Creamy White Chicken Chili {Stovetop or Slow Cooker} (2024)

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4.77 stars (301 ratings)

Mar 6, 2017407

Easy and so delicious, this best-ever white chicken chili has been a family favorite for years (with no signs of stopping!). With directions for stovetop or slow cooker, it’sversatile, simple, and tasty!

Let’s talk about chili.

Creamy white chicken chili to be exact.

Creamy White Chicken Chili {Stovetop or Slow Cooker} (1)

I like classic red chili. Here are a few of my favorite red chilis:

My Mom’s Classic Red Chili
Slow Cooker Red ChiliHearty Turkey and Bean ChiliSweet Heat Louisiana Chili

But if I’m being honest, ILOVE (double heart, love, love, love) white chili.

Creamy White Chicken Chili {Stovetop or Slow Cooker} (2)

And I hate to throw out exclamations like this: but this creamy white chicken chili is the best of the best of the best.

I mean, just read through the comments and you’ll see why so many people rave about this white chicken chili.

Not only is it a cinch to throw together, but the flavor is amazing.

Over the years, I’ve kept the basic recipe the same, but you can see below that I’ve added some notes to make this recipe even more delicious.

It also works beautifully in the slow cooker.

Creamy White Chicken Chili {Stovetop or Slow Cooker} (3)

And since I know people will ask (can’t blame you), Iactually have tried this in the Instant Pot as well.

But it definitely falls into the category of: it’s just as fast to make it on the stovetop. By the time the IP comes up to pressure, cooks the chicken, and the pressure releases, this white chicken chili can be ready to go via a saucepan on the stove.

However, I’m not one to talk you out of using that Instant Pot every single day of your life. So, feel free to give it a go.

I didn’t include directions for the IP below because I don’t make it that way, but you can try tossing everything but the dairy ingredients in the IP (use whole chicken breasts) and cook for 8 minutes on high pressure (probably 3 minutes for cubed chicken, but the other ingredients, like the onion, may not soften fully).

Let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes, quick release the rest of the way, stir in the sour cream and cream/milk, select Saute and heat through.

See How To Make It Here:

And also, if you are interested, here are a few of my other beloved white chili recipes:

White Bean Chicken Chili (with a little extra flair that makes it different than today’s recipe)
Roasted Garlic and White Bean ChiliSlow Cooker White Bean Chicken Chili (not creamy, more brothy)
Slow Cooker Jalapeño Popper White Bean Chili

What To Serve With This:

Chili toppings, like shredded cheese, tortilla chips, etc.
My Favorite Cornbread

FAQs for Creamy White Chicken Chili

Does the cooking time change if I double it?

No, cooking time stays the same.

Can I use canned white beans instead of great northern?

Yes!

Can you freeze this soup?

Yes I freeze it all once it is made- the texture can be a little grainy, but we don’t mind.

Creamy White Chicken Chili {Stovetop or Slow Cooker} (4)

Creamy White Chicken Chili

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 25 minutes mins

Total Time: 45 minutes mins

4.77 stars (301 ratings)

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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (leave whole for slow cooker method)
  • 1 medium chopped onion, (about 1/2 cup)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder or 2 cloves fresh garlic, finely minced
  • 2 cans (15.5-ounces each) Great Northern Beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 (14.5) ounce can chicken broth, (about 1 3/4 cups)
  • 2 cans (4-ounces each) chopped green chiles (see note)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • ½ cup whipping cream (see note)
  • Fresh cilantro, for garnish (optional)
  • Shredded cheese, tortilla chips, other toppings (optional)

Instructions

  • Stovetop Directions:In a 4- or 5-quart pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the chicken, onion, and garlic powder (or fresh garlic, if using). Cook, stirring occasionally, for 1-2 minutes, until the onion starts to soften (it’s ok if the chicken isn’t cooked all the way; it will cook more in the next step).

  • Add the beans, broth, chiles, salt, cumin, oregano, pepper and cayenne.

  • Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 15to30 minutes.

  • Remove from the heat; stir in the sour cream and cream.

  • Garnish with fresh cilantro, if desired. Serve immediately with other toppings of choice, if desired.

  • Slow Cooker Directions:In a5- or 6-quart slow cooker, place 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts whole (without cutting into pieces).

  • Add the chopped onion, garlic powder, beans, green chiles and all of the spices. Do not add the sour cream or whipping cream yet!

  • Reduce the chicken broth to 12 ounces (about 1 1/2 cups) and pour in over the other ingredients. Stir the mixture around a bit to incorporate the dry spices. Cook on low for 5-7 hours.

  • Remove the chicken to a cutting board and shred in bite-size pieces (or use a couple forks and shred right in the slow cooker). Add the shredded chicken backinto the slow cooker.

  • In a small bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together the sour cream and whipping cream until smooth. Whisk the cream mixture into the crockpot with the other ingredients. Let the chilicook warm through on low temperature. Serve.

Notes

Green Chiles: as happens with recipes that have been posted as long as this one has (since 2008!), I have additional notes that may help make the recipe even more delicious. Over the years, I’ve often subbed out the green chiles completely for a jar (12 ounces) of green salsa (salsa verde or tomatillo salsa). Yum, super yum.

Variations: also, I hardly ever use the whipping cream anymore. I either add extra sour cream OR use milk OR if I want a thicker chili, I blend 1/2 cup milk with 1 tablespoon flour and use that. There are SO many comments in the thread below about variations you’ve used as well.

Chicken: finally (sorry, I’m almost done), this chili is really delicious with already cooked chicken (like a rotisserie chicken or leftoverchickenor thissimple stovetop shredded chicken). Simply stir in cooked chicken at the end and heat through.

Author: Mel

Serving: 1 Serving, Calories: 357kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 26g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 89mg, Sodium: 915mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 1g

Recipe originally posted September 2008; updated with new pictures, recipe notes, commentary.
The video in this post was made in partnership with Inspo

Other Recipes Like This:

Instant Pot White Chicken Black Bean Chili {Slow Cooker Directions Included!}
Roasted Garlic and White Bean Chili
Chicken and Black Bean Chili {Pressure Cooker}
White Bean Chicken Chili

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posted on March 6, 2017 (last updated October 2, 2023)

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407 comments on “Creamy White Chicken Chili {Stovetop or Slow Cooker}”

  1. Michelle Reply

    Left the sour cream out. This is such a delicious recipe.

  2. Michelle Reply

    This chili is ridiculously good. Like, I don’t know why exactly but it hits every note and my husband and I agree it’s the best chili we’ve ever tasted. You are magic and I’m so grateful for you, Mel!!

  3. Linda Schotter Reply

    We have always loved this recipe!! It is my “go to” for cold Indiana days. I am now going to try this variation with salsa verde instead of the chilis. I am sure it will be fantastic!!

  4. Megan Davis Reply

    This is my go to recipe when it’s a cold day or I have chicken to use. Probably made more than 20 times at this point.

  5. Christine J Reply

    Absolutely delicious in every way. Thank you, Mel! So glad I doubled the recipe.

  6. Carlee Reply

    I’ve made this recipe four times now and it is simply the perfect white chicken chili recipe! I make it in the crockpot every time with three chicken breasts, cooked on low for 6 hours and the chicken comes out perfect. Then I do as Mel says in the notes and add extra sour cream. Perfection! The only white chicken chili recipe you will ever need!

  7. Teresa Reply

    I hadn’t made this recipe in over a decade. Earlier this week, my church had a chili cook off. I decided to make this because I hadn’t made it in so long. It was a huge hit! Everyone asked for the recipe. It was gone really quickly. I had to make another batch yesterday for my husband to enjoy at home! I used shredded chicken and cooked great Northern beans in the Insta pot to use. This recipe is perfect!

  8. Vi Reply

    This is one of my favorites recipes from your site. I’ve made it so many times but haven’t commented. I used your suggested substitutions of 12 oz salsa verde for the green chilies, 1/2 C milk + 1 T flour & rotisserie chicken for chicken breasts! Thanks for all you do to make us look like rock-star cooks!!

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Creamy White Chicken Chili {Stovetop or Slow Cooker} (2024)

FAQs

Is chilli better in crockpot or stove? ›

Chili is perhaps the ideal slow-cooker dish because its flavor improves with a long, slow simmer. This makes a big batch, perfect for a cold-weather get-together, but if you're making it for a smaller group, the leftovers freeze well.

How long should chili simmer on the stove? ›

How long should I cook chili on the stove? Total cook time will take about 30-45 minutes. Saute the onions and other aromatics (i.e. peppers, carrots, etc) until softened, about 4-6 minutes.

How to thicken up white chicken chili? ›

From the Editor
  1. Use a cornstarch slurry: Mix together equal parts cornstarch and cold water, then stir it into the chili.
  2. Simmer the chili longer: The longer you simmer the chili, the thicker it will be. ...
  3. Add more beans: Mash another can of cannellini beans with a potato masher, then stir it into the chili.
Oct 19, 2023

Why is my white chicken chili watery? ›

This can be the result of: Adding too much stock, broth, or water. A base of beef broth, chicken broth, or stock (and occasionally water, milk, or cream), sets the tone for most chili recipes. If your chili looks watery, you may have poured in more than required.

Is slow cooker more efficient than stove? ›

Not only are slow cookers ideal for people who want to leave dinner to simmer away and attend to other errands, they work out to be one of the cheapest appliances to cook with in the kitchen. The electricity usage of an electric oven is estimated to be around two to 2.2kWh, compared to a slow cooker at just 0.7kWh.

Can I cook chili on the stove all day? ›

If you have time to make it the day before or early in the day and can let it simmer all day, your chili will go from good to AMAZING. Simmering all day allows the meat, beans, and onions to soften and the flavors to meld together. There's just no substitution for chili that is cooked low and slow all day!

Should chili be thick or soupy? ›

Chili should be thick and hearty enough to be a meal on its own, but sometimes there's just a bit more liquid than you want in the pot. While you can simply keep simmering the chili, that method risks overcooking softer ingredients like the beans, losing all your nice texture to mushy monotony.

Does chili taste better the longer it cooks? ›

Chili is most commonly prepared at a low temperature and for an extended period of time (low and slow), which develops a deeper, spiced aroma. But, the longer cook time can often result in a flat flavor.

What can you not put in chili? ›

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

What liquid to add to chili? ›

In addition, broth, beer, and/ or water is usually added to produce the desired consistency in the pot of chili. I usually add one or two cups of beef broth. If you put tomatoes in the stew, this will also provide plenty of liquid.

Does tomato paste thicken chili? ›

Not only will tomato paste add a tangy flavor to the dish, but it will also act as a thickening agent. For this purpose, you can use homemade or store-bought tomato paste. Add 1 can of the paste to your pot of chili, stir the mixture, and let it cook on medium heat for about 30 minutes.

How to make chili more flavorful? ›

How to Give Chili a Flavor Boost
  1. Add something acidic. ...
  2. Try to identify what about your chili is boring. ...
  3. Add tomato paste. ...
  4. Drop in some chocolate. ...
  5. Embrace pickling liquid. ...
  6. Stir in some molasses.

How much cornstarch to thicken white chicken chili? ›

Make a cornstarch slurry: Mix together 1 tablespoon each of cornstarch and cold water, stirring well to remove any lumps. Then, stir the slurry into your chili and let it simmer for another 10 minutes to fully thicken.

What can I add to chili to make it more soupy? ›

Add more water or tomato sauce if it's too thick. Keeping the lid on can keep the steam in resulting in thinner chili. Also, if I cook chili in the crock pot it is usually thinner, as the lid collects the steam rather than it evaporating.

Is slow cooked chilli better? ›

Technically you can put all the raw ingredients into a slow cooker, but you won't end up with a truly flavoursome chilli at the end. Taking the time to fry everything and make it golden means you've caramelised them, which in turn adds tonnes of flavour to the chilli.

Is chili better in a Dutch oven or crockpot? ›

For making great chili, it's a tie between the Dutch oven and the multi-cooker in slow-cook mode. Each requires some tweaking in the cooking methods, though. The Dutch oven chili had the best aroma, heat, and flavor, but it looked less than appetizing due to its dry texture. And the longer it sat, the thicker it got.

Will chilli burn in slow cooker? ›

Can I overcook chili in a slow cooker? Yes, but it would take a while. I have cooked this chili for 9 hours on low and it was delicious but ever-so-slightly burnt on the top. The tomatoes contain sugar, which caramelizes in the slow cooker, and will eventually burn if it cookes for too long.

Why does my crockpot chili taste bland? ›

Why does my crockpot chili taste bland? If your crockpot chili tastes bland, it just needs salt or heat to enhance all of the flavors – it has plenty of seasonings already! Add salt ¼ teaspoon at time, tasting after each addition. Add heat with chipotle chili pepper, cayenne or hot sauce to taste.

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