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Home » Main Dish

Published: Nov 2, 2020 · Modified: Nov 10, 2020 by Kathy

White Chicken Chili

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A white bowl filled with white chicken chili topped with fresh tomatoes.

A delicious bowl of white chicken chili made with white beans, chicken, and roasted green chilies. This easy to make recipe is filled with zesty chilies, chunks of chicken and good for you white beans.

It's a delicious bowl of comfort food. 

A bowl of white chicken chili topped with fresh tomatoes and tortilla strips.

Creamy white chicken chili

Creamy White Chicken Chili is just what I needed this weekend! We received our first snow two weeks ago and it caught everyone off guard. We still had most of our apples on the tree and because the temperatures dropped so low, we lost the rest of the crop. Cold weather just puts me in the mood for warm, cozy food.

We were actually out of town when the snow hit. We had traveled to watch one of our boys play in the state soccer tournament for high school. While they didn't win, they played well and had lots of fun. We didn't have snow there, but their final game was played outside in 20 degree weather! Yep, it was cold.

On the way home from the tournament, we got stuck in the snowstorm. The whole team and all the parents ended up stopping for the night about three hours from our town. The traffic had slowed way down and one of the passes we had to cross was closed due to semi-trucks blocking the interstate.

It all ended well and everyone made it home safely the next day, and I have to think the soccer team had fun with one more night hanging out together.

A bowl filled with white beans in a creamy broth and topped with fresh tomatoes and cilantro.

Once the snow hits, all I want to do is curl up with a warm fire, a good book and delicious comforting food. This Creamy White Bean Chicken Chili will warm you all the way through and make you happy to watch the snow coming down while you are all warm and cozy sitting inside!

It's yummy and filling. And it's everything I want when it's cold outside. This white chicken chili is delicious served with Chipotle Cornbread Muffins.

Crispy corn tortillas strips in a blue and white patterned bowl.

Make from scratch

This creamy white bean chicken chili can be made with everything from scratch starting with dried beans, roasted chilies and homemade chicken broth. On the weekends I usually have time to cook, but when time is tight you can use a few shortcuts. Either way, this chili is delicious.

Shortcuts for making white chicken chili

  • Use canned beans in place of the dried beans - rinse and drain 
  • Buy tortilla chips in place of the homemade baked tortilla strips
  • Use store-bought chicken broth
  • Canned roasted and chopped chilies can be used in place of the fresh roasted chilies
White chicken chili in a large bowl topped with fresh tomatoes, cilantro and tortilla strips.

Steps to make chicken chili

  • Cook beans
  • Sautee onions until soft
  • Add garlic and roasted peppers
  • Stir in chicken broth and beans
  • Add cream cheese
  • Stir in corn and milk. Heat until warmed through
  • Serve with your favorite toppings
Onions sautéing in a soup pot.
Chicken broth and chopped chicken in a large pot.
Cream cheese cubes in a pot filled with chicken broth.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I thicken this chili?

I set aside a cup of the cooked white beans and smashed them. When they are added to the broth, it helps thicken the broth. If you like your chili a bit thicker, use ¼ cup of flour mixed with ½ of hot broth. Stir until smooth and then add to the hot chili.

Can I make this in a crock pot?

Yes, this chili can be made in a crock pot. You will want to use the shortcut ingredients. Add everything and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours.

Can I make ahead of time?

This chili is perfect for making ahead of time! The flavors continue to develop the longer this chili sits. After cooking, allow chili to cool for a bit in the pot. Transfer to another container and place in the refrigerator. Because this is a large amount of chili, make certain you give it a stir every 30-60 minutes so the center will cool down quickly. Once cool, cover and keep refrigerated. When ready to use, just place back in a pot and reheat and serve!

Variations on white chili

  • Use navy beans or great northern beans. Any white bean will work.
  • Chopped chicken or shredded chicken works in this chili
  • Use a can of cooked chicken - drain before adding
  • Substitute turkey for chicken
  • Control the heat - add more jalapenos or leave out altogether
  • Add any of your favorite toppings - shredded cheese, fresh-cut tomatoes and onions, fresh cilantro, sour cream, pickled peppers and crunchy corn chips.

To make more budget friendly

If you are looking for ways to save money on this meal, here are a few tips:

  • Use dried beans instead of canned ones. Dried beans are a fraction of the cost of canned
  • Cut back on the amount of chicken. A smaller diced chicken or shredded chicken can go a long way. You could reduce the amount of cooked chicken to just one cup!
  • Compare prices on hot peppers and substitute as needed. If the cost of peppers is high, consider purchasing a small can of roasted peppers.
  • Make and use homemade chicken broth- much cheaper than buying it from the store
A spoonful filled with white beans and chunks of chicken in a creamy broth.

More Great Soup Recipes

  • Creamy Tomato Soup
  • Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
  • Cheesy Broccoli Soup
  • Chicken Noodle Soup
  • Clam Chowder
  • Enchilada Soup
  • Potato Soup
  • Pasta e Fagioli
  • Chili with Beans

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop

Check out all my delicious soup recipes!

  • A mug filled with Beef and Barley Soup.
    Beef and Barley Soup
  • A cup of Butternut Squash Carrot Soup with a drizzle of cream on the top.
    Butternut Squash Carrot Soup
  • A bowl of chili topped with sour cream and cheese.
    Three Bean Turkey Chili
  • A bowl of soup with turkey, carrots and barley.
    Turkey Barley Soup
A bowl of white chicken chili topped with fresh tomatoes and tortilla strips.

White Chicken Chili

Kathy Berget
White beans, chicken and roasted chilies make a delicious Creamy Chili.
5 from 22 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 40 minutes mins
Cooking Beans 2 hours hrs
Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Mexican
Servings 10 people
Calories 361 kcal

Equipment

  • Measuring Cups
  • Measuring Spoons
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 pound dried navy beans
  • 1 medium onion (chopped)
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic (crushed)
  • 2 poblano peppers (roasted and peeled)
  • 1 jalapeno pepper (roasted and peeled)
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups cooked chicken (chopped)
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 8 oz cream cheese (cut into small pieces)
  • 1 cup whole milk

Tortilla Strips

  • 10 corn tortillas

Toppings

  • Chopped Tomatoes
  • Chopped avocado
  • Chopped cilantro
  • Sour Cream

Instructions
 

Beans

  • Soak beans in hot water for at least 2 hours or soak in cool water overnight. Place in a stock pot with 8 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook beans  until cooked through. Drain beans and set aside.
    1 pound dried navy beans
  • Set 1 cup of beans aside. When cool, mash the beans with a fork.

Crispy Tortilla Strips

  • Stack tortillas together on a cutting board. Cut through all tortillas creating thin strips.   
    10 corn tortillas
  • Spray a baking sheet with a cooking spray. Sprinkle tortillas strips on baking sheet. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes until crispy. Check on strips halfway through cooking time and give a stir. 

Chili

  • In a large soup pot, heat olive oil. Add chopped onions and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened.  Add minced garlic and continue cooking. 
    1 medium onion, 2 Tablespoons olive oil, 2 cloves garlic
  • Stir in chopped roasted chili peppers. 
    2 poblano peppers, 1 jalapeno pepper
  • Add chicken broth, cumin, oregano, and salt. Bring to a boil.
    6 cups chicken broth, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon salt
  • Add cooked beans, mashed beans, chicken, corn and cream cheese. Simmer for 10 minutes over medium heat.
    4 cups cooked chicken, 1 cup frozen corn, 8 oz cream cheese
  • Add milk and bring soup back to a simmer.
    1 cup whole milk
  • Serve with sour cream, chopped tomatoes, avocado, fresh cilantro and crispy tortilla strips.

Notes

Adjust salt as needed. 
Variations on white chili
  • Use navy beans or great northern beans. Any white bean will work.
  • Chopped chicken or shredded chicken works in this chili
  • Use a can of cooked chicken - drain before adding
  • Substitute turkey for the chicken
  • Control the heat - add more jalapenos or leave out all together
  • Add any of your favorite toppings - shredded cheese, fresh cut tomatoes and onions, fresh cilantro, sour cream and crunchy corn chips.
Shortcut for making white chicken chili
  • Use canned beans in place of the dried beans - rinse and drain 
  • Buy tortilla chips in place of the homemade baked tortilla strips
  • Use store bought chicken broth
  • Canned roasted and chopped chilies can be used in place of the fresh roasted chilies

Nutritional Disclaimer:

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Calories: 361kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 15gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 848mgPotassium: 872mgFiber: 14gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 447IUVitamin C: 33mgCalcium: 155mgIron: 4mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @BeyondTheChickenCoop or tag #beyondthechickencoop!

This recipe was originally posted in November 2018.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Biscuitboogie says

    July 09, 2022 at 11:24 pm

    How many cans of beans to replace the dried cooked beans?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      July 11, 2022 at 5:30 am

      Hello,
      The dried beans equals about 6 cups of cooked beans. A 15 ounce can of beans has about 1.5 cups of beans. You'll need 4, 15 ounce cans of navy beans.
      Enjoy,
      Kathy

      Reply
  2. Suzi says

    November 22, 2020 at 5:28 pm

    5 stars
    This was so good! We didn't have green chilis, so I added a can of mild rotel. Such a hearty meal....and I couldn't stop eating those home baked tortilla chips!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      November 23, 2020 at 5:23 am

      Thanks! It's one of our favorites and I usually make double the amount of crispy tortilla strips because they keep disappearing with all the nibbling! 🙂

      Reply
  3. David @ Spiced says

    November 03, 2020 at 4:28 am

    5 stars
    Umph. Sorry to hear about the apple crop - that stinks. We got an early snow here, too, but it was mainly just a dusting. Enough to cover everything, but not enough to cause any serious issues. But as you noted, I bet the soccer team enjoyed hanging out together for an unexpected night! This chili is totally calling my name right now. It looks amazing! And I'm a huge fan of the poblanos in there, too!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      November 03, 2020 at 4:47 am

      Thanks, David. The poblanos add a lot of flavor without adding a lot of heat.

      Reply
  4. allie says

    November 16, 2018 at 7:56 am

    What a delicious soup Kathy! I know what you mean about the snow! We got our first snow last night! So exciting. This is the perfect soup for snowy days. Thanks for all the great shortcuts!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      November 18, 2018 at 5:31 pm

      The first snowfall is always exciting!

      Reply
  5. Adina says

    November 15, 2018 at 6:38 am

    I have never heard of a white chili before, it looks delicious and I would love to try it! It is the same here with the first snow. Chaos everywhere, even if it's just a little snow compared to what comes later.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      November 18, 2018 at 4:55 pm

      A white bean chili is very similar to a traditional chili but it doesn't contain tomatoes.

      Reply
  6. Fred G says

    November 14, 2018 at 1:03 pm

    5 stars
    Sounds like a good meal for these cold days.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      November 14, 2018 at 6:11 pm

      It's a perfect warm up meal!

      Reply
  7. Punam's Indian recipe says

    November 13, 2018 at 7:09 am

    5 stars
    Winters are starting in India thus am looking for hot and spicy flovour and this the perfect recipe seems delicious and unique to serve.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      November 18, 2018 at 5:35 pm

      Thanks! I hope you enjoy!

      Reply
  8. Fran @ G'day Souffle' says

    November 12, 2018 at 4:42 pm

    When I first saw your photo, I thought of 'Chicken Tortilla Soup.' Love the addition of the poblano and jalapeno peppers to the soup. You say you have snow? In San Diego it's been in the low 70s and I've been swimming in the pool!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      November 13, 2018 at 5:07 am

      Those temps sound heavenly! We won't have anything above the 40s for months! Maybe I need to come to San Diego! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Stacey @ The Sugar Coated Cottage says

    November 12, 2018 at 4:37 pm

    Hi Kathy! This looks like the perfect hearty meal to warm me up with this too early snow and lower than usual temps 😉 . Take care.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      November 18, 2018 at 5:39 pm

      It is a perfect warm up meal!

      Reply
  10. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

    November 12, 2018 at 8:52 am

    5 stars
    Perfect for the first snow of the season Kathy! So cozy and hearty. I'd never pass up a big bowl of this chili!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      November 18, 2018 at 5:44 pm

      Thanks, Mary Ann!

      Reply
  11. David @ Spiced says

    November 12, 2018 at 6:37 am

    I hear ya, Kathy. We get more than enough snow here, too, but that first snow is always magical. It's so peaceful and quiet outside when it snows, and I love that! Light a fire in the fireplace, curl up with a tasty bowl of soup and watch the snow fall...sounds awesome to me! (Well, at least for the first snow...) This chili sounds delicious, and I'm loving the addition of green chilis here. Definitely keeping this on the radar for that weekend after Thanksgiving! 🙂

    Reply
  12. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

    November 12, 2018 at 6:30 am

    5 stars
    We got snow this weekend too, but then it was followed by rain so no snow left....for now. Either way, it's cold and windy and this white chicken chili is definitely in order! Love the tortilla strips on top 🙂 Have a wonderful week, Kathy!

    Reply
5 from 22 votes (16 ratings without comment)

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I'm Kathy, and I love to create delicious recipes from scratch utilizing many ingredients that we grow and raise. I'm a recipe creator, food photographer, and cookbook author!

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