simple chili for a ground beef option that will blow your mind, or try all beef, no beans with our slow cooker Texas style chili.
Why our recipe?
- A spicy chilli chicken with green chillies and finished with cream cheese for a velvety chilli full of flavour.
- Ready in just about 30 minutes, it’s the perfect weeknight comfort food meal.
- Serve plain or top with your favorite toppings like sour cream, shredded cheese or diced avocado.
Feel free to customize it by adding your favorite toppings. We’re all about shredded cheese and sour cream. This recipe is especially good with shredded Monterey jack and diced avocado. You can serve it plain or load it up, either way, it’s sure to hit the spot.
Notes on ingredients
- Skinless and boneless chicken breasts: You can also use boneless thighs if you prefer darker meat. Just make sure to cut them into small pieces and skim off the fat.
- White Onion: White onions have a stronger flavor, but yellow onions are fine too.
- Celery: Cut it into cubes or slices.
- Green pepper: Technically you could use any color, but green is the favorite color for this.
- Garlic: Fresh tastes way better than the jarred variety, so we always recommend fresh chopped. The jar will still work if that’s what you have.
- Spices: If you prefer a milder chili, you can reduce or omit the cayenne pepper.
- Chicken broth: Use low-sodium broth as it gives you more control over the seasoning.
- White Cannellini Beans: These creamy beans are perfect for chili, but you can replace them with great northern beans or white navy beans.
- Frozen corn: We prefer frozen for the best flavor and texture. You can also use canned corn. Just make sure to drain it.
- Diced green chillies: If you want a spicier twist, you can opt for spicy green chilies or add canned diced jalapeños.
- Cream Cheese: Make sure you cut it into cubes so it melts evenly.
- Fresh coriander: If you’re not a fan of cilantro, you can leave it out or replace it with chopped green onions.
Thickening chili pepper
As written, this chili has a thinner broth, more soup-like. If you prefer a beefier, denser chili, there are a couple of easy ways to adjust the consistency.
Mash about half of the cannellini beans before adding them to the pot: this releases their natural starches and thickens the broth during cooking.
Mix a slurry of cornstarch (1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons of cold water) and leave to simmer for a few minutes. If you want it even thicker, you can add more dough until you reach the desired consistency.
Serving Tips
This chili is delicious on its own, but the right sides and seasonings can take it to the next level. Serve with warm cornbread or butter biscuits, perfect for soaking up the flavorful broth. And you can never go wrong serving chili with tortilla chips for dipping.
When it comes to toppings, shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese, diced avocado, sour cream, and fresh or pickled jalapeños are all great choices. Hit it with a squeeze of lime juice for an extra pop of flavor.
Instructions for storage and heating
Refrigerate any leftover chilli in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Heat in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly heated, about 5 to 7 minutes. To reheat in the microwave, place in microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30-second increments, stirring occasionally for even heating.
More bowls of comfort food goodness…
Watch the video below where Rachel will walk you through each step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual idea and we always have you covered with our cooking program. You can find the complete collection of recipes on YouTubeOur Facebook pageor right here on our website with the corresponding recipes.
