White Chicken Chili is a rich, creamy, and comforting flavor-loaded Mexican American dish that has origins in North Mexico and Southern Texas. It is usually made with chicken breast, white beans, green chilis, cream cheese, and other basic aromatics, and chili seasoning.
White Chicken Chili is one of the easy and best homemade chili recipes that has a similar comforting flavor and taste to classic beef chili. It tastes great for lunch and dinner along with avocado, sour cream, tortilla chips, and cheese blends as its toppings.
The recipe I have shared here shows you how to make White Chicken Chili with easy step-by-step instructions for you to try and enjoy at home. I have also shared a detailed video below to make the process simple and clear.
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What is White Chicken Chili?
White Chicken Chili is a rich, creamy, and comforting Mexican American dish that has its origin in Northern Mexico and Southern Texas. It is usually made with chicken breast, white beans, green chilis, cream cheese, and other basic aromatics.
It is said that the dish was originally an American dish with a Mexican taste profile. And hence it is called to be a Tex-Mex dish. This White Chili is one of the versions of classic Beef Chili, where the ground beef is substituted with chicken and red chili beans are replaced with white beans.
You may also notice that the dish has a dominant green chili for heat while the classic ones depend on red chilies and chili powders. This White Chilli also appears to be light in color due to the addition of white beans over red chili beans.
Even though there are changes in the ingredients and spices this White Chicken Chili is one of the comforting chili recipes that one should try. Overall it is also one of the healthiest dishes loaded with fresh toppings like avocado, sour cream, cilantro, and cheese blend.
So if you are looking for a perfect weeknight chicken dinner, then this chili can be the perfect dish to be in your monthly dinner rotation. Especially for comforting yourself on a cold winter day. And I hope you and your family will love it.
Looking for more comforting dishes, then feel free to try our Mexican drinks recipes such as atole, Mexican hot Chocolate, and cafe de olla as an after-meal drink.
Ingredients
The ingredients you will need to make this White Chicken Chilies are basic chili seasoning spices and some fresh produce. You can find all those ingredients in most grocery stores around. So let's see what they are below.
- Chicken Breast - I prefer fresh boneless and skinless Chicken breast, rotisserie chicken, or leftover shredded chicken works great as well
- White Beans - I have used Northern white beans but other white beans also work fine
- Corn Kernel - Canned or frozen kernel both works fine
- Garlic - Delivers fresh garlicky flavor to your dish
- Peppers - I have used serrano peppers and cayenne powder here, but feel free to adjust the quantity according to your heat preferences
- Avocado - Healthy, and fiber-loaded fruit, for topping
- Green Chili - Diced green chilis that are usually available in cans or tins
- Spices - Basic spices like cumin powder, black pepper powder, paprika, and coriander powder
- Onion - Similar to garlic, add so much flavor to your dish
- Cream Cheese - For a rich, and creamier dish
- Sour Cream - For topping the white chili, you can also use yogurt instead of sour cream
- Herbs - Fresh cilantro or coriander leaves to add some fresh flavors
- Cheese Blend - I have used cheddar and Monterey jack cheese blend for the topping
For a detailed ingredients list, please check out the recipe card below
How to make White Chicken Chili?
Here I have shared the recipe for White Chicken Chili, a spicy, creamy, and flavor-loaded dish. It is usually made with white beans, and white meat like chicken and delivers a light color compared to classic chili. This White Chili is one of the comforting dishes to enjoy with your family, especially in the cold winter months.
Following are the high-level instructions to make this recipe but for detailed step-by-step instructions with photos and video, please check out the recipe card below.
- Saute the aromatics - In a wide pot or pan with medium heat, pour oil, and add the onion, garlic, and serrano pepper. Saute until everything turns soft
- Add the spice powders - Now add chili, cumin, coriander, black pepper, and cayenne pepper powder and salt. Give everything a good mix
- Add the chicken - Add the chicken breasts and diced green chili. Give everything a good stir until the chicken breast turns pale and white
- Boil and Cook - Now add the corn kernel, Northern white beans, and chicken broth. Give everything a good mix and allow it to boil for 5 to 7 minutes
- Shred the Chicken Breast - Now remove the chicken breast and shred them using a fork
- Mix and Cook - Add the shredded chicken breasts back to the white bean corn mixture and mix well
- Add Cream Cheese - Add the cream cheese and stir until it melts. (Note: at this stage, you can also add some white bean puree to make the chili extra creamier. For that you have to reserve ¼ cup of white beans before adding to the pan)
- Garnish and Remove - Finally, add a generous amount of chopped coriander leaves and give it a good mix. Now the comforting White Chicken Chili is ready for you to taste and enjoy
- Serve - Serve this flavorful White Chicken Chili topped with sour cream, avocado, cheese blend, lime wedges, and some tortilla chips
Tips
- For the Best Taste and Flavor - Sauteing the chicken breast for a few minutes with the aromatics delivers flavor-filled and tastier chicken. You will not feel the raw flavor of the chicken and it tastes amazing
- Boiling the Breast - Even though you can use the rotisserie chicken that you get in stores, I would suggest using fresh chicken breast. Boil the chicken breast in the aromatic chicken broth along with other seasonings and then shred the breast. Then use it in your Chili mixture back for a flavorful meal
- On-time Crunch - If you are on a time crunch, you can also use the leftovers from the roasted chicken, baked chicken breast, or air fryer chicken breast for an easy yet delicious meal
- For Extra thick and Creaminess - Though adding cream cheese alone is good enough for a creamy Chicken Chili, you can also add some white bean puree to make the chili extra creamier
- Watch on Heat Level - Here I have used a good amount of diced green chiles, serrano, and cayenne pepper. So this recipe delivers a slightly spicy dish, so I suggest adjusting the spices according to your preferences
Storage Suggestions
This White Chicken Chili tastes great and comforting while it is warm and fresh. But you can also store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in a closed airtight container. Always make sure to bring the Chicken Chili to room temperature and then store it in a container.
Serving Suggestions
This White Chicken Chili tastes excellent on its own and it is a filling meal with avocado, sour cream, and tortilla chips. You can also serve it with cornbread, garlic bread, baked potatoes, roasted potatoes, roasted asparagus, roasted zucchini, roasted broccoli, roasted green beans, or other favorite side dishes of your choice.
Related Recipes
You could also find different kinds of chili recipes below and more at chicken recipes.
- Vegetarian Chili
- Turkey Chili
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Chicken and Rice Soup
- Chicken Ramen
- Hot and Sour Soup
- Chicken Noodle Soup
- Chilli Chicken
- Chilli Paneer
White Chicken Chili Recipe Video
I have also shared a detailed video of this White Chicken Chili Recipe below that I hope will help you to make a comforting meal at home. You couldd also find this recipe in a story format.
📖 Recipe
White Chicken Chili
Ingredients
- 1½ lb Chicken Breast, thinly sliced
- 3 cups Chicken Broth
- 15 oz Northern White Beans
- 1 Onion, chopped
- 2 tbsp Garlic, chopped
- 7 oz Green Chili, diced
- 8 oz Whole Corn Kernel
- 2 Serrano Pepper, or Jalapeno
- 1 tsp Paprika
- ½ tsp Ground Black Pepper
- ½ tsp Ground Cumin
- 2 tsp Ground Coriander
- ¼ tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 4 oz Cream Cheese
- Sour Cream, to serve
- Cheddar and Montarey Jack Cheese Blend, to serve
- ¼ cup Coriander Leaves, + for serving
- Avocado, to serve
- Tortilla Chips, to serve
- 2 tbsp Oil
Instructions
To make White Chicken Chili
- In a wide pot or pan with medium heat, pour oil and add the onion, garlic, and serrano pepper. Saute until everything turns soft
- Now add chili, cumin, coriander, black pepper, and cayenne pepper powder and salt. Give everything a good mix
- Add the chicken breasts and diced green chili. Give everything a good stir and cook until the chicken breast turns pale and white
- Now add the corn kernel, Northern white beans, and chicken broth
- Give everything a good mix and allow it to boil for 5 to 7 minutes or until the chicken breasts are cooked well
- Now remove the chicken breast and shred them using a fork
- Add the shredded chicken breasts back to the white bean corn mixture and mix well
- Now add the cream cheese and stir until it is melted. Let the chili simmer for 3 to 5 minutes or until it turns slightly thick (Note: at this stage, you can also add some white bean puree to make the chili extra creamier, for that, you have to reserve some white beans before adding to the pan)
- Finally, add a generous amount of chopped coriander leaves and give it a good mix. Now the comforting White Chicken Chili is ready for you to taste and enjoy
To Serve
- Serve this flavorful White Chicken Chili topped with sour cream, avocado, cheese blend, lime wedges, and some tortilla chips
Video
Notes
- For the Best Taste and Flavor - Sauteing the chicken breast for a few minutes with the aromatics delivers flavor-filled and tastier chicken. You will not feel the raw flavor of the chicken and it tastes amazing
- Boiling the Breast - Even though you can use the rotisserie chicken that you get in stores, I would suggest using fresh chicken breast. Boil the chicken breast in the aromatic chicken broth along with other seasonings and then shred the breast. Then use it in your Chili mixture back for a flavorful meal
- On-time Crunch - If you are on a time crunch, you can also use the leftovers from the roasted chicken, baked chicken breast, or air fryer chicken breast for an easy yet delicious meal
- For Extra Creaminess - Though adding cream cheese alone is good enough for a creamy Chicken Chili, you can also add some white bean puree to make the chili extra creamier
- Watch on Heat Level - This White Chili is usually made using a good amount of diced green chiles, serrano, and cayenne pepper. So this recipe delivers a slightly spicy dish, so I suggest adjusting the spices according to your preferences
Nutrition
FAQ
White Chicken Chili is a rich, creamy, and comforting flavor-loaded dish that has origins in North Mexico and Southern Texas. It is usually made with chicken breast, white beans, green chilis, and other basic aromatics. This White Chili is one of the easy and best chili recipes that has a similar comforting flavor and taste to classic beef chili. It tastes great along with avocado, sour cream, tortilla chips, and cheese blends as its toppings.
Adding cream cheese alone is good enough for a creamy Chicken Chili, however, you can also add some white bean puree to make the chili extra thick and creamier.
This White Chili is one of the versions of classic Beef Chili, where the ground beef is substituted with chicken and red chili beans with white beans. You may also notice that the dish has green chili for heat while the classic ones depend on red chilies and chili powders. This White Chilli also appears to be light in color due to the addition of white beans over red chili beans.
This White Chicken Chili tastes excellent on its own and it is a filling meal with avocado, sour cream, and some tortilla chips on the side. However, you can also serve it with cornbread, garlic bread, baked potatoes, roasted potatoes, roasted asparagus, roasted zucchini, roasted broccoli, roasted green beans, or other favorite side dishes of your choice.
I hope you enjoyed the recipe I shared here and I would love to hear from you about how it turned out for you. Please let me know.
If you have any other questions, feel free to post them in the comment section below and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Happy Cooking!
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