White Chicken Chili Recipe

Introduction

White Chicken Chili is a flavorful twist on classic chili, featuring tender chicken, creamy white beans, and a harmonious blend of Southwestern spices. This dish is the ultimate cozy meal—warming, hearty, and loaded with bright, zesty flavor. It’s perfect for weeknight dinners, game day parties, or whenever you need a comforting bowl of goodness that’s easy to prepare and guaranteed to please a crowd.

Deliciously Unique White Chicken Chili

Unlike a traditional beef chili, White Chicken Chili offers a lighter, fresher profile without sacrificing any of the depth you love in chili. Subtle heat from green chilies, freshness from cilantro and lime, and creaminess from the beans create a bowl that’s both satisfying and refreshing. You can customize it with tasty toppings like avocado, shredded cheese, or tortilla strips for a meal that’s sure to become a family favorite.

Preparing the Perfect Chicken and Bean Base

The secret to outstanding White Chicken Chili lies in creating a well-seasoned, savory broth and using cooked shredded chicken—it soaks up all the chili flavors. Simmering the beans with onions, garlic, and chicken keeps the chili velvety and protein-packed. Pureeing a portion of the beans thickens the chili naturally, creating a creamy texture without the need for heavy cream.

Assembling Your White Chicken Chili

Begin by sautéing chopped onions, garlic, and green chilies for an aromatic base. Stir in tender shredded chicken, white beans, spices, and broth. Simmer until all the ingredients are married together and the chili has a creamy consistency. Ladle into bowls and add your favorite toppings. It’s a one-pot wonder that’s even better the next day!

Serving Suggestions for Show-Stopping White Chicken Chili

Enhance your chili with a squeeze of fresh lime, a sprinkle of chopped cilantro, or sliced jalapeños for extra heat. Pair with warm cornbread, tortilla chips, or a crisp green salad. Don’t forget the sliced avocado or a dollop of Greek yogurt for an extra dose of richness.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe serves about 6 generous bowls. Each serving, without extra toppings, contains roughly 350–400 calories, making it a wholesome choice for lunch or dinner. Beans and chicken deliver protein and fiber, while the spices add flavor without lots of added fat.

White Chicken Chili Recap

With bold, lively spices and a creamy, comforting base, this White Chicken Chili recipe delivers big flavor in every spoonful. It’s simple to make, easy to customize, and a sure winner for family meals or gatherings.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and streamlined meal planning.

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 3–4 minutes, until softened. Stir in garlic and cook another 30 seconds until fragrant.
2. Add diced green chilies, cumin, oregano, chili powder (if using), coriander, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine and cook for 1–2 minutes.
3. Stir in shredded chicken, white beans, and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer.
4. For a creamier texture, transfer 1 cup of the beans and 1 cup broth to a blender and pulse until mostly smooth, then add it back to the pot. (Or mash with a potato masher.)
5. Add frozen corn, if using. Reduce heat and simmer gently for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Stir in lime juice and chopped cilantro. Taste and adjust salt or spices as needed.
7. Ladle into bowls and serve hot with your desired toppings (avocado, shredded cheese, tortilla strips, jalapeños, or a dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream).

Weekly Meal Planning

This White Chicken Chili is a meal prep star—it reheats beautifully and flavors only get better after a day in the fridge. Save and schedule this recipe to plan your meals and let CookifyAI consolidate ingredients from all your planned recipes into a smart, categorized shopping list.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically calculates total ingredient amounts when planning multiple recipes
• Groups your shopping list by grocery store sections for quicker shopping
• Prevents duplicate purchases and forgotten essentials
• Helps you streamline weekly meal prep and cuts down on food waste

Pro tip: When planning dinners for the week, schedule your recipes and see which ingredients overlap—like onions, cilantro, or chicken—to combine purchases and simplify your prep.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Enjoy your next bowl of White Chicken Chili—simple, satisfying, and easy to fit into your busy week!