Easy White Chicken Chili with Cream Cheese

This easy White Chicken Chili with Cream Cheese is one of the best chili recipes out there! The chili itself is made with white beans, tender chicken, green chilis, and just the right amount of spice. The cream cheese adds a rich depth of flavor to the dish, and the result is a comforting, hearty meal everyone will love. Serve with a side of cornbread or tortilla chips for a complete meal.

Now that the weather has turned chilly, I am making warm and comforting meals that fill up the belly and leave everyone happy.

Chili is one of my favorite meals to make as soon as the weather turns colder. And this white bean chicken chili is hearty and filling and perfect for these colder days.

The best part is that you can make this whole dish in one pot! The chicken is cooked in a flavorful broth and comes out tender and flavorful.

This delicious chili is perfect for a chilly night in, and it's sure to please even the pickiest eaters.

Serve it with cornbread or Air Buns for a complete meal your family will love.

For more great dinner ideas using chicken, try my Sweet and Tangy Pineapple Chicken Stir Fry Recipe or my Easy Chicken Pot Pie With Puff Pastry!

Jump to:

• What is white chicken chili made of?
• Why you will love this recipe
• Ingredients and substitutions
• Variations
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• Equipment
• White Chicken Chili Crockpot Instructions
• White Chicken Chili Instant Pot Instructions
• Storage
• Top tips
• Recipe FAQs
• What to serve with white chicken chili
• Related Soup and Stew Recipes to Try!
• 📋 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

What is white chicken chili made of?

White chicken chili is typically made with white beans, chicken, chicken broth, and green chilies. It also includes corn, onions, garlic, and spices like cumin and chili powder.

Why you will love this recipe

• Ultimate comfort food. It's warm, creamy, hearty, filling, and packed with flavor.
• Easy to make. This chili is made in one pot and is an easy recipe to make, especially if you use pre-cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken from the grocery store.
• Great for a crowd. It can be easily doubled or tripled to feed a large group.
• Economical. This is the perfect way to use up leftover chicken or turkey.
• It's delicious. I might be biased, but I think this is the best white chicken chili recipe. You will love the creamy texture!
• Great for meal prep. Leftovers reheat really well, so it's perfect for busy weeknights when you need a quick meal.

Ingredients and substitutions

The ingredients for this creamy white chicken chili can easily be found at your local grocery store.

• Olive oil. This is for browning the chicken. You can also use avocado oil.
• Chicken breasts. I used boneless skinless chicken breasts. You could also use boneless skinless chicken thighs. Any leftover chicken will work, including rotisserie chicken.
• Chicken broth. I used low-sodium chicken broth. If you use regular chicken broth, you may want to omit the salt.
• Cayenne pepper. This adds a bit of heat to the dish. If you prefer your chili with less heat, simply omit it from the recipe.
• Green chilis. Adds a burst of flavor to the chili. I like to use mild green chilies, but you could also use canned green chilies or fresh jalapeños.
• White kidney beans. I used white kidney beans. Another name for these beans is Cannellini beans. Great northern beans also work well in this recipe. You can also use navy beans or kidney beans.
• Cream cheese. This makes the chili thicker, richer, and creamier.
• Corn. I used a can of sweet corn niblets. You could also use leftover Smoked Corn on the Cob or grilled corn.
• Cornstarch and Water. These two ingredients are mixed together to make a slurry to thicken the chili, if desired.

See the printable recipe card for quantities. Full ingredient info below.

Variations

• Spicy -If you like things hot, add some diced jalapeños or serrano peppers to the chili. You can also use an extra can of green chilies or more cayenne pepper.
• Protein - Change up the protein by using leftover turkey instead of chicken.
• Cheesy - Give it a cheesy flavor by adding some shredded cheddar cheese on top when serving.
• Veggies - Add in some chopped bell peppers for a heartier dish.
• You can also squeeze in some fresh lime juice for extra flavor.

Looking for a more traditional chili recipe? Be sure to try my Smoked Chili recipe.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Place a dutch oven or large pot on the stove. Turn the heat to medium-high, and add 2 tablespoon of olive oil.

Place whole chicken breasts in the pot, and brown them for 4 minutes.

Flip them over, and add onion and garlic. Cook for another 4 minutes, until browned.

De-glaze the pot with a few tablespoons of chicken broth. Use a wooden spoon to get all of the delicious bits up. Add the rest of the chicken broth to the pot.

Add the entire can of green chilis, along with the cumin, chili powder, oregano, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine.

Once the mixture comes to a boil, turn the heat down to medium-low so that it is boiling very lightly. Cover with a lid. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.

Remove the chicken from the dutch oven and place it on a cutting board. Use two forks to shred the chicken.

Add one can of white beans and cream cheese to the pot. Let the cheese melt for 2 minutes. Use a whisk to mix in the cream cheese. You can also use an immersion blender to blend the soup if desired. A great alternative if you don't have one is a potato masher; use it to mash some of the beans. This will help to thicken the soup.

Add the other can of white beans and the can of corn. Stir well. Simmer 5-10 minutes more.

If you would like your white chicken chili thicker, mix cornstarch and water together until smooth. Pour the slurry into the chili, and stir until hot and thickened.

Ladle the chili into bowls and top with your favorite toppings such as tortilla chips, sliced avocado, shredded cheese, and sliced jalapenos. Serve hot!

Enjoy!

Equipment

To make this easy white chili recipe, I used a cast iron 6-quart Dutch oven. Any large Dutch oven or soup pot will work.

This recipe can also be made in a crockpot or Instant Pot.

White Chicken Chili Crockpot Instructions

You can also make this recipe in the crockpot dish. Simply add all of the ingredients (except the cornstarch and water) to the pot and set it on low.

Cook the chili for 6-8 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through. Crockpots vary in temperature, so be sure to check the chicken periodically to ensure that it doesn't overcook.

Once the chicken is cooked through, remove it from the pot and shred it with a fork. Add the shredded chicken back into the chili and stir. Add the cornstarch slurry if you would like it thicker. Turn the heat to high and stir until thickened.

Serve hot with your favorite toppings and a side of cornbread.

White Chicken Chili Instant Pot Instructions

Short on time? You can easily make this recipe in an instant pot. To begin, simply saute chopped onions and garlic in the pot until they are softened.

Then, add in the rest of the ingredients except for the cream cheese and the cornstarch and water.

Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. Natural release for 10 minutes, then release any remaining pressure.

Next, add the cream cheese. Replace the lid for a few minutes until the cheese is melted.

Add the cornstarch slurry if you would like it thicker.

Once the chili is finished cooking, it can be served with your favorite toppings.

Storage

• How to store: Let the chili cool until room temperature. Transfer leftover chili to an airtight container. Store it in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• How to freeze: Let the chili cool until room temperature. Transfer leftover chili to an airtight container. Store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
• How to reheat: When reheating white chicken chili, heat it on the stove until hot and bubbly.

Recipe FAQs

What to serve with white chicken chili

Serve this creamy white chili with cornbread, garlic bread, or Air Buns.

You can also serve it with a side of Sweet Potato Fries, Sweet Potato Wedges, or Broccoli and Cauliflower.

Related Soup and Stew Recipes to Try!

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